The year 2023 has proven to be the year of considerable challenges for Bungie, marked by an 8% layoff and a 45% cut in revenue expectations. Adding to the turbulence is that Destiny 2 has hit its lowest player count on Steam since its 2019 debut.
According to Steam Charts, the average number of players in the last 30 days declined to 34,478, signaling an 18% decrease from the preceding month. Furthermore, the game’s peak player count reached 59,076. These stats mark the lowest figures recorded since 2019.
As reported by Windows Central, the decline in player interest to several contributing factors. A primary concern revolves around the Lightfall DLC expansion, criticized for its peculiarly written campaign. IGN’s review of Destiny 2: Lightfall described it as having “an underwhelming new destination, and only a few new standout activities to take on.”.
The second issue centers on game and gameplay aspects, including the aggressive monetization policies implemented by Bungie. For instance, the decision in August to include weapons in pre-order bonuses was condemned.
Additionally, fierce competition from other noteworthy titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, and the Resident Evil 4 Remake has diverted players’ attention, impacting Destiny 2’s player numbers.
What Bungie is doing to address it?
In response to these challenges, Bungie aims to address player concerns with the upcoming Season of Wish, anticipated to launch later this month.
Destiny 2 Has Hit Its Lowest Player Count In Franchise History https://t.co/w29oWqfZkr pic.twitter.com/KpMXj4DUYK
— Sanky (@ForzaPlayz) November 19, 2023
While the developer has unveiled some exotic weapons coming to the season pass, experts from Windows Central assert that it may not be sufficient for bouncing back and emphasized the need for an incredible DLC expansion to gather player engagement.
