Because the gunplay is really good. I never had a shred of interest in the story.

I don’t still play because the level and enemy design tanked when they went into expansion treadmill mode, but “a path forward” was never something I cared even a little bit about. “The path forward” is what killed my fun.

I dropped it like it was hot when they cut out 1/2 the content I paid for. I might come back if they bring it back.

I’ve always enjoyed the identity of the three classes, and the abilities they have, plus gunplay has historically been pretty fun. That said, ever since i’ve started playing, the three things i’ve enjoyed were 1. the raids, 2. the story, and 3. my friends.

Unfortunately, Bungie make it overwhelmingly difficult to have fun in this game, by both making moronic decisions at times, and drip-feeding paying customers content, as if it’s a f2p game on life support. The latter alone has practically made me stop playing recently. You have to pay money to each each season, and all you get is a 30 second cutscene for the weekly story, plus a 10 minute adventure in a zone you’ve already been to a thousand times? Come on

What keeps them engaged with Destiny 2 despite its apparent lack of a clear path forward?

There is no alternative. The First Descendant is p2w. Once Human has different structure and resets your progress every season. Warframe is pretty different and similar to First Descendant. Overwatch basically cancelled its pve. Darktide is clunky.

And none of these games have the polish and shooting satisfaction that Destiny has. If people want a pve game, with long term progression that has enjoyable shooting, Destiny is all there is. What keeps them playing? Copium.

Slowly but steadily Destiny will die. And thats when Marathon will come out. But Marathon is very different, so i am not even so sure that most Destiny players will migrate to that.

I am not even playing Destiny. Destiny is the game that i want to love so much but always shits on me, so i gave up. It seems to me that the easiest thing in the world, is to keep Destiny going and address its minor issues. But somehow Bungie doesnt think so.

I hate Destiny. It’s my favorite game.

I started playing D1 during the PS4 Alpha, then beta, and release. Loved it. Played almost daily through The Taken King, and got D2 on launch day. Played the Red War, then took a break. Dabbled in curse of Osiris, took a longer break, played a bit of Beyond Light, more break, then got back into Destiny last June and played a lot through Lightfall’s seasons and The Final Shape.

I truly enjoyed my time playing, but now I’m starting to feel pulled in other directions. I got into Warframe, and The Forever Winter looks really good. I tried Helldivers and it was ok, I don’t have a group to play it with and don’t enjoy randos.

Anyway, all that to say Destiny 2 is dangerously addictive. It feels so good to play. I especially enjoyed the 10-year saga wrapping up with The Final Shape. I’m a very casual gamer, but Destiny makes me feel powerful. That’s why I play.

Something along the lines of hiring an expert on gambling. There’s a lot of game mechanics in games like Destiny 2 which lock you in through little feedback loops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIuAeFu84kY

It’s a good looking game with decent movement and gunplay, but it fully disrespects your time. RIP if you ended up buying the game in 2017 with the first few expansions because that shit gone now.

TL:DR-I like the story and gunplay most of all. The social aspects of the game also keep me coming back to help friends and strangers.

Background: I started with vanilla D1, then picked it back up after Taken King and have been playing ever since.

For me, the game has become more about story than actual gameplay, which I still feel is one of the best around. I’m super excited about the 3rd Episode especially, seeing as the Hive still has Xivu to deal, and whatever is going on with Oryx’s body.

I still play every week. Once I’m done with my story stuff for the week, I like to help my group get their raid clears and other tasks completed. If they’re not on, I sometimes boot up LFG and help blueberries as best I can. I genuinely like to play the game, even if it’s helping others.

