As a devoted player with over 3000 hours sunk into Bungie’s sci-fi looter shooter since helping Dominus Ghaul “kick the door in” way back in 2017, I can unequivocally say Destiny 2 is more than worth playing in 2023 for both green new lights and battle-hardened veterans.
After weathering its fair share of content droughts, misguided experiments and community backlash over the years, Destiny 2 today stands tall as one of gaming’s premier service-based looters – bolstered by copious amounts of beloved content, top-tier gunplay and an unparalleled social experience binding its faithful Guardian legion together.
While certainly not without valid criticism, Bungie’s blockbuster epic offers endless hours of explosive adventures across a rich fantasy universe brimming with coveted rewards that keep you chasing the next sweet dopamine hit. From testing your elite PvE prowess in chaotic 6-man Raids to competing against other lethal Guardians in white-knuckle PvP – Destiny 2 continues innovating new ways to harness the unique hybrid MMOFPS/RPG framework into an alien spectacle filled with glorious highs and crushing lows.
And with a bright future ahead in 2023 thanks to renewed Sony investment plus a seismic new expansion in Lightfall just months away – both green newbies mid-rezz and hardened veterans longing for greater challenges stand to discover why 30 million players can’t seem to quit this infinitely repayable rollercoaster.
The Current State of Play: Refined Content-Rich Systems
Like an exquisite wine left to age to perfection or a battle-tested soldier honed by trauma, Destiny 2 today stands eons apart from the weaker loot shooter that launched to modest reception back in 2017 in terms of both breadth of content and depth of gameplay systems.
Thanks to six expansions under its belt and seasonal updates every three months, D2 now sports a staggering repertoire of activities catering to all interest levels and playstyles – from casual relaxing strikes you can matchmake for, to the pinnacle aspirational challenges offered by weekly featured Raids and Dungeons which test a seasoned fireteam’s coordination to its absolute limits.
| Activity | Fireteam Size | Matchmaking? | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story Campaigns | 1-3 players | Yes | Sci-fi narrative missions unveiling Destiny‘s rich lore and characters |
| Strikes | 3 players | Yes | Quick explosive mini-missions to tackle various enemies and bosses |
| Dungeons | 3 players | No | Medium-length puzzle-combat challenges promising unique loot |
| Raids | 6 players | No | Endgame pinnacle co-op activities demanding intricate team strategies |
| Crucible (PvP) | 6v6 or 4v4 | Yes | Competitive & casual versus modes to test Guardian combat prowess |
| Gambit | 4 players | Yes | Hybrid PvEvP mode where teams race to summon and slay Primevals |
| Patrols | 1-3 Players | Yes | Free-roam sandbox activities across various destinations |
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – with additional nuances like Grandmaster Nightfalls that crank up Strike difficulty to the absolute maximum, or Trials of Osiris which provides ultra-sweaty Elimination PvP.
Diverse bespoke loot pursuit activities also appear seasonally like PsiOps Battlegrounds in Season of the Risen or Ketchcrash Expedition in current Season of Plunder offering new enemy types and gear to acquire every few months.
Suffice to say, there‘s an impossible wealth of exhilarating, varied content available now to satisfy any taste or mood. Which wasn’t always the case for Destiny – making it much easier now for new players to find activities tailored to their interests instead of just chasing Power level.
According to Warmind.io which tracks Destiny 2‘s player activity, the most popular core activities as of this writing based on total collective hours spent are:
- Strikes across all difficulties: 7.3 billion hours
- Crucible PvP modes: 4 billion hours
- The staple Levithan raid vaulted in Year 4: 2.8 billion hours
- Patrol spaces: 2.6 billion hours across destinations like Cosmodrome, Dreaming City etc.
- Current pinnacle Raid Vow of the Disciple from Witch Queen expansion: 201 million hours and counting since early 2022 release
The sheer scale of engagement speaks volumes about Destiny 2 successfully catering replayable content to please both ends of the skill spectrum, while regularly cycling newer challenges to maintain interest via annual expansions and seasons.
And Bungie is far from done – with sweeping improvements slated for core progression systems like crafting as early as next season that will make Destiny 2 more intuitive to get into than ever before.
Gameplay & Gunplay Refined Through Years of Iteration
Yet satisfying content alone doth not an addictive service looter make. The secret sauce that ascended the original Destiny into a cultural gaming phenomenon, retained millions of loyal players through ups and downs and continues winning over waves of curious newcomers with each next-gen update lies in its exceptionally crafted, tactile moment-to-moment gameplay.
Simply put: no other loot-based social shooter on the market right now, whether triple-A big budget or indie darling, provides first-person gunplay with the same crunchy, kinetic, violently satisfying feel as Destiny 2.
Every framing element from detailed weapon animations, booming sound design and advanced tactile vibration feedback coalesces into combat that just feels phenomenal regardless of platform. Equipping an exotic Hand Cannon like Thorn or Ace of Spades makes you feel like an unstoppable sci-fantasy gunslinger, Sniper Rifles like Izanagi’s Burden lend a lethal tactical edge, while a Rocket Launcher like Gjallorhorn simply provides cathartic explosions of joy.
