2025 Is Quickly Proving That Destiny Has Outgrown Itself

Summary

Destiny's influence extends beyond gameplay, impacting titles like The Outer Worlds 2 and Borderlands 4.
The Outer Worlds 2 enhances gunplay inspired by Destiny, featuring better weapon feedback and agile movement.
Borderlands 4 incorporates Destiny vibes with elements like a Sparrow-like vehicle and Ghost-inspired companion.

Bungie's Destiny franchise has undoubtedly been successful, having lasted over a decade and still pushing toward new content and major updates. That being said, it hasn't always ridden a high, and that has been especially true of it recently. Despite some regular content and story additions, as well as its seasonal events, Destiny 2 has struggled to maintain the interest of its players — even its most dedicated followers. Fortunately, the recent reveal of its Edge of Fate expansion proves that it is heading in the right direction, but that's not the only thing it has going for it.

The reason the Destiny franchise has been able to stay alive for so long and even maintain its popularity is because it offers rewarding gameplay and a world and story that are unlike what any other game offers. However, those elements haven't just served to keep Destiny itself alive, and have also found their way into the foundations of other games, serving as inspirations for gameplay systems and mechanics. By and large, Bungie's Destiny franchise has solidified itself as one of the most influential games out there, and that is proving to be especially true in 2025. More or less, Destiny has outgrown itself, and at least two of the biggest games coming out this year are evidence of that.

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By Josh Cotts

2025 Is the Year of the 'Destiny Effect'

The Outer Worlds 2 Has Modeled Its Gunplay After Destiny

One of the most anticipated games of 2025 is Obsidian Entertainment's The Outer Worlds 2, which is set to introduce a wide variety of new features and gameplay enhancements to the formula established by its predecessor. One of its most significant enhancements, though, can be found in its gunplay. The first Outer Worlds had gunplay similar to Fallout: New Vegas — which was also developed by Obsidian — but that isn't necessarily a good thing. Fallout: New Vegas' gunplay, like every other Fallout game, wasn't one of its strengths, as it was rather sluggish and unfulfilling.

Destiny 2 is widely considered one of the best examples of satisfying gunplay in the gaming industry.

This is where Destiny's legacy comes in for The Outer Worlds 2, as Obsidian has cited Destiny as inspiration for the sequel's gunplay and movement. Ultimately, this means improved weapon feedback, greater weapon variety, and more agile movement mechanics. For example, it has been confirmed that players will be able to slide while aiming down their weapon's sights, just as they can in Destiny 2. This mixture of improved weapon feedback, more variety in what weapons players can use, and the ability to combine movement with gunplay show Destiny's influence on The Outer Worlds 2.

Borderlands 4 Has Clear Destiny Influences

The Outer Worlds 2 isn't the only game coming out this year that is modeling itself after Destiny in some way either, as Gearbox's upcoming Borderlands 4 has strong Destiny vibes. Firstly, there's Borderlands 4's new Digirunner vehicle, which moves and even spawns similarly to Destiny's Sparrow. Secondly, some of Borderlands 4's movement mechanics seem to channel Destiny 2's classes, as players can double jump and even glide in Borderlands 4. Finally, the new companion character Echo-4 is, for all intents and purposes, Destiny's Ghost, as it guides players, helps them unlock doors, and decrypts data for them.

By and large, Bungie's Destiny franchise has solidified itself as one of the most influential games out there, and that is proving to be especially true in 2025.

Destiny may have started as a genre-blending experiment, but in 2025, it's becoming more of a blueprint than ever before. Its influence can now be seen across some of the year's most anticipated titles, from the way The Outer Worlds 2 handles gunplay to how Borderlands 4 reimagines the series' traversal and companion design. In the end, these are signs that Destiny's DNA has become foundational to modern looter shooters. Whether Bungie intended it or not, Destiny has outgrown its own borders and is shaping the future far beyond its own live-service walls.

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