What To Expect From Destiny 2's Next-Gen Upgrade
With the next generation of console gaming around the corner, gamers are preparing to see upgrades to their existing games. Destiny 2: Beyond Light is slated to release the same day as the Xbox Series X and Series S, but fans will have to wait a little longer for Destiny 2's next-gen upgrade, set for a December 8 release. Bungie has revealed exactly what fans can expect from this fresh coat of paint.
The announcement on Bungie's website confirmed that cross-gen play and speedier load times will already be integrated on November 10. In an effort to polish the game even further, the dev team is taking some extra time to perfect Destiny 2's next-gen look and performance. Upgrades across platforms include 4K resolution, enhanced framerate to 60 fps, and a field of view slider. All of these upgrades will be available at no cost to the player. While loading will be improved overall, Bungie noted that wait times are subject to factors such as network and matchmaking, meaning users will still have to wait for matches to begin.
Destiny 2's next-gen upgrade comes as no surprise to a community of gamers gearing up for the upcoming console generation. While many other games will receive the same treatment, Bungie has a history of addressing issues related to the Destiny franchise and improving the games accordingly.
The first Destiny was plagued with a number of problems upon launch. Frustrated by a misleading reward system, the unclear Light Levels, and a story that failed to deliver on a scale that Bungie had promised, gamers were largely disappointed in what was otherwise a hotly anticipated title. The game received less-than-stellar reviews, but team Bungie was determined to push through, producing new content in the form of DLC and a full-on expansion.
Despite its bumpy start, Destiny defied the odds and achieved success. The game hadn't quite lived up to its promised potential, however, so in an effort to start fresh, Bungie made a sequel. Destiny 2 scored higher than its predecessor yet somehow failed to achieve the same level of success. This spurred the dev team to continue improving the sequel by listening to the community and delivering what the players desired. Bungie's dedication to making Destiny 2 the game its fans wanted was an important factor in its rise to the top.
Destiny 2 launched in 2017, but Bungie has continued to deliver support well into 2020. With the introduction of a Season Pass system in 2019, the game was balanced in such a way that it seemed to reach its peak. But not all has been smooth since.
Activision was out of the picture in 2019, and with its departure, issues resurfaced. Ever since, several Destiny 2 patches have caused frequent problems for players. This was largely due to the loss of support that came from a major studio, leaving the dev team with an overwhelming workload. Bungie has nevertheless maintained its dedication to fans, working hard to improve and enhance Destiny 2.
Even though the promise by Bungie director of production Jonty Barnes to "continuously update the game from now until the end of time" didn't quite stick with the original game, the team seems to work under a similar mantra with the overall Destiny experience. The next-gen upgrade is a natural, expected progression in the company's continued effort to improve the game for its fans.
We now know what to expect from the upcoming Destiny 2 improvements, but considering some of the problems Bungie has faced since parting ways with Activision, how likely is it that these enhancements will run as expected? Will they even be ready on time?
Fans already saw a delay in Destiny 2: Beyond Light from its original release date of September 22 to November 10, 2020. With the team hard at work to get this latest expansion out in time for the Xbox Series X and Series S launch, it's very possible that the enhanced Destiny 2 may be delayed or perhaps released with performance issues. Considering that Bungie no longer has the extra help it received from Activision, the developers certainly have their work cut out for them.
If history has taught us anything, it's that Bungie wants its users to gain the most value from its products. Come November 10, fans will find out whether Bungie was able to pull through or whether the company needs more time. And even if the upgrade isn't as smooth as projected or misses its deadline, Bungie's track record is such that fans can likely count on the dev team to get it right at a later date.