Wait a minute.
It’s August.

How.

— dmg04 (@A_dmg04) August 3, 2021

Mr. Assistant Game Director Joe Blackburn made for us a tweet storm, which is embedded below. If this format is too distracting you can also read VIA threadreaderapp. Please note the extra tweets at the bottom.

Ahead of the showcase this month, I wanted to take a little time to talk about Destiny PVP.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

Competitive modes are part of what makes this game special. I can’t imagine a version of Destiny 2 that doesn’t involve getting a sweet new gun and taking it for a spin in the crucible.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

This year the team has spent a lot of our future facing effort on plussing up the current crucible experience. You’ve seen some of this already in Stasis balancing, reputation updates, and shifting weapon metas.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

Next season, you’ll continue to see this effort with not only changes to 3-peaking but also what the team has been planning for the revamp of Trials of Osiris (tune in 8/24 for more info).

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

We’ve gotta keep our foot on the gas when it comes to revitalizing pvp pursuits and keeping gameplay metas fresh. This isn’t something we’ll ever be “done” with. But we know we also have room to grow when it comes to new maps and modes.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

The first half of 2021 we’ve been working on the foundation, but now we’re spinning up teams on new maps and modes.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

We believe in this investment, but it is going to take some time before you start seeing results in game.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

The ultimate goal here is consistency. If you play pvp, the team wants you to understand that you will be getting new maps and modes every year, and that the cadence of those coming out feels predictable.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

But in order to get to predictable, we need to open the faucet again.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

New maps take time to get right, so to open the faucet for S16, the team is working on porting two vaulted Destiny 2 maps to be compatible with our engine updates.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

When we upgraded our engine with Beyond Light it means we had to hand port all of our Destiny 2 maps and modes. So, while it may seem from the outside like we’re just pushing a button there’s a significant lift from the team to get more of this content back in rotation.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

After reprised maps in season 16, season 17 will come with a brand-new map. There are a bunch of new environments in Destiny 2, and we’re excited to start bringing them into the crucible.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

Finally, after those 3 maps are added to the rotation in 16 and 17, we will be remastering a Destiny 1 map and bringing it to Destiny 2 for the first time in season 18.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

All this effort is going to be done in parallel with the team looking to fund the far future with a predictable roadmap of maps in Lightfall and beyond.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

But maps are just part of the recipe here, we also know we need to support modes.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

There are three main efforts going on behind the scenes here.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

First, the team is investigating getting Rift in Destiny 2 next year. It’s been too long since we’ve dunked on some guardians. The Destiny Sandbox has sped up in Destiny 2, so right now the team is validating that the mode still holds up with our new gameplay.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

Second, the team is working on multiple brand-new modes for 2022. We aren’t quite ready to spoil these yet, but we’re excited to offer new twists and rules to the ways you can make shaxx proud.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

Finally, after the dust settles on the Trials update in s15, we want to look at what other broad systemic improvements the PVP ecosystem needs. We want to provide something on the scale of this trials rework to players every year.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

So, this tweet thread has turned into a tweet novel, but I wanted to make sure we shed some light to what’s going on behind the scenes here. Overall, we’re still very interested in growing the amount of Destiny we make every year.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

One way to hold me accountable by looking at our careers page. We’re looking for env artists, gameplay designers, lighting artists, and more to help improve our pvp output. We know you want more Destiny and we are committed to growing the team that’s going to make that possible.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

It’s always risky to talk about what’s in the oven as dates and specifics might change, but it's been a while since we’ve talked pvp and we want players to know that we’re working on content for all those guardians who like to spend time with Shaxx and the Redjacks.

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

&

Joe where's the Gambit thread https://t.co/OH4hLdQ99x

— Paul Tassi (@PaulTassi) August 4, 2021

Re Gambit: Didn't want to derail that thread.

Long Term, we want to get people working on new maps.

Currently we are playtesting all up gambit foundation changes for s16. Focusing on Heavy Ammo econ, primeval fight, invasion cadence/power, and more. https://t.co/WviltbR3yE

— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021

P.S.:

Damn, Cozmo. That's a meaty TWAB you've got there.

— dmg04 (@A_dmg04) August 3, 2021

I was this close to deleting Destiny and never looking back. Then they have to go and get my hopes again. Complete assholes, the whole lot of ‘em.

I'm thrilled you'll still be around. :)

I don’t think I’ll ever quit Destiny, as much as I want to sometimes. I’ll be there day one when the new season hits, I’m sure.

I don’t think I’ll ever quit Destiny, as much as I want to sometimes. I’ll be there day one when the new season hits, I’m sure.

It possible!! Do it!! I don’t regret it at all. It only feels like it’ll be tough.

I don’t think it’s tough, I just don’t really want to. You’ve missed out on the best content in Destiny, the best raid they’ve ever done (and several other good ones), dungeons, cool bespoke missions for exotic weapons, the best feeling Crucible that’s existed, etc.

