Destiny 2's New Episode System Faces Criticism: Exotic Ciphers and Content Timegating Raise Concerns
Bungie's latest changes to Destiny 2 have sparked debate among players, with the new episodic content model and changes to in-game currency raising eyebrows in the community.
Exotic Ciphers: A New Bottleneck
The removal of Legendary Shards has elevated Exotic Ciphers to a new level of importance. These items are now crucial for:
- Unlocking new exotic armor (6 ciphers for one piece per class)
- Adding Artifice slots to exotic armor
- Masterworking exotic gear
However, the methods to obtain Exotic Ciphers are limited and time-consuming:
- Xur's weekly Xenology quest: Requires completing 22 strikes or winning 20 Crucible/Gambit matches
- Resetting Rahool's rank: A lengthy process involving turning in or focusing engrams
- Season pass rewards: Only 3 available, with 2 timegated behind episode acts
The grind for these essential items has been described as utterly exhausting and goofy by players, who are calling for more efficient or enjoyable farming methods.
Episodic Content: Breaking the Flow
The new episodic structure for Destiny 2's content has also come under fire. The first Echoes episode abruptly ended after just three weeks, surprising many players. This new format includes:
- Three-week content blocks followed by three-week breaks
- Timegated weapons releases across different acts
- A restructured battle pass with level caps and delayed rewards
While this approach may provide more overall content than previous seasons, players are concerned about:
- Disrupted story flow
- Limited reasons to engage with seasonal content between acts
- Inefficient use of experience points due to battle pass restrictions
Community Response
The Destiny 2 community appears divided on these changes. While some appreciate the attempt to shake up the content delivery model, others feel the new system is more restrictive and less engaging than before.
Bungie has yet to respond to these concerns, but players are hopeful for adjustments to make the new systems more player-friendly and rewarding.
As Destiny 2 continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the game's long-term health and player satisfaction. The coming months will be crucial as the community adapts to this new content structure and currency system.