Because the gunplay is really good. I never had a shred of interest in the story.

I don’t still play because the level and enemy design tanked when they went into expansion treadmill mode, but “a path forward” was never something I cared even a little bit about. “The path forward” is what killed my fun.

What main storyline? I jumped in late and none of it made sense. I couldn’t even figure out what order I had to play. Gameplay was great as long as it wasn’t PVP.

I dropped it like it was hot when they cut out 1/2 the content I paid for. I might come back if they bring it back.

I noped out of Destiny during 1, but it isn’t dissimilar from most live games.

Some people want that endless content drip. They are the ones who tend to bounce between live games and so forth.

But for a lot of us? It is about the journey, not the destination. We played Elite Dangerous because we like flying and scooping and not because we want to buy every single ship. We play Warframe because we enjoy the movement and gameplay and not because we need to make our MR even higher. And so forth.

And for them? Hopefully there is new content at some point if only for Bungie’s sake. But even if there isn’t? They are still playing a game they enjoy.

Because back in the before time? I probably logged 30 hours on CTF-Face alone back in UT. I played and beat Freespace 2 at least a dozen times. Hell, I have basically an annual replay of DOOM 1 and 2 that I have been doing for longer than most of you have been alive. Sometimes you want something new to experience. And sometimes you just want to have fun playing a game you like.

Something along the lines of hiring an expert on gambling. There’s a lot of game mechanics in games like Destiny 2 which lock you in through little feedback loops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIuAeFu84kY

It’s a good looking game with decent movement and gunplay, but it fully disrespects your time. RIP if you ended up buying the game in 2017 with the first few expansions because that shit gone now.

I’ve always enjoyed the identity of the three classes, and the abilities they have, plus gunplay has historically been pretty fun. That said, ever since i’ve started playing, the three things i’ve enjoyed were 1. the raids, 2. the story, and 3. my friends.

Unfortunately, Bungie make it overwhelmingly difficult to have fun in this game, by both making moronic decisions at times, and drip-feeding paying customers content, as if it’s a f2p game on life support. The latter alone has practically made me stop playing recently. You have to pay money to each each season, and all you get is a 30 second cutscene for the weekly story, plus a 10 minute adventure in a zone you’ve already been to a thousand times? Come on

What keeps them engaged with Destiny 2 despite its apparent lack of a clear path forward?

There is no alternative. The First Descendant is p2w. Once Human has different structure and resets your progress every season. Warframe is pretty different and similar to First Descendant. Overwatch basically cancelled its pve. Darktide is clunky.

And none of these games have the polish and shooting satisfaction that Destiny has. If people want a pve game, with long term progression that has enjoyable shooting, Destiny is all there is. What keeps them playing? Copium.

Slowly but steadily Destiny will die. And thats when Marathon will come out. But Marathon is very different, so i am not even so sure that most Destiny players will migrate to that.

I am not even playing Destiny. Destiny is the game that i want to love so much but always shits on me, so i gave up. It seems to me that the easiest thing in the world, is to keep Destiny going and address its minor issues. But somehow Bungie doesnt think so.

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I hate Destiny. It’s my favorite game.

I started playing D1 during the PS4 Alpha, then beta, and release. Loved it. Played almost daily through The Taken King, and got D2 on launch day. Played the Red War, then took a break. Dabbled in curse of Osiris, took a longer break, played a bit of Beyond Light, more break, then got back into Destiny last June and played a lot through Lightfall’s seasons and The Final Shape.

I truly enjoyed my time playing, but now I’m starting to feel pulled in other directions. I got into Warframe, and The Forever Winter looks really good. I tried Helldivers and it was ok, I don’t have a group to play it with and don’t enjoy randos.

Anyway, all that to say Destiny 2 is dangerously addictive. It feels so good to play. I especially enjoyed the 10-year saga wrapping up with The Final Shape. I’m a very casual gamer, but Destiny makes me feel powerful. That’s why I play.