It‘s easy to take Destiny‘s exceptional combat feel for granted after extensive playtime, but for newcomers – pulling off that first flashy move evading incoming plasma fire then countering back with a Super never fails to inspire awe.
My first time chaining Arc Staff combos amidst a horde of Scorn or thundercrash slamming a overcharging Vex Minotaur as a Striker Titan stands forever etched in memory as a true hero moment worthy of Marvel’s Avengers.
Destiny 2’s colorful array of space magic powers and ever-escalating Weapon Sandbox balancing keeps that power trip feeling fresh years later with renewed discovery. Updates in Year 5 alone have made crafting the perfect Tiny Tina’s Wonderland‘s build with matching armor exotic fun all over again!
And the introduction of Strand – an eldritch green grappling hook power in upcoming expansion Lightfall promises to yet again redefine combat freedom by literally letting you swing from points Crisis on Infinite Earths style!
Whether you ultimately stay loyal to a chosen subclass tree that resonates or experiment regularly with seasonal anti-champion mods to craft potent loadouts – Destiny 2 continues bringing something uniquely explosive yet equally strategic to scratch that action-RPG itch.
It retains mastery yet constantly shifts the meta – exactly what you desire in an evolving service game.
Social & Community Elements Make Destiny a Lifestyle
Yet satisfying gear and gun loops alone still doesn’t fully capture why Destiny boasts such sky-high player retention rates year after year where competitors rely on fleeting novelty and fizzle out instead.
The secret lies in actively fostering social connections amongst fellow players that transform hobby into habitual lifestyle. Destiny doesn’t just offer an immersive retreat from daily stress – it provides a launchboard for forging new human connections that motivate you to stay engaged.
Between extensive Clan support features that let players easily organize under shared banners to take on elite challenges as bonded teams, proximity voice chat on console making interactions feel intimate and immediate, plus widespread fan-made LFG tools bringing strangers together for Raid attempts –
Destiny 2 excels at bringing out camaraderie that cuts across platform divisions. Hell, I’ve shed blood, sweat and tears for countless hours failing yet relentlessly retrying Day 1 Raid races with Xbox friends and can earnestly call it some of the most fun times of my life.
The Conversation Mode podcast perfectly encapsulates my sentiment:
“It‘s 3 AM, we‘re about to start our 15th attempt at beating Rhulk and half our team no longer possesses the mental capacity for human speech at this point from fatigue…but not one of us wants to leave or sleep because together we know – against all odds – we can and we WILL claim this Raid World First before the reset timer.”
Such exhilarating highs and crushing lows bonded together breed the sort of unbreakable trust and chemistry you seldom find in modern gaming. Where other MMOs and shooters feel populated by strangers all playing parallel games in isolation, Destiny fosters connections that inspire real loyalty.
It takes confidence to proudly adorn your Guardian with glowing Adept Raid shaders that immediately communicate your elite conqueror status. The fashion meta offers creative personal expression that civilian games can’t emulate. And forging the perfect 100 Recovery, 100 Discipline, 60+ stat Doctor Doom cosplay Hunter build brings satisfaction no Marvel’s Avengers game ever could!
My entire Friend’s List brims with Guardians actively playing together outside scheduled sessions via Xbox Parties and PlayStation Network in ways few communities manage nowadays. The Conversation Mode Discord with over 300k members stands as a testament to Destiny conversations never stopping even after you log off.
We speculate future developments, reminisce triumphant personal memories and discuss real-world happenings affecting life just as much as Xur’s latest inventory. At my office, chatting about Grandmaster Nightfall rotations and new Raid mechanics bears equal watercooler conversation value as actual sports!
Such is the lifestyle pull of Destiny 2 – transcending boundaries of hobby, platform and demographic thanks to a central persisting playground that keeps evolving. New Light players still regularly join our company Clan after chance Crucible run-ins.
In my 2000+ hours playtime, I‘ve forged bonds over Destiny that extended to collaborating on work projects, being groomsmen at weddings and amassing 1000+ Snapstreaks daily.
Bungie has managed building an MMO community so much more than just fleeting matchmade teammates – but rather an extended fellowship who‘ve watched each other‘s kids grow up by this point!
So if you fear never experiencing that sense of gaming camaraderie that prior generations reminisce over from classic dorm LAN parties or local arcade hangouts – Destiny 2 still captures that magical spirit better than anything else modern gaming offers.
The Road Ahead: Lightfall and Beyond Looks Bright
Of course, even the most polished persistent looter shooter can‘t sustain player investment forever without ambitious content pipeline and Destiny 2 seemed on the verge of growing stale before Bungie‘s separation from former publisher Activision following disappointing initial Forsaken numbers.
But in the three years since launch independent again, Bungie has managed delivering an impressive content cadence for Destiny 2 that ensures something fresh for all player types every three months rather than repeated content droughts.
