Bungie has unveiled a major ViDoc for the forthcoming expansion of Destiny 2, which is called Renegades, and it’s now the hottest discussion topic across the gaming community. The authors named their work ‘Authentically Destiny. Unmistakably Star Wars,’ and they unleash a full-blown crossover with weapons like lightsabers, jetpacks in the style of Mandalorians, and totally different vibes for the looter-shooter. Would you ask about the gamers’ response? I would say… it’s multifaceted. A segment of the community is buzzing with the new content; nonetheless, the others are giving it the title of Bungie’s most exceedingly creatively bankrupt move. The whole ‘Making of a Renegade’ documentary has been published and it is ready for all the viewers to understand the strange new path better.
So what is the hullabaloo about concerning Destiny 2: Renegades? The new ViDoc by Bungie hints at a bold change, where the universe of Destiny will once again be mixed up with that of Star Wars so very clearly. New weapons will look and work like lightsabers, armors will show off a Mandalorian pattern and possibly a new game mode will be introduced too. This can no longer be brushed off as a purely cosmetic happening; it is being that way around and has already stopped to be seen as the main expansion, thus it is nothing less than a great thing for the game’s future. The primary question that all are thinking is: is it an ingenious fusion of two sci-fi giants or a desperate move from the side of a studio that has already run out of its own ideas?
The player reactions on social media are like a crazy roller coaster ride. There is an absolute divide right down the middle. For example, on one side the user JoeMess is exclaiming ‘WE ARE BACK!’ and is definitely very much looking forward to the new content that will be available on December 2nd. He and others regard it as ‘Wow, it’s going to be fantastic,’ while they are watching the luxurious trailers with jetpacks and plasma swords. The users considered the climax of The Witness saga as a really exhausting experience, so here comes a nice, new way to treat them after the defeat of the big bad. Certainly, the next ones to come are just space wizards with laser swords.
In contrast to the above side, the opinion of the other side is entirely different. They are undoubtedly discontented. The criticism is severe and quite consistent around the board. User Brett_C_Johnson called it ‘the most creatively bankrupt thing I think I’ve ever seen,’ and many others, who think Bungie has given up its distinct identity, have voiced similar views. User cadian_gate dedicated quite a long post to his nostalgic reminiscence where he was almost saying, ‘Do you remember when Destiny used to have its wonderful and distinctive style? Taking post-apocalyptic sci-fi mixed with medieval fantasy along with Lovecraftian enemies? Well, I guess you people have forgotten.’ That was quite a blow! This sentiment seems to echo that the Star Wars mix is taking them right out of the Destiny universe, which they have been loving for a decade.
The practicality of the confusion coming with the negativity also shows up. Some players are just trying to understand the logistics of it. User NectorKurai posted, ‘Can someone explain to me if this is going to be a canon thing or just like a side track thing?’ which is a very smart question! How does Star Wars fit into the Destiny story? Is it an alternate universe? A simulation? No one knows the answer yet. Another user, PittBigley, was wondering if this involves an extraction shooter mode, suggesting that many people still have a very foggy picture about some details very unclear. And user itzjuztLeo asked the one and only most important question of all for any Destiny player: ‘Is it a primary sword or a special sword?’ Yeah, those are the priorities, everyone.
There is a whole spectrum of comments such as calling the developers to be ‘a joke’ and implying that the project is simply a ‘desperate attempt to get hype’ to very intense negative complaints. User Dark_Joker64 was really tough and spared no one when he wrote, ‘A piss poor job by the developers. Not enough money will ever be enough to make me believe this is the way you think the players would return. No original content. Terrible idea. You’re done.’
This is a level of disappointment that reflects a longer-term dissatisfaction with the game’s direction and this Star Wars collaboration is for a lot of veterans perceived as the last straw. User XsHaDoWx1019 put it very nicely: ‘Zzzzzzzzz… Sorry, was there a ViDoc… Haven’t played D2 since Solstice this year and this still ain’t enough to get people to come back.’
PlayStation and Xbox Crocs are also part of the gaming conversation.
