Destiny 2’s seasonal model is what helped Bungie breathe new life into the game after a not-so-successful launch and first year, but it also came with its own set of challenges, among which is the fact that the studio had to constantly release new content for players to dive into. Bungie’s current approach includes four three-month seasons that accompany the game’s yearly releases, and also a set of two new Raids and two Dungeons to come on a one-per-season basis. With Season 22 coming in around two months, Bungie is going to have areturning Raid inDestiny 2that could be a controversy waiting to happen no matter what.
The main issue with returning Raids is that Bungie typically picks them from the originalDestiny, but currently, there are only two left that are not the best options for the studio for different reasons. This includes Crota’s End and Wrath of the Machine, both Raids that had their time in the limelight in the first game, but would require significant changes to be added toDestiny 2, and Bungie’s comments about both don’t make them likely options. The other route would be to reprise one of the vaultedDestiny 2Raids, but that too could be a problematic option.
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Season 22’s Returning Raid Could be a Controversy Waiting to Happen for Destiny 2
One of the more recent controversies regarding the game and Bungie’s approach came with Season of Plunder, which included several assets used in its weekly missions that were originally from vaulted content, which was upsetting to some fans. There is a school of thought that using assets that were once removed from the game, which players paid for, and then using them for new paid content shouldn’t happen - and this applies toDestiny 2as well. Even though reusing assets in video games is common practice, doing this with entire Raids could be met with a strong backlash, especially if the main change is a new coat of paint.
As such, if the reprised Raid inDestiny 2’s Season 22turns out to be the Leviathan, for example, some fans wouldn’t be happy about the approach to vaulted content and question what the Destiny Content Vault was there for in the first place. On the other hand, Bungie did release statements about Crota’s End in the past, saying it was too short to qualify for a full Raid experience on par with modern Raids likeDestiny 2’s Root of Nightmares or Vow of the Disciple, for instance.
Crota’s End should return as a Dungeon, according to many, given the scope of the original Raid. Its encounters would be too few if it were to be adapted faithfully, and it could still be a problematic option for Bungie. However, the remaining Raid would be Wrath of the Machine, and Bungie did say that it has no interest in bringing back SIVA into the narrative. This poses a different problem, this time internal, as the studio would have to recreate all the assets for the Raid to addWrath of the Machine toDestiny 2, and that is a tall order for something that wouldn’t really see further use.
On top of that, there’s another challenge when it comes to Wrath of the Machine, and that is its Exotic.Destiny 2’s Exotic weaponsand armor include multiple pieces that were specifically created for the game, but they also come with pastDestinyglories, such as the Outbreak Perfect pulse rifle. This gun was originally from Wrath of the Machine, butDestiny 2featured it without the Raid, meaning Bungie would also have to make an entirely new Exotic weapon for this particular piece of content. As it stands, the studio doesn’t seem to be in a winning position when it comes to Season 22’s reprised Raid, and fans will likely have to wait until August to find out what it will be.
Destiny 2is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