Forsaken and Taken King director Luke Smith returned as game director leading development of Year 4 Beyond Light expansion and the ambitious Year 5 Witch Queen expansion with their respective seasonal content drops like Season of the Haunted activities and narrative beats surrounding Savathun‘s cunning long-term plans.
And the highly positive critical and community reception for both indicates Destiny 2 has plenty left in the tank creatively with its interweaving plotlines surrounding cosmic forces of Dark and Light.
Witch Queen campaign especially hit narrative high notes with its morally ambiguous portrayal of Lightbearer Lucent Hive Guardians questioning rigid definitions of good vs evil. While seasonal releases like Season of Plunder let the live team exercise creative freedom on more lighthearted pirate fantasy flavor.
Now all sights are set on 2023‘s tentpole Lightfall expansion set in the neon-drenched cyberpunk human city built around The Traveler, Neomuna on Neptune. Early marketing indicates a brighter aesthetic departure from recent grim Hive-themed outings into high-concept sci-fantasy complementing the mysterious new Strand element.
Concept art and early peeks suggest a heavier emphasis on platforming traversal suited for Strand‘s grappling hook applications and greater environmental interactivity – answering longstanding requests to make Destiny‘s worlds feel more physically grounded.
Not to mention the promise of finally learning secrets behind enigmatic ancient figures like The Witness, Disciples and what really triggered the Collapse across darker story beats.
General speculation holds high hopes for Lightfall delivering narrative and gameplay ambition on par with Taken King and Forsaken rather than a filler beat in between.
And even more monumental – Sony‘s recently announced investment into Destiny 2 as a tentpole PlayStation franchise guarantees not just financial security but also sweeping engine overhauls allowing true cross-platform interconnectivity and upgraded content velocity.
The roadmap beyond Lightfall extends years into the future with two more expansions already outlined if not formally named. Given Sony‘s 10-year partnership timeline, it‘s realistic for Destiny 2‘s persistent platform scale and scope achieving No Man‘s Sky levels of transformation in the backend before the next full sequel.
So while God of War, Spider-Man and other singleplayer Sony exclusives promise visually splendorous albeit ephemeral experiences – Destiny 2 stands positioned to deliver an ever-evolving multiplayer spectacle updated as frequently as live service counterparts like Fortnite on the same PlayStation ecosystem.
All signs point towards the next golden age or Taken King-esque creative peak awaiting on the horizon for Bungie‘s endless sci-fantasy saga through Sony‘s support.
Conclusion: Worth Playing More Than Ever for All Guardian Types
While no live service game maintains perfect consistency, especially over a 5+ year span, Destiny 2 today stands stronger, richer and more rewarding than ever – making 2023 the perfect entry point for curious newcomers and tempting long-lapsed veterans.
For potential New Lights torn between the overwhelming breadth of activities, patient veteran Sherpas still actively pay kindness forward by teaching Raid mechanics and guiding new players through convoluted systems. The early campaign content remains sublime and free-to-play Cosmodrome/Europa zones offer plenty solo adventures before needing to buy in fully.
Seasonal model means the cost-of-entry stays reasonable compared to backtracking six years of content. Cloud-enabled cross progression even lets you seamlessly continue that grind from mobile to console and bounce between platforms with seasonal content transfers.
Plus monumental quality-of-life changes removing Friction like enhanced Quest tracking and Guardian Ranks possessing account-wide progression rather than per-character grind means smoother onboarding and less obscurity getting to the real meaty content.
For Crucible Veterans longing for better maps, weapon balancing and prestige incentives than sorry Trials – kindly voices finally seem to have broken through Bungie‘s headstrong PvP decisions with Lightfall set to address common complaints. So battered yet faithful PvP mains stand to finally gain long-overdue love.
For Raid fanatics and aspirational endgame fiends chasing coveted Day One titles and low-man triumphs, the content pipeline suggests no shortage of challenges anytime soon. Whispers of a heroic Menagerie mode returning offer enticing prospects.
And for the most fervent year 1 loyalists disillusioned by departures over the years, efforts restoring vaulted planets and fan favorites like Wrath of the Machine raid hint at a nostalgia-fueled revival on the horizon!
At the end of the day, Destiny 2 stands the closest gaming has to a proper Ready Play One OASIS metaverse – persisting reliably across hardware generations with interconnected social fabric enduring more volatility and change than any fragile game-as-service newcomer manages.
It retains remarkable pedigree as an evolutionary shared world showcasing steady tech improvements across art direction, traversal mechanics and perfomance milestones that raise confidence in Bungie‘s long-term intergalactic saga vision.
So regardless of skill level, platform preference or playstyle type – I wholeheartedly recommend giving Destiny 2 an honest 48 hour trial in 2023 before judgment. Let the crazily passionate community win you over through sheer camaraderie and kinetic gunplay brilliance rather than prior conceptions.
Who knows – maybe one day years down the line, you’ll proudly adorn Raid jackets and Exotic replicas from Bungie‘s official merch store among fellow Light bearers united by Destiny‘s transcendent social experience delivered consistently for yet another generation!
Eyes Up Guardian – Adventure Awaits Among The Stars!