Destiny 2 has recently received an update that’s causing quite a stir among players, and not in a good way. Instead of bringing better rewards to a game mode that sorely needs it, Bungie has introduced several nerfs that cut down loot drops and reduce overall power gains. When something’s already tough, why make it tougher?
It’s odd timing too, with Bungie’s CEO Pete Parsons leaving and the game in need of some serious fresh energy. Here’s what players are facing soon:
- Pinnacle Ops missions will see their rewards slashed: Encore’s chests drop only two items, Starcrossed goes down to one chest, and Whisper won’t have its mid-activity chest anymore.
- A few underplayed Fireteams Ops have an increased reward count, but only three of them: Liminality, Inverted Spire (both to two chests), and Onslaught Widow’s Court (up to four).
- Solo Ops will drop gear that’s now one power level lower, and their completion timers are getting trimmed, less reward, less time.
- A new Fireteam Ops activity is incoming in Ash and Iron, but no new Solo Ops.
Moving on to changes in The Portal, things get a bit more complicated:
- Locked Loadout bonuses are getting hit hard because they were “too easy” before.
- Adding a combined Locked Loadout and New Gear Only modifier means players won’t be able to use a wide mix of builds like before.
- More loadout restrictions like only explosive or medieval weapons will be optional, but skipping them likely means facing tougher enemies.
- Players will have to take prime drops to the Cryptarch every single time for decryption, which Bungie thinks will be fun since it reminds them of Destiny 1.
Outside all that, players can brace for a complex new system meant to bypass loadout swapping in the Epic Raid, something many weren’t keen on. Honestly, why not just a simple locked loadout? Guess it’s too much to ask.
There is some good news though:
- Fireteam Ops timers should feel less brutal with some expansions.
- Solo players will get score bonuses when teaming up in Fireteam or Pinnacle Ops.
- A fix for the mess that is Account Power vs. Equipped Power is in the works.
- Prime engrams can drop from all end-of-run engrams now, not just the last one, although Solo Ops prime drops will be down one power.
- A new system lets players buy or complete old battle passes that no longer expire, something a lot had been asking for.
Still, grinding The Portal feels less rewarding at a time when it really should be the opposite. Cutting back loot and power gains is a tough pill to swallow. With the raid loadout stuff and all this, it’s a perfect storm of frustration. Seriously, is this a good look?
Player reactions have been strong enough that Bungie might rethink some of these nerfs or at least boost rewards in response to the outcry. I’m holding out some hope here but not holding my breath.
