The cycle of ups and downs that has defined Destiny 2 reached new extremes in the aftermath of The Final Shape. The best expansion in the MMO's history was almost immediately followed by severe layoffs at developer Bungie, with many recognizable Destiny veterans among those cut or leaving. Coupled with the end of the Light and Darkness saga which has guided the game thus far, this left the future of Destiny, if not Bungie altogether, uncertain.
The backdrop to this is a measurable – albeit not entirely unexpected or atypical – decline in Destiny 2's player count, with the new Episode model seemingly failing to keep some players on the hook long-term, not to mention unrest exemplified by devoted players like community icon Datto. There have also been rumors of a dramatic shift in business model for Destiny 2, with major expansions potentially getting the axe and with new owner Sony reportedly poised to plunge its hands deeper into Bungie's operations. Inexplicable technical issues – my team ran into all-new raid bugs just last night – haven't helped either.
