This is one crazy thing that Bungie dropped into the lap of the Destiny 2 community, and it has set the whole community into a frenzy. So with the coming “Edge of Fate” update, Trials will cease to be a power-leveling advantage. So, if you recall, it would be a major run-down on you by some other Guardians who grinded more for maximum drops than you did. But here’s yet a small catch: still at 200 power level must you enter Trials, and you must have the brand-new expansion (The Edge of Fate, set for release on July 15th).
So what’s the big deal about this? Bungie considers this Trials move would make it “more approachable” while keeping full competition in the Passage system, map, and game mode. But the gamers? Boy, do they have thoughts!
First, some positives about the change. It is embraced by many now. @justaddwatter said through Twitter, “No 90-hour grind for Trials? That’s awesome.” Streamer @GernaderJake offered an ambivalent perspective: “Damn, I always enjoyed those first weekends where I was way higher power than everyone. Good memories. Solid change I think.” And @knitehawk said, “Hopefully more Guardians can now enjoy Trials earlier in their power grind!”
But besides…there was the other side. Many others are giving this change a side-eye, just not for the reasons you think. The biggest concern is…cheaters: “Haven’t you put it behind power level to limit cheaters on new accounts?” asked @Coeniasty. “Mostly because there is no decent anti-cheat solution? And now you’re going to open the floodgates for some minimal time investment accounts… Aahhahahahahaha :D” Oof.
Replies poured in from other players: “@Destiny2Team So main focus is change the power lvl but don’t do anything against cheaters? Yeah nice investment,” @Revenant922 shared sarcastically. “@Mr_Garzo” said, “Maybe Trials would be more approachable if there weren’t rampant cheaters… just thinking out loud here.”
The anti-cheat discourse is not new and this one somewhat added fuel to the fire. Some players like @ScottFree__ claimed that cheaters are the unavoidable plague every online PC game must endure, while others, like @Dusky402, begged Bungie to apply the change to the competitive playlist as well to stem cheating there.
Now this paywall lining the competition is about to tickle a soft spot with @Kezzez_: “Open it to more people, but then making people pay $100 to play it 🤔 Best thing I ever did was walk away from Bungie.” Conversely, @pilotelolo argued, “Guess I won’t play Trials for 6 months then.”
@Phantom_Skater is a nostalgic raptor who misses the power-up days: “Hot take, but I miss the early Light Level days where it mattered in IB and Trials. It was what really set these 2 apart from standard Crucible.”
So where does this leave us? Bungie wants to make Trials a bit more accessible, but the community’s reception on this attempt is…well, mixed, at best. Some see it as an opportunity for accessibility, at least others see it as the beginning of a disaster. Now, since Trials is basically behind a paywall after the Edge of Fate expansion in July, this never-ending debate might as well just go on.
One thing for sure: Trials of Osiris is about to feel very different. Whether that’s a good thing or not? Well, time shall tell after it’s out.
