Destiny 2’s Renegade Launch Is a Franchise Low
▼ Summary
– Destiny 2’s latest expansion, Renegades, has had a disastrous launch, setting a new record for the franchise’s lowest concurrent player count on Steam.
– The Star Wars-themed expansion peaked at only 71,278 concurrent players, which is below the previous record low set by Episode Heresy.
– Current player numbers remain concerningly low, hovering around 40,000, indicating the new content failed to retain even the existing player base.
– This performance is especially poor compared to past major expansions like Lightfall, which launched with over 316,000 concurrent players.
– Community reception is deeply divided, with some praising the story and weapons while others believe the update only appeals to Star Wars fans.
The launch of Destiny 2’s latest expansion, Renegades, has set an unfortunate new record for the lowest concurrent player count at launch in the franchise’s history. This Star Wars-themed release, which many anticipated would attract a fresh audience, has instead debuted to shockingly low engagement on Steam, raising significant questions about the current state of the veteran live-service title. Data reveals a peak of just over 71,000 simultaneous players, a figure that falls short of every previous major release.
This performance establishes a new franchise low, dipping below the previous record holder, Episode Heresy, which saw a peak of roughly 77,400 players. The contrast becomes even starker when compared to earlier, more successful expansions. For instance, Lightfall launched with an impressive 316,750 concurrent players, while Shadowkeep achieved a peak of 214,100. The numbers for Renegades not only fail to reach these heights but currently sit at a worrying plateau of around 40,000 active players, suggesting that even the core audience may be losing interest in new content drops.
Community reception on platforms like Steam appears deeply divided, adding another layer of concern. Some players are enthusiastic about the new narrative and arsenal of weapons introduced in the expansion. However, a vocal portion of the player base is far more critical, arguing that the update’s appeal is overly niche. A common sentiment among critics is that only dedicated Star Wars fans will find substantial enjoyment in this particular chapter, potentially alienating a segment of the Destiny community looking for a more universal sci-fi experience.
This launch arrives at a critical juncture for Destiny 2. Following a period of mixed feedback on recent seasonal content and larger narrative arcs, the remarkably low player turnout for a major expansion signals potential fatigue or dissatisfaction within the community. While live service games routinely experience peaks and valleys, a debut this soft for a headline release is a clear indicator of underlying issues that Bungie will need to address. The developer faces the dual challenge of winning back lapsed players while convincing the current audience that future content will be worth their time and investment.
For now, Renegades is available across all platforms, offering a controversial new adventure for Guardians to experience firsthand. Whether this expansion represents a temporary misstep or a symptom of a larger trend for Destiny 2 remains to be seen. Its performance will undoubtedly be a key metric that Bungie analyzes closely as it plans the game’s future trajectory.
(Source: Dual Shockers)
