I’ve been playing Destiny for many years, and I want to start by saying that The Final Shape campaign and the Pale Heart are some of the strongest content Bungie has ever released. The atmosphere, the storytelling, and the build crafting depth are genuinely excellent.
That said, I’m a primarily solo player who enjoys exploration, story, and experimenting with builds. Recently, I’ve been struggling with how certain design decisions affect players like me, especially when it comes to accessing content I’ve already paid for.
More and more non‑raid rewards are being locked behind mandatory duo or group-only activities. A clear example is the Exotic Class Item system requiring completion of Dual Destiny, a mission that cannot be done solo or with matchmaking. I’m completely fine with raid exotics being raid‑exclusive; that’s a choice. But when non‑raid items and core systems are gated behind forced group content, it feels very different.
The issue isn’t difficulty.
It’s being required to engage with a playstyle I don’t enjoy in order to access content included in the expansion price.
This leads into the value for money concern. The annual expansion cost is significant, and as a solo player I’m realistically only able to access around 50–60% of the content I’ve paid for. It’s becoming harder to justify the price when a substantial portion of the experience is effectively inaccessible due to design decisions rather than personal preference. I didn't play for over a year as I could not justify paying for the Final Shape and then eventually purchased it at a heavily discounted price.
I genuinely believe Destiny can support both group and solo players without compromising either experience. Even a one-time solo alternative path for unlocking systems like Exotic Class Items would go a long way toward making the game feel more inclusive and respectful of different playstyles.
I’m sharing this because I care about Destiny and want it to continue thriving. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I would be interested if other solo players feel the same.
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Part of the problem is that Bungle calls us players instead of customers to distract from the fact that some paying customers get less content. If you went to a restaurant alone and paid $15 for a meal and then found out that couples and families got pie and ice cream while you didn't, how would you feel? I think they are trying to force people onto teams so that they'll then buy Marathon. For solo players that won't work. All it will do is reduce D2 sales. Not smart. Or should I say, typical of Bungle. Until Sony replaces the dim bulbs now running the studio, player count will be down, profits will suffer and Marathon will be the anchor that sinks the Bungie ship.