Destiny 2 Game Director, Joe Blackburn addresses player concerns over the State of Game blog that Bungie released this month. Learn more about Blackburn’s role in the game, what are things they thought to improve, reveal showcase, and more.
Destiny 2 Game Director Apologizes Over State of Game Blog Backlash
Addresses A Few Things on Personal Twitter
Responding to the aftermath of the latest State of the Game blog from Bungie, Joe Blackburn, Game Director of Destiny 2 took to Twitter to address the concerns and feedback voiced by players. With over 16 minutes of a candid meeting,
as he called it, Blackburn touched on crucial aspects of the game, revealed upcoming plans, and acknowledged areas for improvement.
The crux of the discussion centered around Bungie's State of the Game blog, which, according to Blackburn, did not meet the high standards players have come to expect from such communications. He explained that the team had been deeply engrossed in developing The Final Shape,
the game's upcoming expansion, leading to the blog not receiving the usual attention and care.
Acknowledging his role in this oversight, Blackburn apologized to the Destiny 2 community. He emphasized his responsibility and took the opportunity to address the community directly through a Twitter video, sharing insights on their thoughts about the State of the Game and Destiny 2 as a whole.
Destiny 2 Components Addressed By Joe Blackburn
Season Reveal Showcase
Blackburn disclosed that the upcoming week will feature an exclusive presentation centered around The Final Shape.
Notably, he underscored that this forthcoming reveal is not a hastily crafted response to the recent State of the Game feedback, emphasizing its strategic nature.
The culmination of this unveiling revolves around the core themes of light, adversaries, and allies, aspiring to craft an engaging and all-encompassing experience that caters to seasoned players and newcomers. Blackburn further acknowledged that the communication blueprint for this showcase was meticulously designed to cater to a broad audience, with a keen focus on aspects such as location, narrative, and prospective live-service alterations post the The Final Shape
era.
PVP Improvements
Blackburn delved into the current state of Player versus Player (PVP) gameplay within Destiny 2, underscoring the team's dedication to maintaining sandbox balance. Bungie's strategic plan entails the introduction of two weapon balances each season, coupled with ritual and mode updates. Acknowledging a shortfall in the approach to map updates, Blackburn revealed a potential remedy - a comprehensive solution in the form of a single map pack drop slated for next year. New PVP modes, such as Checkmate
and Relic,
were highlighted as focal points for enriching primary weapon prowess and delivering an elevated Destiny sandbox experience.
Bungie's ambition to integrate core modes into the playlist, encompassing Crucible Labs and Iron Banner, further exemplifies its commitment to refining the PVP ecosystem. Additionally, Blackburn acknowledged plans to simplify the competitive (Comp) mode's reward system, ensuring that the outcome of each match carries greater significance.
Armor and Communications
Blackburn touched upon the topic of armor monetization, acknowledging player concerns. In response to these concerns, Bungie has formulated a plan to make armor more accessible by offering them for free to the player base. Additionally, Blackburn highlighted the ongoing communication challenge faced by the development team, emphasizing their intent to communicate more extensively when it's deemed safe to do so.
To ensure transparency and safety, the team will utilize their branded accounts, with Blackburn himself planning to stream the game. As fans eagerly anticipate the release of The Final Shape
and the forthcoming enhancements in Destiny 2, this renewed commitment to communication signifies a significant stride towards creating an even more immersive and engaging gaming experience.
Destiny 2 Community Appreciates Follow-Up, But Demands More To Be Done
The community over Twitter was generally pleased with Blackburn’s apology and his willingness to address their concerns. However, some fans felt that his response was not enough, and that Bungie needs to do more to improve the game. They suggested that Bundie should be more transparent with their communication, and that they should make more effort to address the community’s feedback.
Overall, the community seemed hopeful that Bungie will indeed take their feedback to heart and make the necessary changes to improve the game.
