Bungie’s current shock layoffs actually shook the corporate to its core. In consequence, The Ultimate Form enlargement and sure future episodes have been delayed by 4 months. The most recent roadmap Bungie launched is not related, so we’ll must discover what they might do when they’re prepared.
In one of the vital turbulent instances for Future 2, subsequent yr’s new content material must deliver some confidence and pleasure again to the playerbase. Let’s discover 10 issues Future 2’s subsequent roadmap wants above all else.
Much less Construction and Extra Surprises
Earlier Future 2 roadmaps would have each little factor detailed about every season and every patch inside every season. Even so, that also created expectations, as gamers may learn the roadmap and be dissatisfied as a result of there’s nothing else they might fairly hope for.
In 2024, Future 2’s subsequent roadmap shouldn’t explicitly element each bit of latest content material. Bungie ought to maintain it imprecise and broad on objective and shock the gamers with new content material, techniques, and modes that they’ve usually wouldn’t count on!
This can be particularly useful for the devs comprising post-layoff Bungie, as they seemingly don’t wish to instantly dive headfirst into heavy and strictly outlined content material manufacturing.
FREE Dungeons
Not one, however two Dungeons in shut succession or without delay can be one thing the neighborhood may actually rally behind. Particularly if every can be free for all gamers to take pleasure in. I don’t find out about you, however I’d take two to a few new Future 2 Dungeons every Season or Episode over a milk-toast collection of unchallenging, repetitive, guidelines story quests.
To me, the tales contained inside every Season may and must be made into sprawling Dungeons. I like this as a result of gamers re-run Dungeons on a regular basis, however you don’t see gamers exhibiting that very same enthusiasm for seasonal questlines or non-exotic missions. Look me straight within the eye and inform me 9 to 12 new Dungeons a yr doesn’t sound wonderful.
Granted, this suggestion is a long-shot for present Bungie, however that’s okay. I’d even take 4 new Dungeons a yr at this level, and most different gamers seemingly really feel the identical.
New Fragments or Features for Each Subclass
A part of what makes Future 2 so replayable are the quantity of builds a participant can uncover between subclasses, gear, and Exotics. By this logic, a strong stream of latest construct alternatives through new Fragments or a brand new Facet for each class and subclass may assist with participant retention.
I’m not saying Bungie must ship new Fragments AND Features for each subclass each Season, as a result of that may be a tall order on high of every thing else. So, as a substitute of a brand new Season giving a ton of affection to this or that subclass, why not give somewhat like to all of them? Individuals like inclusiveness, and the Stasis Titan that solely performs one or two Seasons a yr might wish to play extra typically if he has extra to work with.
Given what’s occurred to Bungie this yr, It might be okay for them to slowly work as much as this suggestion.
New Class Skills and Jumps
Whereas it’s enjoyable to tinker with the intricate particulars of a construct with subclass Fragments and armor mods, including extra to every base class may very well be thrilling too. Give it some thought: Except for the addition of blink and a few subclass reworks, new class talents and jumps haven’t actually been a factor. Seeing new base talents and motion choices on a roadmap may assist the neighborhood really feel like Future 2 can maintain going after such a tricky yr for the builders.
With these new class choices being free for all gamers, it may very well be straightforward to construct some hype and good will amongst new and returning gamers on the fence. This might be very true if the brand new jumps and sophistication talents synergized with participant builds in methods the opposite choices haven’t. For instance: A brand new Titan soar that’s primarily a medium-sized explosion that propels the Titan in a semi-random path whereas anybody caught within the blast suffers from a number of ticks of Scorch can be an enormous draw.
A Full Gambit Rework
I may positively foresee the Future neighborhood warming on the sight of a whole Gambit rework with renewed help.
All it might take is a few contemporary eyes and expertise and a little bit of threat, with the outcome being one thing gamers can be seemingly fairly looking forward to. Like, what in the event that they turned Gambit right into a mode that was slower and bigger, with a extra direct deal with the PvP throughout the PvEvP designs? It wouldn’t should be an extraction shooter, however reasonably one thing that may very well be paying homage to it. That would definitely be attention-grabbing and engaging to see on a future roadmap.
