Why Destiny 2’s complex onboarding makes Apex Legends a better starting point for new FPS players
The Overwhelming New Player Experience
Destiny 2’s introductory experience consistently disappoints players, leading many to humorously recommend alternative first-person shooters for beginners.
Since its 2017 launch, Destiny 2 has evolved into an exceptionally intricate gaming ecosystem. The title now features an extensive array of activities, currently operating in its fifteenth seasonal cycle, presenting newcomers with a bewildering assortment of currencies, mission objectives, and downloadable content to navigate.
While returning veterans face significant reorientation challenges, fresh players encounter even greater obstacles. Bungie’s implementation of the Destiny Content Vault system, which rotates available content within their FPS/MMO hybrid framework, means current initiates receive minimal tutorial guidance and sparse narrative context.
Community Concerns and Pricing Problems
Leading up to the Witch Queen expansion release in 2022, dedicated Destiny enthusiasts took to Reddit forums to express their frustrations about introducing new participants to the franchise.
A prominent post by Reddit contributor CDClock, entitled “Trying to get new people to play the game be like” effectively captures the common dialogue patterns experienced players encounter when attempting to share their beloved game with uninitiated friends.
Trying to get new people to play the game be like
byu/CDClock inDestinyTheGame
The community frequently criticizes both the game’s inadequate initial tutorial sequence and its confusing monetization approach. While players can acquire all current expansion content for approximately $40, the premium Forsaken expansion—considered by many as the franchise’s peak—faces removal upon The Witch Queen’s arrival.
Bungie’s controversial 30th Anniversary bundle also receives community scrutiny, particularly regarding its inclusion of exclusive dungeon content unavailable through Witch Queen’s Deluxe Edition. This creates additional financial requirements for completionists, who may need to purchase both the bundle and seasonal access passes.
Apex Legends as an Alternative
The discussion culminates with the humorous observation “why are you turning on Apex Legends?” Though Apex Legends represents a distinct category of loot-based shooter, its significantly lower entry barrier makes it substantially more approachable for beginners.
Destiny’s dedicated player base has frequently acknowledged the substantial commitment required to maintain engagement with the game, while recognizing this investment supports Bungie’s ongoing content development. However, these discussions often spark nostalgia for the return of the Red War campaign—Destiny 2’s original launch narrative.
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Potential Solutions and Future Outlook
“The game should consistently provide a comprehensive campaign as Destiny’s introduction. The Red War narrative would serve perfectly,” one community member suggested, while another proposed making “Shadowkeep’s campaign freely available as the introductory experience for new players” given its relevance to current story developments.
Recent commentary has suggested Bungie explore monthly subscription options for Destiny 2 that would bundle expansion access. Currently, the core Destiny 2 experience remains free (excluding vaulted content), with three annual expansions preceding Witch Queen. The Forsaken expansion, originally released in 2018, transitioned to free access beginning December 7—though it faces removal coinciding with Witch Queen and Season 16’s launch.
Regarding Bungie’s plans for enhancing the new player journey, speculation remains widespread—but consensus indicates Destiny 2 requires substantial revitalization of its onboarding systems.
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