Bungie Shifts Destiny 2 Strategy: No Destiny 3, Smaller Free Updates Planned
In the wake of recent layoffs at Bungie, new details have emerged about the future of Destiny 2 and the company's overall strategy. According to reports from multiple sources, including Bloomberg and industry insiders, Bungie is making significant changes to its approach for the popular online shooter.
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| Destiny 2: A New Era of Updates and Strategy Under Bungie's Leadership |
Key Points:
- Bungie is not currently working on Destiny 3
- The studio will focus on smaller, potentially free updates for Destiny 2
- A Destiny spin-off project codenamed Payback has been cancelled
- Annual paid expansions are being phased out in favor of more frequent content drops
The End of Big Expansions
Despite the critical success of Destiny 2's recent The Final Shape expansion, Bungie appears to be moving away from the large-scale paid DLC model. Sources indicate that expansion sales have been declining year over year, prompting a shift in strategy.
Instead, the developer plans to release smaller content updates more frequently, potentially for free. These updates may be modeled after the recent Into the Light release, which added new activities and gear without requiring a purchase.
Cancelled Projects and Refocused Efforts
One casualty of this restructuring is Payback, a now-cancelled Destiny spin-off that was reportedly in development. Described as a third-person cooperative game with puzzle-solving elements, Payback was said to draw inspiration from titles like Warframe and Genshin Impact.
With Payback shelved, Bungie is redirecting resources to support Destiny 2 and the upcoming PvP-focused game Marathon, scheduled for a 2025 release.
Leadership Changes and Uncertain Future
The departure of Destiny veterans Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy has raised questions about the franchise's direction. While some employees are optimistic about new leadership under director Tyson Green, concerns remain about Bungie's ability to deliver high-quality content with a reduced workforce.
Financial Pressures and Sony's Influence
Reports suggest that Bungie has been facing financial difficulties, with one source claiming the company missed its revenue targets by 45% last year. The $3.6 billion acquisition by Sony in 2022 may have temporarily alleviated these issues, but it has also led to increased scrutiny of Bungie's performance and output.
As Bungie navigates these challenges, Destiny 2 players can expect a shift towards more frequent, bite-sized content updates. Whether this new approach will be enough to reinvigorate the game and stabilize Bungie's finances remains to be seen.