There’s troubling news from the Last City. Destiny 2, Bungie’s sprawling sci-fi epic, is currently facing a crisis of player confidence. The game’s population on Steam has fallen to its lowest point in history, dropping to levels not seen since the game’s most challenging days. For veteran players, the numbers are grimly familiar; the player count has now dipped below the low point of the ‘Curse of Osiris’ expansion, a period Bungie once admitted brought the game just ‘weeks away’ from being shut down. It’s a shocking downturn for a game that just recently concluded a celebrated ten-year saga.
A Historic and Alarming Drop
Let’s look at the hard numbers, because they tell a stark story. According to recent data from Steam Charts, Destiny 2’s average player count over the last 30 days has hovered around a mere 18,439. During off-peak hours, the concurrent player count has even fallen below 8,000. To put that in perspective, this is the lowest the player base has been since the game moved to Steam in 2019.
The decline started becoming obvious with the launch of the ‘Edge of Fate’ expansion in July 2025. This was meant to be the start of a new, exciting chapter following the epic conclusion of the Light and Darkness saga with ‘The Final Shape.’ But where ‘The Final Shape’ brought in over 314,000 players on its first day, ‘Edge of Fate’ managed just 98,211. That’s a staggering 69% drop, and the numbers have only continued to slide since.
Why Are Players Leaving the Tower?
So, what’s causing this exodus? It’s not one single issue, but a combination of factors that have created a perfect storm of player frustration.
- The End of an Era: For many, ‘The Final Shape’ was the true end of the story they had been following for a decade. With that narrative closure, a significant portion of the player base felt it was a natural stopping point.
- The ‘Portal’ Controversy: A major new system introduced in ‘Edge of Fate,’ known as ‘The Portal,’ was intended to streamline the experience. However, a large part of the community feels it has done the opposite, overcomplicating the game and stripping away its social, MMO-like elements in favor of a repetitive grind.
- Fading Trust in Bungie: Recent reviews for ‘Edge of Fate’ on Steam are ‘Overwhelmingly Negative.’ This sentiment reflects a growing feeling of distrust in the community. Players feel that the game’s direction is out of touch with what they want, leading to burnout and frustration.
- Content Creator Exodus: It’s not just regular players. Several high-profile Destiny 2 content creators have announced they are stepping away from the game, citing burnout and the constant negativity surrounding it. When the biggest voices in the community leave, it sends a powerful message.
What’s Next for Destiny 2?
All is not lost, but Bungie is certainly on the back foot. The studio seems to be scrambling to earn back goodwill. They recently announced they were walking back a controversial plan to reset player power levels with the next update. The next major hope on the horizon is ‘Renegades,’ a Star Wars-themed expansion set to release in December 2025. This could be the shot in the arm the game desperately needs, but it will have to be a home run to win back the trust of a jaded community.
Your Questions About the State of Destiny 2 (FAQs)
- How bad is the player count drop? It’s the lowest it has ever been on Steam, with average daily players falling below 20,000 and peak numbers hitting a record low of just over 16,000.
- Why is this being compared to ‘Curse of Osiris’? ‘Curse of Osiris’ was the first expansion for Destiny 2 and is widely considered the lowest point in the franchise’s history. The player count falling below that era’s numbers is a major red flag.
- What is the ‘Portal’ system? It’s a new feature from the ‘Edge of Fate’ expansion that changed how players engage with activities. Many feel it turned the game into a series of matchmaking menus rather than a living world.
- Did the main story of Destiny end? Yes, the 10-year ‘Light and Darkness Saga’ concluded with ‘The Final Shape’ expansion, which is a major reason many players have moved on.
- Is Bungie abandoning the game? Not at all. A new expansion called ‘Renegades’ is coming in December, and the studio recently reversed an unpopular decision in an attempt to regain player trust.
- Are people asking for a Destiny 3? Yes, the idea of a completely fresh start with a new game is a popular topic of discussion in the community right now.
Conclusion
Destiny 2 is at a critical crossroads. The game that once boasted one of the most dedicated communities in gaming is now bleeding players at an alarming rate. While the conclusion of a major story arc was always going to cause a dip, the deep-seated frustration with recent changes has turned a dip into a nosedive. The upcoming ‘Renegades’ expansion has a monumental task ahead: it doesn’t just need to be good, it needs to be great enough to convince thousands of Guardians to return to the fight. The next few months will be crucial in determining whether this is just a low point or the new normal for Bungie’s beloved universe.