All of that stuff is worth the slight headache off the rest of the game.

I don’t think it’s tough, I just don’t really want to. You’ve missed out on the best content in Destiny, the best raid they’ve ever done (and several other good ones), dungeons, cool bespoke missions for exotic weapons, the best feeling Crucible that’s existed, etc.

All of that stuff is worth the slight headache off the rest of the game.

Yeah I feel like the bespoke missions are truly something they didn't have before Cody quit. I truly is a different game now.

All of that stuff is worth the slight headache off the rest of the game.

Not for me. Not anymore. But if for you, then I understand.

and I like it.

All of that stuff is worth the slight headache off the rest of the game.

With a slight chuckle, Cody Miller turns to face the open door, only to pause. His hand still momentarily hanging on the antiquated bronze doorknob of yore. Before him is only a greeting by the cold rain and the ink of night, broken by cracks of light and thunder which follows. A wall of water globs and beads against the club awning, "D.B.O", pooling the water around it splashing against the eroded rust-residued concrete below, spilling then onto the streets and sewers along with the rest of the heavy noise of rainfall.

He pops the collar of his tartan flannel trench coat and reaches for one of his fruit flavored gluten-free non-GMO Vegan Cigarettes fortified with vitamin N he purchases from a mom and pop shop down on 23rd. They say they are going to retire soon. The rent is too high. *Feah* Don't they know the importance of what they do? With out them I'd have to huff that digital swill, or worse, support a soulless conglomerate. Don't they understand that physical media is pure.

With a light from his sustainability grown cruelty free match made with all natural ingredients, he takes a quick drag, and lets the smoke waft around him. He glances back with the slightest head turn.

Not for me. Not anymore. But if for you, then I understand.

Ha ha. Gottem. Cody Miller then broodingly melts into the rain and the night, alone. Before him now were two choices, go home and tell other people online that they were wrong, or stand onto the roof of some seven story building and stare at the high-rise lights of the city and think about how dumb everyone was for not agreeing on how right he was. How misunderstood he was.

Ha, why not, why not both?

As he turned the corner, he passed an open window, and managed to hear his name, stopping in his tracks. It was INSANEdrive, probably talking to cheapLEY.

"...know, at first, I thought Cody was a troll. He still may be in some way, but over the years I gotta give him credit for consistency. He must be, by far the most brilliant idiot I have ever had contact with."

Mild chuckles fill the hall.

"No no but really, it's almost endearing, I almost feel some sort of sad respect on how insufferable he is, I mean... nerve of this guy! He's hardly here at all, unless there is some sort of scandal where some dudes think their dick is a personality or ... and this is the real kicker... to tell us we should quit the whole reason we're together here anyway. I mean the arrogant brass on this guy must be the worst sort of art turned science I have ever seen. It's breathtaking."

Cody rolled his eyes, and didn't give it a second thought. As Cody recalled, INSANEdrive thinks Bioshock was good, when in fact it is just a really bad game. Everyone knows that. Or they should.

"Bioshock is a bad game" he yells, rain muffling his voice. Ha ha. Gottem.

Cody throws the cigarette to the ground and steps on it, only to then pick it up and place it back into the cigarettes box to toss it properly later on. 4.5 trillion cigarettes butts are discarded into the environment every year and cigarettes butt litter comprises up to 330% of the total litter on U.S shorelines, waterways, and land, and Cody was sure he wasn't going to be part of that statistic. He was going to make a difference.

It was seven blocks to get to his favorite seven story building, and it was getting late, and he was so misunderstood. So misunderstood.

/Fin

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ lol

(Edit: For the record, If I had to guess Cody probably doesn't smoke, but it needed it to be so in this case for the sake of artistic license. In fact, there is a lot of artistic license done here, all sparked because the comment Cody made felt to me something you would see in film noir. That's where my head went. Not sure why, but well... here it is. Here is what my brain spat out that I managed to put onto the page.)

"INSANEdrive captures that perculiar mix of cynicism and a desire for purity that lies at the heart of the Cody Miller series. Best yet!"

--Badger Qbert, Spoiled Avocado

You’re right. I don’t smoke. But I also understand the absolute necessity of artistic embellishment.

Really depends on the person. I never got to play "the best content" because of the headache that is the rest of the game. For example, despite playing up through March 2021, the last raid I ran was Crota's End. There are just so many games out there and even plenty of live service games that do it better than Destiny. I can complete my dailies in Genshin faster than I can manage my inventory and choose my bounties in Destiny. Knowing that I can only experience much of the content in the short window available and the amount of personal headache necessary to get through it each season became too much. The gunplay is the best in the biz but I can't suffer the headache anymore, which is incredibly saddening, but c'est la vie.

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