Bungie Shifts Gears: Destiny 3 Never Existed, Studio Faces Major Changes
In a surprising turn of events, recent reports have shed light on significant changes at Bungie, the studio behind the popular Destiny franchise. Contrary to long-standing rumors, it has been revealed that Destiny 3 was never in development, and the studio is now pivoting its strategy for the future of Destiny 2.
The Truth About Destiny 3 and Project Payback
According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, insider sources at Bungie have confirmed that Destiny 3 was never actually in the works. Instead, the studio had been experimenting with a spin-off project codenamed Payback. This project, which has since been shelved, was described as a significant departure from the traditional Destiny formula:
- Third-person perspective gameplay
- Exploration of a large world using franchise characters
- Inspiration drawn from games like Warframe and Genshin Impact
However, Payback was cancelled two months prior to Bungie's recent round of layoffs, with most of its development team shifting focus to the upcoming Marathon reboot.
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| Concept art of a formidable enemy character, representing the aggressive and expansive gameplay envisioned in the cancelled Project Payback |
Changes to Destiny 2's Future
With Payback shelved and no Destiny 3 in sight, Bungie is altering its approach to Destiny 2:
- Smaller content drops: The studio is moving away from large annual expansions in favor of smaller experience packs released every six months.
- Free updates: These content drops will likely be free, focusing on replicating the success of updates like Into The Light.
- Seasonal structure: Plans include 2 DLCs and two seasons per year, each with its own narrative and gameplay loop.
Studio Leadership Shakeup
The changes at Bungie extend beyond just game development:
- Departure of key figures: Long-time Destiny leads Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy have reportedly left the studio.
- Loss of autonomy: According to insider Jeff Grubb, Bungie will now operate like other PlayStation worldwide studios, overseen by PlayStation Studios Head Hermen Hulst.
Looking Ahead
Despite these significant changes, Bungie's focus remains on:
- Ongoing support for Destiny 2
- Development of the Marathon reboot as a competitive extraction shooter
- A third, unspecified franchise in collaboration with PlayStation Studios
As Bungie navigates these turbulent waters, the future of Destiny and the studio itself remains uncertain. The success of recent content like The Final Shape expansion provides a glimmer of hope, but declining player numbers and internal restructuring pose significant challenges for the once-independent developer.
For Destiny fans and industry observers alike, all eyes will be on Bungie to see how these changes shape the studio's future and the evolving Destiny universe.