When story stuff is slow, I actually do like PVP, although, within the past year or so, I’ve noticed that I’ve either gotten worse or the average (remaining) player ha gotten better. No longer can I pick up any random weapon (another boon that Destiny offers, IMO. The ability to take a weapon in PVE/PVP and use it ANYWHERE, with varying degrees of success. But where was I?) and do “OK” with it. Everyone uses “easier” weapons or loadouts, and as much as that irks me (it’s quick play, FFS), that’s their right. Is that contributing to the barren, desolate landscape that is the Crucible? Possibly. I’m not, and never have been, good enough to “carry” in the Crucible, and that goes double for Trials. I tried helping a clan mate recently get the Adept Draw Time mod since it only drops from the Lighthouse. He plays on PC. That session didn’t go well.

I got a bit rambling there at the end, but I guess to answer your question, the story and gunplay of the Destiny series are the reasons I like the game. One made friends playing this game. Already been to one wedding, with another coming later this year. Wouldn’t have happened if I never decided to try the game.

People play the game because they like to play it? Just because the main story is over doesn’t mean that people don’t enjoy the game anymore. There are plenty of games without a clear and direct story that are very popular because people just enjoy the gameplay.

because they enjoy it?

Because it’s fun and I have friends I play it with.

The thing with destiny is that there are somewhat diminishing returns in terms of time invested vs in-game advancements.

The min-maxing and endless search for God rolls and the best builds can push you that extra 10% or so over the gen-pop player base who doesn’t spend 20hrs a week on the game.

But gen-pop and casual can still approach end game content without feeling like a total noob.

That said, there is still end game content that is geared towards “power users”… master nightfall, master raids, etc.

Also, as a D1 year 1 player who actually kinda gets what’s going on, story-wise, it’s great. But admittedly comprehending the story is very difficult given where they drop you in if you just started the game.

I will also applaud Bungie for making adjustments over the years. For sure it’s a lot less addictive than it used to be, and less of a grind. Or maybe its as much as a grind as you want it to be. The changes over the years have made the core game more approachable while they still held some high-level end game stuff for the die-hards. They tried to do the same with the story and it kinda works a little.

Also, for me, the raids are really great. Haven’t really experienced that sort of game play, teamwork, puzzle solving, and requirement for perseverance and gaming skill anywhere else. they’re just plain fun, especially if you have a good group to play with.

The same reason people use ketamine. It feels good.

I play games for the gameplay, don’t really care about story.

I haven’t played Destiny in a while but if I did it would be for the same reason a person keeps buying new sudoku books: I like solving the puzzles that the levels represent.

I think Destiny is cool in that it’s co-op and you can encounter other players and temporarily team up with them.

I really wish we had the computing power to make a game that was basically massively coop Halo: one big war against the Covenant that everyone can fight in on the side of Humanity.

my friends play it.

Are there aspects of the game that still offer value or enjoyment

I like the core D2 experience as much as I always have. The gunplay is great, the abilities and build crafting is great, the vibes and graphics and soundtrack are excellent.

The current season is kinda eh but they always put the weakest season they have lined up first because it launches at the same time as the campaign. The current season is more substantial than previous first seasons though, which is good since they are doing 3 seasons per year instead of 4 this time.

The main plot line is finished but there are still sub-plots that need to be resolved. Xivu is not fully defeated. We need to come to a more long-term arrangement with Savathun. (The Xivu-Savathun plot is going to be touched on later this year). Some sort of Vex alliance is long overdue. With the bigger threats out of the way, it would be neat to help the Eliksni and Cabal retake their home planets. Clovis could be a full villain any time now. Plus they are trying to sow the seeds for the new plots down the line with their “traveler/witness demise led to magic seeds being shot into space”. Plus they should answer more details about the fallout after the events of TFS.

All that being said, the main reason I’m still playing is simply because I bought the campaign + season pass combo just like I did for the past 5 years, and I intend to play the content I paid for. However there is a good chance I won’t pay for next year’s pass. There is a lot of potential left in the Destiny IP but the current state of Bungie will have to prove they can still tap into it.

It’s also worth mentioning that I’ve definitely been playing less of it lately than I used to.

I have been playing it for 6 years. The gun play is great. It gets regular updates. I still have fun. I wish the pvp player pool was bigger so that match making would work better.