Summary
Destiny 2game director, Joe Blackburn, has announced his decision to depart from Bungie. Blackburn will leave the company following the completion of the internal playtest ofDestiny 2The Final Shape expansion.
The Final Shape is the game’s last expansion, following whichDestiny 2will move from its seasonal model to an episodic model. This is an important shift considering Bungie hasn’t announced any plans for a sequel to Destiny 2, which puts the future of the series in question. The studio has teased several other projects being in the works, like the revival ofMarathon, a new team-based action game, and an unnamed multiplayer title as well. However, the man behindDestiny 2’s most important expansion yet is on his way out following an internal playtest, which has caused quite a stir in the community.
Destiny 2 Game Director Joe Blackburn is leaving Bungie
In a series of posts on Twitter, Joe Blackburn announced his decision to depart from Bungie after completing the “End-to-End playtest” forDestiny 2The Final Shape, which kicks off in February 2024. Blackburn described this playtest as a critical internal milestone that “has been a key part of development since Forsaken.” Blackburn also notably mentioned having played multiple hours of thedelayedDestiny 2The Final Shape expansion, and claimed that it is one of his proudest achievements so far. Following his departure after the playtest, Tyson Green will assume the role ofDestiny 2’s game director. Tyson is a Bungie veteran, having worked onMyth 2,HaloPvP, and was also the architect of Exotic Weapons inDestiny 1.
Bungie currently finds itself in the middle of a crisis, which was triggered by the community’s disappointment with the 2023 Lightfall expansion. It all went downhill from there asDestiny 2’s popularity took a notable hit. The situation worsened whenBungie announced that it was laying off around 100 members of its workforce, which also included some high-profile departures like music composer, Michael Salvatori. Amidst all the chaos, the departure of a key figure like Blackburn could affect Bungie significantly.
While Bungie prepares for a major transition, players can jump intoDestiny 2’snew weekly missions called Wishes, which will award exotics, raid weapons, and more. Furthermore, Bungie will also introduce new content called “Into the Light” during the time leading up to the Final Shape to help ease the content drought.
Destiny 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.An Immersive StoryYou are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.Guardian ClassesChoose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
