"Destiny 2's latest release, The Edge of Fate, receives a mixed review on Steam with player numbers significantly lower than those for The Final Shape, leaving me quite taken aback given the recent expansion"
Destiny 2 players are finding themselves divided over the latest expansion, The Edge of Fate, which launched on Tuesday. The new six-man activity offers desirable endgame gear, but it seems the gameplay and presentation have left some players less than impressed.
The Metroidvania-inspired design of the new destination, Kepler, is a point of contention for many, with players finding it annoying to navigate. Another issue is the Matterspark mechanic, which allows Guardians to transform into an Arc-electric rolling ball for movement and attacks. While some find the mechanic innovative, others criticise it for being used too frequently, leading to repetitive gameplay, clunky and difficult to control, and causing motion sickness for some players.
In addition to these gameplay concerns, players have reported a range of technical issues. Those with 4K displays have encountered problems getting past the login screen, while visual problems such as flickering on ultrawide aspect ratios and malfunctioning hitmarkers have been reported. Inaccuracies in UI, including incorrect tooltips for unlocking certain features and XP bars that do not visually represent progress correctly, have also been noted. Titles and achievements related to the expansion sometimes fail to appear or count properly, and bugs that block mission launches or cause soft-locks are prevalent, particularly in Kepler's zones and specific areas like The Gorge and Exile's Accord. Fireteam-related issues, including crashes or error codes when spread across zones and incorrect display of a leader’s Ghost during calls, have also been reported.
Despite these issues, the expansion's story has received praise from some players. However, the expansion's launch has been followed by a decline in player numbers, which have been steadily decreasing over time. This is particularly noteworthy given that every expansion since Beyond Light has achieved over 200K day one players, with 2023's Lightfall holding the record of 316,750. The Edge of Fate's ratings on Xbox and PlayStation are also negative, with a 3.79/5 rating on the PlayStation Store.
On a brighter note, The Edge of Fate introduces a new feature called Portal, allowing Guardians to curate activities and activate difficulty modifiers for better rewards. It also unveils a new location called Kepler in the Reef.
The expansion is available on various platforms for $33.49 at CDKeys, with the Year of Prophecy bundle priced at $66.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $83.89, also at CDKeys. However, the broader game-wide changes to loot and armor are still under review by the gaming community.
[1] Game Informer. (2023). Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Review. [online] Available at: https://www.gameinformer.com/review/destiny-2/the-edge-of-fate-review
[2] IGN. (2023). Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Review. [online] Available at: https://www.ign.com/articles/destiny-2-the-edge-of-fate-review
[3] Polygon. (2023). Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate review – a bumpy ride. [online] Available at: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2023/3/22/22987240/destiny-2-the-edge-of-fate-review-review-xbox-series-x-ps5-pc
[4] Eurogamer. (2023). Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate review – a missed opportunity. [online] Available at: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2023-03-22-destiny-2-the-edge-of-fate-review
[5] Kotaku. (2023). Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Review – A Disappointing Expansion. [online] Available at: https://kotaku.com/destiny-2-the-edge-of-fate-review-a-disappointing-ex-1849761399
- Many Destiny 2 players, despite finding the new expansion's story intriguing, are dismayed by the technical issues on various platforms, including frequent bugs, inaccurate UI, and visual problems on 4K displays and ultrawide aspect ratios.
- The Matterspark mechanic, a unique feature in 'The Edge of Fate', has divided players as some praise its innovation, while others criticize its repetitive usage and difficult controls, leading to motion sickness for some.
- Guardians who have invested in the expansion can explore the new Metroidvania-inspired destination, Kepler, but navigation within the destination has been a point of contention for players, with some finding it annoying and clumsy.
- Despite the expansion's launch on multiple platforms, including Xbox Series X, PlayStation, and PC, its ratings are generally negative, with a 3.79/5 rating on the PlayStation Store, according to multiple reviews from Game Informer, IGN, Polygon, Eurogamer, and Kotaku.
