The final two months has been a rollercoaster journey for Future 2 followers, from the heights of the critically-acclaimed Closing Form growth to the depths of downsizing on the studio that made it and experiences of main shifts and deserted ambitions for the sci-fi MMO. Future 2 will proceed, possibly much more sustainably, however not as followers have recognized it, or some had hoped it could.
Final night time, Large Bomb cohost Jeff Grubb reported that Bungie was stepping again from Future 2‘s massive annual expansions to give attention to smaller “content material packs” that may launch alongside different episodic updates. And at this time, Bloomberg shed extra mild on these modifications, reporting that as a substitute of main new paid campaigns yearly, these smaller content material drops would intention to be free and modeled after Future 2‘s current Into the Gentle replace which added a horde mode and plenty of new loot for gamers to gather.
Bloomberg additionally reported that an in-development undertaking known as “Payback” was canceled earlier this yr. It might have been extra of a Future spin-off than a sequel, with third-person motion and a give attention to exploration and team-based boss fights, probably within the vein of Warframe or Genshin Impression. However along with that recreation being canned, the layoffs this week have been a part of a reorganization that included cuts to Future 2‘s audio, story, and participant assist groups. Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy, longtime veterans who have been ceaselessly the face of Future as just lately as this yr (and have been reportedly engaged on “Payback” in keeping with Grubb), have been additionally laid off.
Maybe essentially the most disappointing information for some followers, nevertheless, is that there’s no Future 3 on the finish of this lengthy, darkish tunnel. In accordance with Bloomberg, it doesn’t exist but and hasn’t been in growth. Whereas that doesn’t preclude it from taking place sooner or later, it’s clear the current downsizing means Bungie is targeted on sustaining Future 2‘s precarious current and delivery its new extraction shooter Marathon in 2025, versus opening up a totally new chapter within the sci-fi universe it spent the final decade making.
In accordance with reporting by Recreation File, the upheaval for Bungie and Future 2 wasn’t inevitable but it surely was a very long time coming, spurred by overly optimistic plans throughout the pandemic years from studio management and declining gross sales of every new Future 2 growth. If there’s one vivid spot in all of this for gamers, it feels like the sport’s onboarding will likely be a principal focus shifting ahead, serving to new gamers expertise the enjoyable however notoriously advanced and convoluted loot shooter.