The amicable competition between fans of Destiny and Warframe is finally concluding, and both groups are seeking the most appropriate way to bid farewell.
It is easy to understand how a touch of playful rivalry between these two science fiction shooter titles began. Digital Extremes released Warframe on PC during March 2013 and subsequently added console versions in November of that year. Bungie arrived shortly after with the initial Destiny release in September 2014. One Reddit contributor explained it well when noting that both games share four core elements. They are Space. Superpowers. Guns. Loot.
In truth, the two titles share little beyond a few surface similarities and a comparable launch period. Yet this has been sufficient to maintain their presence in the same discussion for almost 12 years. The exchange between Warframe’s Tenno and Destiny’s Guardians has rarely escalated beyond a gentle simmer. However, Bungie switched off the heat in June.
For those who overlooked the news, the Sony-owned developer stated Destiny 2 will get its last substantial content update next month on June 9. As there is no Destiny 3 on the horizon, players who have supported the sci-fi first-person shooter since 2014 cannot expect the franchise to remain a reliable source for new raids or support.
The reaction to the announcement warning Guardians that the end of Destiny is approaching has included a review-bombing campaign, a widely circulated petition, and numerous responses from fans who believe the plug was pulled too soon. While the lights on The Traveler fade and players brace for the conclusion of an era, the Warframe community has appeared as an unforeseen source of solace.
One Reddit user commented, “I’m sure we all have our thoughts about Destiny 2, and I definitely have them too.” They continued, “I just hope we can, as a community, respect Destiny 2 for what it accomplished. In my opinion, a game just needs to make one person smile to be successful, and I respect Destiny for making so many people smile.”
Long viewed as a rival faction for over a decade, the Warframe playerbase began offering condolences following news of Destiny’s final major update. Bittersweet describes the situation, with fans who usually trade jibes at each other shifting their tone as the friendly rivalry concludes.
Another Reddit user remarked, “You know it’s sad when even Warframe is mourning the death of D2.”
A Destiny fan added, “Even the opps grieving,” complete with broken-heart emojis.
Another individual responded, “Not Opps; Brothers!” They added, “Warframe lost a family member.”
Naturally, some individuals on both sides still wish to have no contact with the other. Shifts within Destiny appear to have created a divide where Warframe players seize the chance to promote their title to others, despite similarities ending at the surface. Generally, however, both groups are striving to ignore the negative instances.
It’s really true. I have some thousand hours in destiny between the two games and Warframe and destiny are not the same. I LOVE Warframe but for very different reasons than Destiny. Some players will find Warframe and it’ll scratch the itch but destiny is destiny. https://t.co/2xOns4h3Dh
– MarcoMeatball (@Marcodmeatball)
Should a Destiny fan inquire whether Warframe suits them, players often set expectations regarding the role of a Tenno Operator. This appears to stem from genuine care for those seeking a new hobby, while recognising that the cessation of Destiny 2 support will create a difficult void to fill.
One Warframe fan stated, “The community will welcome anyone with open arms, but don’t look at it as filling the hole that is Destiny, see it for the new thing that it is and see how ya like it. I’m sad to hear the state of Destiny and for all those looking to Warframe to try out I hope ya love it the way I do, there’s certainly plenty to do to keep ya just as busy as Destiny did, just through a different method.”
A Destiny player who visited the Warframe subreddit because they “need a game that scratches that Destiny itch” following their experience of being “shot and thrown in the ditch,” received dozens of comments detailing the differences between the two titles and a warm reception.
One reply stated, “We love Warframe, we love [Digital Extremes], and [Digital Extremes] loves us, and Warframe is good. Simple as.” They concluded, “Welcome, Tenno!”
The original poster responded, “Thank you!”
With the sun setting on Destiny 2, members of the Digital Extremes team have also stepped forward to bid farewell. Warframe creative director Rebecca Ford, who voices the guiding NPC Lotus, used X/Twitter to express appreciation for Bungie’s work as this chapter closes. She recalled attending the midnight launch for Halo 3 at the age of 16 before rushing home to play “more Halo than you could imagine.”
She stated plainly, “There is no Warframe without the legacy of Bungie games.”
She continued in a series of posts. “Bungie then made Destiny,” she added. “Destiny was and is a force of nature, loved and held in the hands of so many people who, for a moment, were part of the biggest thing in gaming. Then comes the words, summarized crudely: ‘The End.'”
She wrote, “What a tempest! I am 16 again. I am 35. I am making Warframe, I am saying goodbye to the only lasting pillar I had to look up to. I am responsible for my own destiny. This is misery for so many people. People are the only reason for the good and the bad of this.”
She asked, “You are 16? You are 35? You are still someone who knows better than to act without empathy! This is ‘The End?.’ This is reality. This is business? Yes, and in business you know to not try and compete in the same space. Do not offer succor with comparison!”
Pablo Alonso, the Warframe design director, also appeared to address those using the end of Destiny support as a chance to push their own recommendations. Alonso discussed the experience of hearing others urge people to “play [League of Legends] or Dota” when support for Heroes of the Storm was ending, noting that “most were trying to be helpful but they were just annoying.”
Reminder to all Warframe fans to not be toxic while the Destiny community mourns their favorite game ending. I have 1000s of hours in Destiny 2 and getting there for Warframe, be like DE be supportive not toxic. 👍💚 pic.twitter.com/kBTQfJqrD2
– Chibirobo1 (@chibirobo12)
Undoubtedly, some users are treating the discontinuation of live-service support for Destiny 2 as a chance to force a new game upon those simply trying to accept the end of a shooter many have invested a significant portion of their lives in. While these stranded Guardians reflect on the conclusion of a 12-year journey, most Warframe players seem to be using this moment to urge others to offer a helping hand, provided they request it. Until then, it is farewell.
Although what comes next for Destiny following the June update remains uncertain, servers will stay online after the update launches. The next Warframe update, Jade Shadows: Constellations, is anticipated to launch in June 2026.
