Bungie has responded to player feedback concerning the recent decision to eliminate weapon crafting for seasonal weapons in the Destiny 2: Episode Revenant. However, their explanations have done little to alleviate the community’s frustrations.
The weapon crafting system was first introduced in 2022 with the Witch Queen expansion, offering players the ability to create weapons without relying on the randomness of dropped loot. This feature became particularly valuable as it allowed Guardians to bypass the uncertainty involved in acquiring weapons with specific perk configurations once they unlocked the respective weapon patterns.
Before the launch of Episode Revenant, players could unlock patterns for all seasonal weapons, thus eliminating the need for luck in obtaining desirable items. However, this capability was removed, sparking discontent among the player base.
Revisiting the Crafting System
In the studio’s attempt to clarify the rationale behind this revision, Bungie stated that they wanted crafting to “support the weapon chase, not replace it.” They view the system as a way to help players catch up with rolls they missed out on instead of being a substitute for weapon acquisition.
With Episode Revenant set to run until February 2025 and followed by Heretic, players are left wondering how the crafting system will function as a catch-up mechanic. The current expectation is that the crafting of Revenant’s weapons won’t be enabled until after the episode concludes.
Although weapon crafting was a highlight of the Witch Queen expansion, the removal of this ability has contributed to a sense of dissatisfaction. Players expressed their disappointment further when the newly introduced Tonics—meant to enhance crafting drop rates—failed to meet expectations.
Robbie Stevens, assistant game director for Destiny 2, acknowledged this issue in a year-end update. He described the Tonics as a way to provide “loot agency in lieu of crafting,” acknowledging that they did not fulfill this goal effectively due to issues with timing and weapon guarantees.
Community Feedback and Concerns
The decision to remove crafting has generated significant backlash from the community. Stevens’ assertion that “Weapon crafting removed the joy of earning a random weapon” has further alienated players, leading many to feel that their concerns have been overlooked.
In various discussions on platforms such as the Destiny 2 subreddit, reactions have been overwhelmingly negative. Comments ranged from criticizing the studio for being out of touch to expressions of frustration about the grind necessary to earn weapons that might not meet players’ desires.
As Episode Revenant marks the first time since the crafting feature’s introduction that seasonal weapons are not craftable at launch, players are particularly concerned about the implications of this change. While Stevens suggested that Bungie remains committed to the new crafting strategy, history has shown that the studio sometimes responds to community backlash—most notably, reversing their decision on sunsetting.
While there’s a possibility that the adjustments to Tonics, expected to roll out before the end of 2024, will address some of the issues raised by players, no assurances have been made regarding a return to the previous crafting model.
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