Reaction: I’m Sad It’s Over, But Destiny’s End Was Overdue

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This week we learned that the summer update for Destiny 2 will be its last. And as I read through Bungie’s blog, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of conflicting emotions, namely sadness and relief.

Across both the original Destiny and Destiny 2, I have wracked up over 1,500 hours with the series, enjoying each of its expansions from The Dark Below all the way to The Final Shape.

I’m a big Destiny fan – I’ve collected the comics, followed MyNameIsByf’s deep dives into the story, and even rewatch the original gameplay reveal just for the nostalgia and emotional connection.

I wasn’t a dedicated gamer, but this game holds a special place for me because it was the start of a whole new gaming experience.

As a teen, the lobbies of Modern Warfare 2 and Red Dead Redemption were the extent of my multiplayer experience. Incredible games that I could easily rave about on their own, but there was something special about Destiny.

I was immediately drawn to Destiny, likely because of my fondness for grand science fiction and the concept of a constantly developing online world. I loved the idea that the game world would change over time, and that my character’s appearance and weapons would show how much effort I’d put into playing.

In fact, it was the first time I booked time off work just to play a game. I don’t think I’ve been quite as hyped for a game pre-launch as I was with Destiny. Stocked up with a box of Irn Bru (note: nectar in a can) and ready to jump into the game with some of my friends, those opening weekends were core gaming memories for me.

Over the years, I really enjoyed getting my friends together to start new adventures or challenge ourselves with difficult activities in Destiny. We still talk about certain battles from both games even now! I also met my first online friend while playing the very first Destiny.

I’m not here to critique each of the game’s many expansions, which undoubtedly have their peaks and troughs. But across a decade, I was loyally back with each expansion. New enemy variants, cool new planets, awesome new weapons, little snippets of new lore, it all gave me a little flicker of that old nostalgia.

Even at its worst, Bungie knew how to cook up a supremely satisfying shooter. And when you hit that flow state of your stats and perks synergising, bouncing around its levels as an onslaught of enemies surrounds you, and you pop your super at just the right moment, there was truly nothing like it.

But despite my love for the series, there was a point where I felt satisfied with my time in this universe, or at least satisfied with Destiny 2, and that was with The Final Shape. I reviewed the expansion back in 2024, labelling it a “thrilling conclusion to a 10-year saga”, and now with two years of hindsight, it was the perfect ending point for the series.

The old proverb of “all good things must come to an end” is something I’m a stout believer in. It’s why I’m desperate for Rob McElhenney (sorry, Rob Mac…) and the gang to call it quits with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Even back with The Final Shape, I was a little at odds with what was next for Destiny.

A new game? A new multi-year narrative? Quite quickly, post-Final Shape Destiny started to feel reminiscent of post-Endgame MCU. Starting again wasn’t the issue; it was the sense that no one really knew where it was heading. And I didn’t need a Star Wars-inspired expansion to tell me that.

So while I’m relieved that Bungie finally realised it was time to call it quits, I’m just sad that it took them this long, and that, clearly, there was no firm plan. Destiny had its chance to end in a blaze of glory with The Final Shape, but instead, Bungie dragged its burned, crispy carcass two miles beyond the finish line.

It was a goliath in the multiplayer space, once a hallmark for multiplayer shooters, and now it’s being left to sizzle out. Many in the community, including myself, were waiting for that Destiny 3 announcement. But either Bungie isn’t interested, or just didn’t have the foresight to get the ball rolling in time.

So while I do think it’s long past time for Destiny 2 to call curtains, I’m sad that it has ended this way. Destiny, you deserved better.

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2026-05-22 16:09