Summary
Destiny 2has been in a delicate position since the launch of Lightfall, which many believe failed to deliver the premise of the penultimate expansion in the Light and Darkness saga. The recent Bungie layoffs and the rumors ofThe Final Shape being delayed to June 2024further put a dent into the community’s trust and engagement with the game itself, which right now is boasting the lowest player count on Steam ever recorded, making fans question what this could mean for the franchise. With the reported loss of 45% revenue fromDestiny 2’s sales projections, Bungie is smart to use popular IPs for its crossovers, butThe Witchercollab wasted a big opportunity to be something more.
As it stands,Destiny 2’s seasonal eventsare four, and they take place once in each of their respective real-life seasons, with Guardian Games happening in Spring, Solstice in Summer, Festival of the Lost in Fall, and The Dawning in Winter. These are the only full-fledged events the game features, and while on the one hand, it makes sense given the current scope of the game, on the other hand, crossovers easily lend themselves to be something more than just cosmetic item bundles.
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Destiny 2’s Crossovers Could be Something More
A History of Destiny 2 Crossovers
Bungie has held several crossovers forDestiny 2so far. These include the following IPs, alongside the newest one for Season of the Wish:
There were also crossovers withFall GuysandArknightswhereDestiny 2characters would appear in those games in some shape or form, but they didn’t cross over intoDestiny 2itself. In every instance, these crossovers were limited to cosmetic items featured in the Eververse store for players to purchase, and they were always only available for Silver - the real-money in-game currency.
Why Destiny 2’s The Witcher Crossover Missed a Big Opportunity
The Witchercrossover forDestiny 2would have been a perfect addition to Season of the Witch if it came with its own in-game event associated with it, so that not only all players would be able to enjoy crossover content for free, but it could also motivate some fans to purchase the exclusive cosmetics. Season of the Witch added a deckbuilding mechanic inDestiny 2, and a crossover event withThe Witchercould have added a temporary game mode or even just in-game effects tied to the IP’s own popular card game: Gwent.
Gwent was not only a popular mini-game forThe Witcher 3, but it became its own standalone game that gained a lot of traction over the years. With a deckbuilding mechanic added with Season of the Witch, albeit basic, having some sort of Gwent-themed elements would have made for a great way to present a crossover that’s more than just a few skins only available for those who spend money on the game.Destiny 2’s “microtransaction hell"is not something new, and adding more microtransactions without some form of content for free-to-play gamers doesn’t help the looter-shooter’s current reputation.
As such,The Witchercrossover feels a bit late and a bit wasted, and while it remains a good way to offer interesting armor sets and other cosmetic items to fans of other franchises,Destiny 2’s future crossoverscan and should aim to achieve something else. One of the premises of live-service titles is to keep players engaged enough that they’ll spend money on the game at some point, and holding crossover events that are free for all would not only be better forDestiny 2’s longevity, but would also help Bungie possibly make more revenue.
Destiny 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.An Immersive StoryYou are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.Guardian ClassesChoose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