TL:DR-I like the story and gunplay most of all. The social aspects of the game also keep me coming back to help friends and strangers.

Background: I started with vanilla D1, then picked it back up after Taken King and have been playing ever since.

For me, the game has become more about story than actual gameplay, which I still feel is one of the best around. I’m super excited about the 3rd Episode especially, seeing as the Hive still has Xivu to deal, and whatever is going on with Oryx’s body.

I still play every week. Once I’m done with my story stuff for the week, I like to help my group get their raid clears and other tasks completed. If they’re not on, I sometimes boot up LFG and help blueberries as best I can. I genuinely like to play the game, even if it’s helping others.

When story stuff is slow, I actually do like PVP, although, within the past year or so, I’ve noticed that I’ve either gotten worse or the average (remaining) player ha gotten better. No longer can I pick up any random weapon (another boon that Destiny offers, IMO. The ability to take a weapon in PVE/PVP and use it ANYWHERE, with varying degrees of success. But where was I?) and do “OK” with it. Everyone uses “easier” weapons or loadouts, and as much as that irks me (it’s quick play, FFS), that’s their right. Is that contributing to the barren, desolate landscape that is the Crucible? Possibly. I’m not, and never have been, good enough to “carry” in the Crucible, and that goes double for Trials. I tried helping a clan mate recently get the Adept Draw Time mod since it only drops from the Lighthouse. He plays on PC. That session didn’t go well.

I got a bit rambling there at the end, but I guess to answer your question, the story and gunplay of the Destiny series are the reasons I like the game. One made friends playing this game. Already been to one wedding, with another coming later this year. Wouldn’t have happened if I never decided to try the game.

People play the game because they like to play it? Just because the main story is over doesn’t mean that people don’t enjoy the game anymore. There are plenty of games without a clear and direct story that are very popular because people just enjoy the gameplay.

Because it’s fun and I have friends I play it with.

The thing with destiny is that there are somewhat diminishing returns in terms of time invested vs in-game advancements.

The min-maxing and endless search for God rolls and the best builds can push you that extra 10% or so over the gen-pop player base who doesn’t spend 20hrs a week on the game.

But gen-pop and casual can still approach end game content without feeling like a total noob.

That said, there is still end game content that is geared towards “power users”… master nightfall, master raids, etc.

Also, as a D1 year 1 player who actually kinda gets what’s going on, story-wise, it’s great. But admittedly comprehending the story is very difficult given where they drop you in if you just started the game.

I will also applaud Bungie for making adjustments over the years. For sure it’s a lot less addictive than it used to be, and less of a grind. Or maybe its as much as a grind as you want it to be. The changes over the years have made the core game more approachable while they still held some high-level end game stuff for the die-hards. They tried to do the same with the story and it kinda works a little.

Also, for me, the raids are really great. Haven’t really experienced that sort of game play, teamwork, puzzle solving, and requirement for perseverance and gaming skill anywhere else. they’re just plain fun, especially if you have a good group to play with.

because they enjoy it?

I would still play it… If they allowed Linux gamers

My partner and I gave up destiny before witchqueen dropped, played pretty consistently since house of wolves with a pause just before forsaken until shadow keep. Absolutely loved the core mechanics and the PvP is some of my favourite, but it just felt so stale, barely any new maps, sunsetting old ones, lack of committing to ideas (4v4 was actually solid, some of the maps do not play well in 6s, 3s are fine though), rotating gamemode playlists like d1 had (for 6s I find control annoying after a while, 3s I liked relic in d1, mix in elimination and I’d be good)

It’s a shame because as I said, core mechanics rock, slug shorties and hand cannons feel amazing, and fusion rifles are legitimately awesome as well. I have really solid memories of doing stupid things with stuff like the Le Monarque and No Land Beyond. Wasn’t a huge fan of some metas but had some fun times with the games.