That stated, this can be a tall order, and would seemingly take numerous time to perform. Even a single new Gambit map with a number of new weapons with unique Origin Traits can be wonderful.
Extra Strikes and Extra Crucible Maps
Bungie desperately wants to maneuver away from the present development of releasing one to 2 new Strikes and Crucible maps per yr.
For being labeled as Core Modes, these are woefully underdeveloped and are severely missing in fixed iteration, particularly provided that they function Future 2’s spine. contemplating Bungie’s turbulent growth course of these days, this may very well be forgivable if they’ll ultimately work as much as delivering a renewed deal with Core modes in 2025.
Moreover, the brand new Strikes and new maps must visually be a gradual however fixed drip on future roadmaps to make individuals really feel prefer it’s all being constantly supported. It might probably really feel fairly dangerous to spend a lot cash on expansions and seasons just for there to be one or two new Strikes and Crucible maps all year long.
Lastly, updating older Strikes or un-vaulting the oldest Strikes with new encounters, bosses, and voice work that displays the modifications in Future 2’s overarching story may go an extended technique to satisfying participant content material fatigue.
Refresh and Streamline Monetization for New Gamers
This proper right here is the instant-mashed-potatoes-way to garner some good religion. As a result of proper now, the primary difficulty the Future 2 neighborhood has is the best way the sport’s monetized—particularly on Steam. It’s simply an excessive amount of.
That is very true for somebody attempting to interrupt into the sport. As a brand new participant, you’ll go onto Steam and see tons of of greenback’s price of DLC expansions you’ll suppose you’ll want to purchase to have the entire expertise.
When they’re prepared, what Bungie may do is make among the older expansions free for newer gamers. Moreover, a refresh of Future 2’s numerous bundles to be simpler to know and navigate may assist gamers higher perceive when to purchase a given enlargement, growing the sport’s income in these troubling instances consequently.
Extra Significant Mid-Season Occasions with Higher Selection
The mid-season vacation occasions go a good distance towards making Guardians really feel linked to the sport’s world and neighborhood. Nevertheless, the occasions themselves are likely to fall somewhat flat with an over emphasis on Occasion passes that normally fail to lift Guardian’s vacation spirits.
Extra occasions like final yr’s Dawning occasion, which noticed throwable snowballs in virtually each mode, is a extra viable path Bungie can take with upcoming occasions. Perhaps subsequent yr’s Pageant of the Misplaced may give everybody short-term bat companion throwables that do injury and disorient.
A further good transfer Bungie may make with these occasions is to make use of them to lift cash for righteous causes or charities; very similar to how Warframe has particular customization objects that elevate consciousness for cancer-fighting initiatives.
Extra New Options and Methods
One factor I’d argue is that for Future 2 to develop, or at the very least really feel like its rising, it wants new, interactable options and techniques.
This isn’t even one thing that may be new to the sport. Not that way back, we bought Fishing with Season of the Deep, and it offered a brand new characteristic with new techniques and methods for gamers to work together with the worlds of Future 2. It helped construct and preserve participant immersion, all whereas breaking away from the standard content material gamers had come to count on.
Moreover, providing new mechanics that assist Future 2 really feel contemporary can be a surefire means to assist retain gamers; which, contemplating current developments, is one thing I’m certain Bungie would very a lot love to do.
A Means for Gamers to be Artistic in Future 2
A number of the greatest video games on the market aren’t simply made with numerous nice developer-made content material. They embody methods for gamers so as to add to the sport world they like spending time in.
This may normally be seen within the type of map makers, and to a lesser diploma, player-made character customization, and is very true when that player-created content material has techniques in place that permit different gamers to take pleasure in it as effectively.
I’d wager my gaming laptop computer that there would have been a lot much less backlash across the lack of latest Gambit or Crucible maps if gamers had the instruments to make and combine their very own. I do know a Forge-like mode for Future 2 isn’t one thing Bungie can simply or shortly make. Nevertheless, an out-of-game gun or armor maker the place Bungie would select the very best 10 or 20 participant creations to be added to loot swimming pools in each season would drive participant engagement (and be actually freaking cool in addition to).
One thing like that may make much less work for them too, which might assist scale back overhead growth prices and the general growth burden on the group behind the sport — a win/win if ever there was one.