Destiny 2's latest expansion, The Edge of Fate, is officially here, kickstarting a fresh, multi-year saga for the franchise as well as its new release schedule, which essentially splits annual expansions down the middle for a total of two major content updates every year. So far, The Edge of Fate's launch has proven to be an interesting time for Destiny 2, but not necessarily in the best way. In many ways, The Edge of Fate has shown itself to be quite a mess, largely due to a number of fairly drastic changes introduced that have thrown even the most dedicated players for a loop.
A messy launch doesn't mean an unsuccessful one, though, as there are still plenty of things the expansion has going for it that could line up some great things for Destiny 2's future. Sure, The Edge of Fate's day-one player count was considerably lower than the expansions that came before it, but that's to be expected after the end of the decade-long Light and Darkness Saga with the launch of the Final Shape expansion. Now, however, as the latest expansion starts an entirely new era for Destiny 2, a mess is somewhat expected, but it could still produce something worthwhile in the end.
Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate's Ikora Speaks Louder Than Words
Ikora’s voice change in Edge of Fate feels off in a way that quietly draws attention to something deeper Destiny 2 may not be ready to say out loud.
Edge of Fate's Messy Systems Point to a More Ambitious Destiny 2
Not Every Change Lands, but Destiny 2's Willingness to Take Risks Is Worth Noticing
Sometimes, online game and expansion launches are messy because of server issues and bugs, and while Destiny 2 has certainly had its fair share of those over the years, The Edge of Fate has largely been able to avoid repeating those mistakes to the degree they've occurred before. Rather, most of this particular expansion's mess comes from various aspects of its gameplay, leading players to feel overwhelmed by the new economy and confused by unclear UI changes. Destiny 2's new planetoid Kepler's visual style and mission design have also been fairly underwhelming, and the Portal has unexpectedly been a major adjustment for veteran players.
As the latest expansion starts an entirely new era for Destiny 2, a mess is somewhat expected, but it could still produce something worthwhile in the end.
In other words, the MMO has taken some sharp turns with The Edge of Fate, perhaps sharper than any turns it has made before, but they aren't all bad. Destiny 2's Armor 3.0 system, for example, has received plenty of praise from players, as well as the new tiered loot system, which the game has needed for a long time now. In essence, these are the broken eggs that go toward making the delicious omelette Destiny 2 could soon become, so long as it keeps its sights right where they're at for the time being.
Major Changes Act as Necessary Disruptions
The main thing to note in all of this, however, is not that Destiny 2 is inevitably on its last leg, but that The Edge of Fate has accomplished something the expansions that came before it never quite went all-in on. Rather than refining or enhancing the Destiny 2 experience as previous expansions have, The Edge of Fate has clearly made an attempt at completely reimagining that experience and significantly reworking it. In many ways, it makes the game feel brand-new again, which is why even veteran players have been left scratching their heads at some of the changes. It effectively takes Destiny 2 off of autopilot for once, putting real meat on the plate rather than simply repeating itself.
If The Edge of Fate has proven anything, it's that "new" doesn't automatically mean "better" — it simply means "different." But this is where the expansion's strength lies, as it mostly avoids content that leans more toward filler and polish and instead opts for grander changes that aim to shake things up, even if it ruffles some feathers in the process. All in all, Destiny 2's Edge of Fate expansion might be off to a bit of a rough start, but it could actually be the foot in the door the game has long needed to get it back on track again. This first step might be a clumsy one, but at least the game feels like it's moving again, and that's something worth paying attention to.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Engine
- Tiger Engine
