‘Destiny’ Iron Banner Returning In Two Weeks, Other Multiplayer Changes Inbound

The second edition of Iron Banner turned into a success for Destiny following its disappointing debut. PlayStation and Xbox owners won’t have to wait long for the multiplayer’s event return as Bungie revealed the date of the next Iron Banner on Thursday along with some of the Crucible multiplayer changes coming with The Dark Below expansion.

The next Iron Banner event will begin on Tuesday, December 16, and run for one week, according to a Bungie weekly update. The Dark Below will not be required to compete but players will be able to earn Level 31 items. That’s one less than the new Level 32 cap that is being introduced on December 9.

All players will have their Iron Banner level reset this time, however, unlike the second event. Bungie describes it “like a new season.” There’s no confirmation yet, but it is assumed that the bonuses from the Iron Banner emblem and class items already owned will still be in place.

You must face what lurks in the Bungie Weekly Update. http://t.co/trhQCuTz1a

— Bungie (@Bungie) December 5, 2014

Bungie Community Manager David “Deej” Dague possibly hinted that more changes are coming to the Iron Banner. It’s unclear if he’s referring to the event or to future multiplayer updates, but he stated, “Lars [Bakken] also promises me that he’ll detail the experiments happening in the PvP labs before the beakers start to bubble over.”

There are significant changes that have already been implemented in Destiny‘s Crucible multiplayer, along with new changes coming by the end of the year. The one that is live now are “Slaughter Rules,” meant to keep unbalanced matches where players are being beaten badly from repeating.

• In the event of a massacre, all parties are returned to orbit at the conclusion of the match
• Team-based playlists
  • If one team is grossly under-performing, the session is dissolved in favor of matchmaking
• Rumble playlist
  • If three or more players are grossly under-performing, the session is dissolved in favor of matchmaking

Additionally, the Salvage and Combined Arms gametypes are finally moving from limited time playlists to full time availability. This has also resulted in the Bastion and First Light multiplayer maps to be removed from the Control and Clash gametypes and placed in Combined Arms.

Bungie is also introducing what it is calling “Premium Playlists.”

• New Playlists will let you play new content right away
• Playlists will require The Dark Below to enter
• Each week, they’ll have two additional Premium Playlists
  • Week One will be Clash and Rumble on new maps
  • Rotators will change each week
  • New experimental modes to be included

What do you think of the return of Iron Banner and the multiplayer changes in Destiny? Sound off in the comments below.

[Images via Bungie]