Joe Blackburn

Bungie has confirmed that support for Destiny 2 is drawing to a close, with the upcoming update set to be the final one for the title. This announcement has naturally caused significant distress among the game's community. This development follows a difficult period for the studio. Since Sony acquired Bungie for $3.6 billion in 2022, the relationship has faced numerous challenges. Last year, Sony reported that Destiny 2 was not meeting performance targets, which led to an impairment loss of $204 million. These financial difficulties have persisted, as Sony recently identified a $765 million impairment loss following the launch of Marathon earlier this year. Consequently, Bungie is moving away from Destiny 2 while promising significant changes for the Marathon project. The news has left fans feeling quite somber, with many worrying that this could signal the end of Bungie as a company. https://twitter.com/locust9/status/2057514094832345110?s20 , "It’s over for Bungie." Another individual suggested a more cynical outlook, stating, https://twitter.com/DANNYonPC/status/2057523569978921050?s20 Not everyone is pessimistic, however. Some players believe this move might indicate that Destiny 3 is currently in development, suggesting the studio is simply prioritising a new title over an older one. https://twitter.com/EpicNNG/status/2057524071919702337?s20 : "This is the correct call. It should've ended years ago with Witch Queen leaving us on a cliffhanger until D3. Here's hoping that they finally put their focus on a Destiny 3, and we can get back to playing every day again." https://twitter.com/Benjjjyy/status/2057523018172096952?s20 that the franchise is not being sacrificed for the sake of Marathon, writing: "I hope Destiny 3 is in early development, this franchise deserves better than being abandoned for Marathon." Some critics remain unconvinced that this shift points to a brighter future for the Destiny series. https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/2057518792775709142 , "That’s not how I’m reading it. You wouldn’t announce the end of Destiny 2 without a clear commitment to future Destiny titles." Joe Blackburn, a former game director for Destiny 2, https://twitter.com/joegoroth/status/2057523216596275360 on the news, noting how much the series meant to him. Writing on X, Blackburn said: "Destiny made a mark on me as a player first. Getting a chance to work in that world is an honor I'll never fully be able to repay. Both in and out of game, Destiny 2 forged the core memories that made me who I am today. Thanks to everyone who brought the tower to life everyday." The road ahead is still very much uncertain. While Bungie has several projects in the works, including the potential for Destiny 3, being in the early stages of incubation does not guarantee a release. During the incubation phase, teams prototype ideas to see if they are viable before committing large budgets and full production. It is worth noting that Respawn Entertainment cancelled two of their incubation projects last year, so the outcome of Bungie's current projects remains unknown. Regardless of what happens with Destiny, Bungie will continue to work on Marathon. The developers recently confirmed they are adding more PvE content, which could be an attempt to attract players who are not interested in the PVP extraction style. There is a possibility that Marathon will expand to appeal to a broader audience. Given that current player numbers are much lower than those of Destiny 2, it remains to be seen if Bungie can successfully turn the project around.