A Historic Low for the Space MMO
Destiny 2 just recorded a number that even the most pessimistic fans didn’t see coming. On October 6, 2025, the game hit its lowest daily peak concurrent player count since arriving on Steam in 2019 – just 16,067 players. That number breaks the previous record low and represents a staggering decline for what was once one of gaming’s most popular live service titles.
Even more alarming, the game briefly dropped below 8,000 concurrent players during off-peak hours, and at one point fell to just 2,323 players. For context, Destiny 2 is now regularly falling out of Steam’s top 100 games, sitting at position 115 and trailing behind older titles like The Witcher 3, Battlefield 2, and Payday 2. Meanwhile, competitor Warframe is pulling nearly three times Destiny 2’s player count.
The Numbers Tell a Troubling Story
The 30-day average paints an even grimmer picture. According to Steam Charts, Destiny 2’s average player count over the last month sits at just 18,439 players – the lowest monthly average since the game launched on Steam. That beats the previous low of 18,542 from January 2025. September 2025 saw an average of 19,307 players, representing a 44% drop month-over-month compared to August and a 23% decline year-over-year versus September 2024.
Compare these figures to the game’s peak. Back in October 2019, Destiny 2 averaged 165,307 players monthly on Steam. The decline from that high point to today’s numbers represents a drop of nearly 90%. While Steam represents only about 20% of the total playerbase (with the majority on consoles), the trend likely mirrors what’s happening across all platforms.
| Period | Average Players | Peak Players |
|---|---|---|
| Last 30 Days | 18,439 | 54,297 |
| September 2025 | 19,307 | 54,297 |
| August 2025 | Higher (44% more than Sept) | N/A |
| October 2019 (Peak) | 165,307 | N/A |
What Went Wrong with Edge of Fate
The decline accelerated dramatically after the launch of The Edge of Fate expansion in July 2025. This expansion was supposed to kickstart Destiny’s new multi-year Frontiers saga following the conclusion of the decade-long Light and Darkness storyline with The Final Shape. Instead, it became a cautionary tale about fixing what isn’t broken.
Edge of Fate launched with just 98,211 concurrent players on Steam – less than one-third of The Final Shape’s 314,634 day-one peak. While some drop-off was expected after The Final Shape concluded the main story, the magnitude of the decline caught many by surprise. The expansion introduced major system-wide changes that fundamentally altered how players experience Destiny 2, and not in ways the community appreciated.
The Portal System Controversy
- Introduced as a way to improve new player experience and replayability
- Community feedback: overcomplicates the game instead of streamlining it
- Pushes players away from social MMO elements toward solo matchmaking
- Transforms cooperative gameplay into a repetitive grind loop
The Power Level Reset That Broke Trust
Perhaps nothing exemplifies Bungie’s recent missteps more than the power level reset debacle. With Edge of Fate, Bungie completely overhauled the power system, resetting all gear to Power Level 10. Under the new system, all gear can reach a 200 base power cap, with seasonal buffs raising it to 450-550 power. The controversial part? All power above 200 resets each season, forcing players to grind repeatedly just to keep their gear relevant.
Bungie initially planned to continue this reset policy with the upcoming Renegades expansion on December 2, 2025. Players who had spent months grinding to high power levels would be knocked back down to 200, with all their Unstable Cores (the key resource for infusing gear above 200) wiped clean. The community response was overwhelmingly negative.
Bungie’s Emergency Course Correction
As player numbers cratered and discontent reached a fever pitch, Bungie made a dramatic reversal. On October 6, just as the historic low player count was being recorded, the studio announced three major changes based on community feedback. These weren’t minor tweaks – they represented a complete U-turn on recently announced policies.
First, seasonal power will no longer reset in Renegades. Players will keep whatever power level they’ve earned this season instead of being knocked back to 200. Second, Unstable Cores will now carry over between seasons rather than being deleted. Third, a catch-up mechanic launches on October 14 that will boost players to 300 power, making it easier to jump into current content.
Too Little, Too Late?
The reversals address immediate pain points, but many in the community question whether the damage is already done. These changes reveal a deeper problem – Bungie implemented systems that players hated, doubled down on them, and only reversed course when player numbers reached crisis levels. The studio even sent out paid surveys (offering 1,000 Silver as compensation) asking players how they felt about the power reset, suggesting they genuinely didn’t understand the community’s sentiment.
