‘Destiny’s’ Evolution From A PvE Monster To A Competitive Gamechanger
On September 9, 2014, Bungie came out with its latest IP, Destiny. Fans of their previous game, Halo, had an idea of what to expect. It was going to be a first-person shooter combined with a loot system to attain for on a daily basis. By definition, Destiny is described as a game that is set 700 years into the future in a post-apocalyptic setting following a prosperous period of exploration, peace and technological advancement known as the Golden Age.
When the game first came out, it was meant to be very focused on PvE. There were daily missions and weekly nightfall strikes to achieve a better light level and get better gear. Like most games, they had an endgame as well. The common theme throughout Destiny‘s early stages was its ability to be replayed through PvE missions and goals. Aside from a few modes of 6v6 and 3v3, PvP wasn’t a major focus with Destiny. The thought of competitive tournaments wasn’t feasible at that time, especially without private matches.
It was a slow process, but as the game evolved, so did the player base. Iron Banner debuted one month after the release of the game. It was the first PvP game mode to integrate light-level advantages that gave players a reason to play. Prior to Iron Banner, PvE activities were the primary way to level up a character efficiently.
Then, during the launch of House of Wolves, Trials of Osiris debuted, which changed Destiny forever. That phenomena is self-explanatory. From the Trials, to Sparrow Racing League, to Valentine’s Day Doubles, and much more, Bungie was able to turn a PvE-focused game into an all-around adventure with multiple facets.
Twitch.TV and YouTube became a place to showcase skills and the Destiny community grew into one of the best in the world. Streamers focused on entertainment, skill and often both simultaneously. Just two years after “Destiny’s” inception, the competitive scene has exploded. In September of 2016, the launch of private matches helped kickstart a competitive tournament through GameBattles.
Shortly after that, four new maps were debuted with Rise of Iron, that was broadcasted on the MLG Twitch channel. Destiny streamers from around the country participated in the event. It garnered a lot of success and brought even more eyes to the product. That’s just only the beginning for Destiny‘s excursion to the competitive scene.
In early October, FarCognitions, the founder of the world’s biggest Destiny tournaments, announced a partnership with Planet Destiny.
With over a year of experience running Destiny tournaments, FarCognitions has big plans for the game’s competitive scene and even said, “The emergence of private matches has sparked a fire in the competitive ‘Destiny’ community’s heart.” The first tournament is scheduled for November 12 and sign-up information is coming soon. What began as a PvE-centric video game has secured a future in competitive gaming, which is good for “Destiny” moving forward. Planet Destiny and FarCognitions have big things planned for “Destiny” in the near future.
Despite the excitement for competitive tournaments coming out in the next several months, Bungie still has a lot of work to do to make the game as perfect as it can be. MorninAfterKill, a Destiny content creator, spoke candidly on what they can improve upon to make the game even better.
Destiny 2 is going to need a robust story, improved leveling mechanics & dedicated PVP servers at the VERY least. Lets hope they pull it off
— Jay (@MorninAfterKill) November 5, 2016
Destiny breeds positivity, which is the reason millions of people still play the game in late-2016. The consistent upgrades to the base game certainly help, but it’s the updates and downloadable content is what keeps players coming back. Competitive tournaments, such as the ones Planet Destiny is utilizing, will only add a new layer to the already-extensive platform.
[Featured Image by Bungie]
