Reports Claim Bungie Staff Have Urged Changes in Destiny 2 Player Retention Plans
Following layoffs that affected approximately 100 Bungie employees, reports state that CEO Pete Parsons informed staff of these reductions due to Destiny 2’s underperformance, including lower-than-anticipated preorders of its upcoming expansion The Final Shape as well as findings that player sentiment was at an all-time low. IGN reporter Rebekah Valentine notes sources have reported this issue had been repeatedly flagged to leadership for months prior to these layoffs with employees demanding necessary changes that will bring players back.
News of Bungie’s layoffs coincides with reports that The Final Shape expansion, previously anticipated for February 2024, has been postponed until June. Initial reports speculated that they might have been part of Sony’s restructuring efforts; however, IGN verified this claim with its report, concluding that Bungie accepted responsibility for cost-cutting measures implemented within Bungie itself.
While The Witch Queen expansion received widespread acclaim from critics and Destiny 2 players alike, its benefits may have been undermined somewhat with Lightfall this year. According to Steam Charts, Lightfall had an astounding peak player count of more than 316,000 upon its initial release in February 2023. However, Lightfall Expansion was met with much criticism over its confusing, unbalanced storyline that offered more questions than answers; difficult levels; and weapons not present even though they appeared on promotional materials for Lightfall. While players generally favoured the new Strand subclass and visual style of Neomuna as the game’s latest destination, many also expressed displeasure with it feeling barren or having little reason to revisit once the Lightfall campaign was complete.
Post-Lightfall, Destiny 2 has fallen far short of meeting its revenue targets by 45 per cent. Even its ongoing seasonal content was ineffective in supporting player enjoyment; players expressed discontent due to recycled content and game stability issues as well as its outdated seasonal model. Players felt Bungie failed to justify an increase of $10 over previous expansion costs for Lightfall while increasing seasonal content costs 20% year over year; furthermore, newcomers may find Bungie’s piecemeal approach confusing: expansion costs differ for expansions, dungeons as well as offerings such as Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack etc.
Concerns have arisen regarding Bungie’s emphasis on in-game microtransactions, with rising cosmetic costs along with paid Event Cards and targeted content in Eververse. Amid layoffs and low community morale, players have begun calling for boycotts against The Final Shape expansion; many now refer to it as “The Final Straw”.
Layoffs at Bungie have created widespread speculation that its situation may deteriorate before improving, with reports of possible delays to The Final Shape delaying its Episodes plan as an alternative seasonal model – Destiny 2 will launch its next season on November 28, running up until February 27, 2024, but should these reports of postponed content releases come true, it may mean no substantial content drop more than six months ahead of The Final Shape’s arrival.
