Destiny 2
A live service shooter with seasons, weekly challenges and a battle pass style reward track.
Where Destiny 2 comes up1 episode or test
Destiny 2's seasons, weekly challenges and battle pass style track led some players to play only to avoid missing rewards. One Reddit player said they minimise missed rewards rather than maximise progress. Bungie named FOMO outright and cut the XP and Bright Dust penalties for missing a week. The lesson: reward treadmills can turn play into chores, so soften penalties for absence.
- Missing a week cost XP
- Missing a week cost Bright Dust
- Players felt locked into one game
- Smaller XP penalty for a missed week
- Smaller Bright Dust penalty
- Players can step away
Players step away without feeling permanently behind
From Destiny 2 player complaints, Bungie's response
What was said about Destiny 2
1FOMO in Destiny 2's seasonal rewards
Destiny 2 players said they played to avoid missing rewards, not for progress. A Destiny 2 player on Reddit wrote: "I feel like I'm playing to minimise missing a reward rather than playing to maximise my progression." It shows how a seasonal reward track can turn play into loss avoidance.
The source says some players feel locked into one game because time on others puts them behind on a battle pass or seasonal challenge. It adds that children and young adults are likely more vulnerable.
Bungie eased FOMO by cutting the penalty for missing a week. After player complaints, Bungie named FOMO outright and reduced the XP and Bright Dust penalties for missing a given week. Players can step away without feeling permanently behind.
The source says Bungie "made some strides towards easing its negative effects". It gives no numbers for the size of the reduction.
How Fortnite Exploits Your FOMO
A player on Reddit wrote they play to minimise missing a reward rather than to maximise progression. Bungie named FOMO outright and reduced the XP and Bright Dust penalties for missing a week.
Destiny 2 players said they played to avoid missing rewards, not for progress. A Destiny 2 player on Reddit wrote: "I feel like I'm playing to minimise missing a reward rather than playing to maximise my progression." It shows how a seasonal reward track can turn play into loss avoidance.
The source says some players feel locked into one game because time on others puts them behind on a battle pass or seasonal challenge. It adds that children and young adults are likely more vulnerable.
Bungie eased FOMO by cutting the penalty for missing a week. After player complaints, Bungie named FOMO outright and reduced the XP and Bright Dust penalties for missing a given week. Players can step away without feeling permanently behind.
The source says Bungie "made some strides towards easing its negative effects". It gives no numbers for the size of the reduction.
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