Destiny 2 dev admits it needs a "more curated experience" for newer players

I'm new to Destiny 2. I briefly played Bungie's preceding online FPS all the way back in 2014, but it's taken me more than a decade to try it again. I'm absolutely loving it so far, but that doesn't mean D2 isn't a total nightmare for newbies like me to navigate. There's a mountain of things to do, and nigh-endless mechanics and systems to learn. Luckily, this is a problem Bungie seems aware of, as Destiny 2's assistant game director has talked about how the team wants to make the shooter into a "more curated experience" for new players like me.

Destiny 2 is in a transformative period right now. The imminent launch of The Edge of Fate expansion will start the shooter's Fate Saga, ushering in a new era of storytelling. The armor and gear systems are massively evolving. The new Portal activity selection screen will make it easier than ever to load up what you want to do next. Destiny 2 is one of the best FPS games around, and these changes will hopefully make it even better.

With Destiny 2 open access live right now, though, plenty of new and returning players are diving into Bungie's expansive universe. As one of the people trying D2 for the first time, I can personally vouch for how overwhelming all of the game's systems, activities, and mechanics can be. Luckily, assistant game director Robbie Stevens recently sat down with YouTuber 'MrRoflWaffles' for an interview, and they explored what Bungie wants to do to help new players better understand how to succeed in the game.

For starters, Stevens says that Bungie has aspirations to help make the new Destiny 2 player experience more curated, so it's "easier to just play and jump into very quickly." They also make it clear that this is something the team is looking at beyond the Renegades expansion, which is set for December of this year.

"We need to find a way to have a more curated experience for the early parts of the game," Stevens says. "We also think, even for some core players, some curated experiences are things they also might just want for their average play session. But when we do that, we want to do it in a way that does not take away from all the depth and buildcraft agency that being a more veteran or hardcore player comes with.

"What's the right focus of a new player experience and getting you into the systems of the game? For us, we need to put more focus on a more curated experience that understands that people are smart for some of the basics of how videogames work and it's okay that they don't need a ton of handholding there." Stevens says Bungie is hoping to "spend a little more time getting your feet wet and giving you curated experiences that let you better understand how the systems of the game operate at the foundational level so you can grow into them."

With the Destiny 2 new season release date right around the corner, there's no better time to give Bungie's live-service shooter a go. As a newcomer I definitely find the systems incredibly daunting and confusing, but that doesn't mean I'm not having an absolute blast at the same time.

We've also got a complete breakdown of all the best Destiny 2 settings on PC, alongside the Destiny 2 system requirements and what they could mean for your rig.

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