This yr’s The Fringe of Destiny is arguably one in all Future 2‘s worst expansions ever. Some nice story beats and funky moments couldn’t salvage some of the disappointing loot grinds within the historical past of the sport. Lower than two months since launching, Steam concurrent numbers for Bungie’s MMO shooter have fallen off a cliff to all-time lows. On Tuesday the Sony-owned studio streamed a deep-dive into what looks like Future 2‘s final likelihood for a significant rebound: the Star Wars-themed enlargement Renegades.
Out December 2, the primary crossover-themed marketing campaign within the stay service recreation’s historical past was initially teased again in Might. Followers had been questioning simply how deep the collaboration would go. Would it not simply incorporate Star Wars motifs into Future 2‘s world, or be a full-on mash-up that may bleed extra deeply between the disparate science fictions? The reply is someplace within the center.
“Renegades merges Future’s distinctive storytelling and gameplay with themes and components drawn from the long-lasting sci-fi franchise,” Bungie wrote in its announcement. In follow this appears to imply a sci-fi Western with ties to deep Future 2 lore that options lightsabers, AT-ST walkers, and many Star Wars sound results, if for no different purpose than all of it sounds actually cool. Additionally an X-Wing jumpship that’s actually simply an X-Wing.
Future 2: Renegades will revolve round rising by means of the ranks of the legal underworld in a Mos Eisley-like outpost referred to as Tharsis as gamers confront a brand new Cabal faction referred to as the Barant Imperium. You’ll carry out jobs for competing syndicates to curry favor and unlock new gear and choices as the problem, rewards, and chaos preserve escalating. Following the Drifter’s lead and going rogue, Renegades will finally attempt to tie issues again to the thriller of The 9 that kicked off Future 2‘s present Yr of Prophecy.
There’s a whole lot of concepts that sound fascinating, and enjoyable mechanics like a really Helldivers 2-coded choice to name down ammo crate drop pods that kill enemies within the course of. And there’s additionally a whole lot of Star Wars stuff just like the lightsaber, which is definitely a brand new weapon referred to as the Praxic Blade that gamers will gather and customise the elements for throughout the Renegades marketing campaign and the upcoming dungeon. There might be totally different colours and even the flexibility to deflect incoming fireplace again at enemies like within the films.
Will all of this match collectively in a manner that feels thrilling and pure and never like a licensed cash-grab that solely additional dilutes the thriller and mystique across the Future 2 universe? I’ve my doubts. Would I like a mercenary-themed Future 2 marketing campaign about navigating competing factions and that includes non-linear mission progressions? Completely. Do I need to play a Star Wars MMO that capabilities like a shooter? Hell yeah. Do I would like these issues thrown right into a blender? At this level, undoubtedly not. Hopefully Renegades can show me unsuitable.
Fixing Future 2 begins with Ash and Iron
Right this moment’s mini-showcase was additionally the most recent milestone on Bungie’s “repair Future 2” tour which continues with the free Ash and Iron replace. It brings again the Plaguelands from the unique Future and provides a brand new three-player exercise referred to as Reclaim, about golden age tech and the Vex. There’s a lot of new gear, extra lore drops round Maya, and an occasion coming later referred to as Name to Arms that can see Devrim Kay lastly depart his European Deadzone bell tower. There’s a brand new unique mission coming as properly with Iron Banner, Pageant of the Misplaced, and extra that might be detailed in an upcoming roadmap.
Extra essential are the fixes Bungie is promising main as much as Renegades in December. The studio needs to make the present energy climb quicker and enhance general rewards from actions. There might be upcoming buffs for supers and subclasses, alongside a pause on nerfs and steadiness modifications as Bungie tries to proper the ship. The “street to Renegades” will start with making the loot chase extra rewarding throughout your complete recreation, particularly in raids and dungeons and for fireteams of three taking up the toughest actions. The proof might be in how that really will get applied, although.
Bungie remains to be attempting to tinker across the edges of its new methods applied in The Fringe of Destiny. It might be an enchancment, or it might result in much more convoluted overlapping methods that foster dangerous incentives and boring exercise loops. Future 2 is on the level the place it wants drastic overhauls that make it extra enjoyable but in addition a lot less complicated. With 10 years of storytelling wrapped after final yr’s The Remaining Form enlargement, it looks like Future 2 must be content material with changing into an informal session-based recreation somewhat than a weekly second job and construct from there. There’s loads of fascinating stuff coming down the street, however I’m not but satisfied hitting the Star Wars button might be sufficient.
