Bungie faces challenges with Destiny 2's seasonal model, which revitalized the game but necessitates constant new content. Presently, Bungie follows a pattern of four seasons per year, each accompanied by two new Raids and two Dungeons. However, with Season 22 approaching in two months, the inclusion of a returning Raid in Destiny 2 could potentially spark controversy.
The primary issue with bringing back previous Raids is that Bungie typically selects them from the original Destiny. However, only two options remain, Crota's End and Wrath of the Machine, and both pose challenges for the studio due to the significant changes required to adapt them to Destiny 2. Bungie's comments on these Raids suggest that they are unlikely choices. Alternatively, Bungie could consider reprising one of the vaulted Destiny 2 Raids, but this option also carries potential problems.
Season 22's Returning Raid Could be a Controversy Waiting to Happen for Destiny 2
The recent controversy surrounding the game and Bungie's approach arose during Season of Plunder when several assets from vaulted content were used in weekly missions. This decision upset some fans who believed that using assets they had previously paid for in new paid content was unacceptable. While reusing assets is a common practice in video games, incorporating entire Raids in this manner may result in a strong negative reaction, particularly if the only significant change is a cosmetic one.
Therefore, if the reprised Raid in Destiny 2's Season 22 happens to be the Leviathan, for instance, some fans may express dissatisfaction with the handling of vaulted content and question the purpose of the Destiny Content Vault. On the other hand, Bungie has previously stated that Crota's End was too short to be considered a full Raid experience comparable to modern Raids such as Destiny 2's Root of Nightmares or Vow of the Disciple.
In terms of bringing back Crota's End as a Dungeon, there are concerns regarding the limited number of encounters it would provide and the potential challenges it could pose for Bungie. Additionally, Bungie has expressed disinterest in reintroducing SIVA into the narrative, which presents an internal obstacle for the return of the Raid, Wrath of the Machine. Recreating all the assets for this Raid in order to incorporate it into Destiny 2 would be a significant undertaking, especially considering the limited future use it would likely have. Another challenge lies in the Exotic associated with Wrath of the Machine. While Destiny 2 has introduced Exotic weapons and armor specifically designed for the game, it has also included legacy pieces from past Destiny content, such as the Outbreak Perfect pulse rifle. Since Destiny 2 featured this weapon without the Raid, Bungie would need to create an entirely new Exotic for this particular content. Overall, Bungie seems to be facing difficulties in delivering a reimagined Raid for Season 22, and fans will have to wait until August for more information.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
