In recent years, the landscape of AAA live service, PvE-based games has been turbulent. With titles like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Avengers, and Anthem failing to meet expectations, it begs the question of what lies ahead for this genre. Destiny has long been the frontrunner in this space, but even Destiny 2 has faced its fair share of struggles, such as declining player counts and revenue, which ultimately led to significant layoffs. As we approach the final expansion of the current saga and the launch of seasonal-but-not-seasonal Episodes, it's worth considering whether it's time to reassess the relentless content churn that has become synonymous with Destiny.
One possible approach would be to step away from the true 'live service' model that Destiny currently embodies. This would involve maintaining the production of large-scale expansions, as they have been the highlights of the Destiny experience, providing meaningful content that resonates with players. Perhaps a shift towards releasing these expansions every 18 months, rather than annually, could be a viable solution.
In place of the four seasons per year or the newly proposed three-episode structure, a return to smaller, yet substantial DLC releases could be considered. These DLCs, akin to the likes of Warmind, would serve as reasons for players to return after a break, injecting renewed interest and engagement. Additionally, Bungie could continue to add new items to Eververse, host holiday events, and include minor updates such as PvP map additions.
The current system of sprawling, never-ending seasons has shown signs of unsustainability for some time now. While these seasons often offer compelling content, player burnout has become a prevalent issue. Even the introduction of Episodes doesn't seem likely to alleviate this problem. Admittedly, there are risks associated with this alternative approach. Generating less ongoing revenue without continuous content would need to be balanced against potentially lower development costs. Bungie and Sony would need to consider how this might affect revenue patterns in the long run. However, if it helps preserve the Destiny franchise and ensure its longevity, it seems like a tradeoff worth considering.
One potential downside would be the presence of downtime for players. We've experienced lengthy gaps between content updates in the past, notably between Destiny 1 expansions and even within the Destiny 2 expansions such as Osiris and Warmind or Forsaken. However, despite players claiming to desire more and more content, the reaction to the current seasonal model suggests otherwise. Introducing forced breaks might actually be a positive change, allowing players to return to the game out of genuine excitement for new content rather than feeling obligated to keep up with every season.
It's unlikely that this shift will materialize, but it has been on my mind lately. For now, we can anticipate a year of Episodes. In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter, Threads, YouTube, and Instagram. Don't forget to check out my sci-fi novels, the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