The reversal also creates new questions. If players at high power levels don’t get reset, will they immediately access Tier 5 gear when Renegades launches? If Bungie raises the power cap to compensate, doesn’t that essentially accomplish the same reset they promised to avoid? The details remain unclear, and trust in Bungie’s direction is at an all-time low.
The Financial Reality Behind the Changes
Destiny 2’s struggles come amid significant financial pressure. Following PlayStation’s acquisition of Bungie three years ago, the studio has undergone multiple rounds of layoffs and restructuring. Development resources are split between Destiny 2 and the upcoming extraction shooter Marathon, leaving the Destiny team likely operating at roughly 50% of its previous capacity.
Bungie’s new content model reflects this reduced output. Instead of four seasons per year, players now get two smaller expansions annually with minimal content between releases. The cost for a full year of content has only slightly decreased despite offering substantially less. The Portal system exists partly because Bungie lacks resources to create traditional seasonal content, instead relying on algorithmic activity generation and replay loops.
What’s Next – Renegades and Beyond
All eyes now turn to Destiny 2: Renegades, the Star Wars-inspired expansion launching December 2, 2025. This expansion introduces the Lawless Frontier game mode, a new social hub called Tharsis Outpost, upgradeable Renegade abilities, and a completely new weapon archetype called Blasters that draw ammo from reserves and feature heat management mechanics.
The story follows the Drifter as Guardians defy the Vanguard to take on the Barant Imperium, a powerful Cabal faction with suspected ties to the Nine. Players will build reputation with Syndicate factions through a Notoriety system, earning new weapons and gear as they navigate a criminal underworld. Whether the Star Wars aesthetic and new systems can reverse Destiny 2’s decline remains to be seen.
FAQs
How low did Destiny 2’s player count drop?
On October 6, 2025, Destiny 2 recorded its lowest daily peak of 16,067 concurrent players on Steam since the game launched on the platform in 2019. During off-peak hours, the count dropped below 8,000 players, at one point reaching just 2,323.
What changes did Bungie reverse for Renegades?
Bungie announced three major reversals: seasonal power will no longer reset to 200 in Renegades, Unstable Cores will carry over between seasons, and a catch-up mechanic will boost players to 300 power starting October 14.
When does Destiny 2: Renegades launch?
Destiny 2: Renegades launches on December 2, 2025. It’s a Star Wars-inspired expansion featuring the Lawless Frontier game mode, new Blaster weapons, and a criminal underworld storyline.
What is The Portal system in Destiny 2?
The Portal is a new system introduced with Edge of Fate designed to give players more options and improve replayability. However, it’s become highly controversial, with many players saying it overcomplicates the game and removes social MMO elements.
Why did Edge of Fate have such low launch numbers?
Edge of Fate launched with only 98,211 concurrent players on Steam, less than one-third of The Final Shape’s 314,634. The drop resulted from The Final Shape concluding the main story, combined with controversial system changes that frustrated the community.
Is Destiny 2 in danger of shutting down?
While player numbers are at historic lows, Destiny 2 isn’t immediately at risk of shutdown. However, the sustainability of the current model is uncertain if declines continue, especially given reduced development resources and split focus with Marathon.
What is Bungie’s new content model for Destiny 2?
Instead of four seasons annually, Destiny 2 now receives two smaller expansions per year plus four major free updates. This reflects reduced development resources following layoffs and the need to support Marathon development.
Conclusion
Destiny 2’s fall to historic low player counts represents more than just statistics on a chart. It reflects a fundamental breakdown in the relationship between developer and community. Bungie implemented systems that players vocally opposed, required paid surveys to understand the obvious backlash, and only reversed course when facing existential player loss. While the power reset reversal removes an immediate pain point, the deeper issues remain unresolved. The Portal system still frustrates players. The content pipeline remains anemic compared to previous years. Trust continues eroding with each misstep. Renegades offers a chance at redemption, but whether a Star Wars-themed expansion can rebuild what’s been lost remains the biggest question facing Destiny 2’s future. For now, the numbers speak clearly – players are voting with their time, and they’re choosing to spend it elsewhere.