How Destiny 2’s Trials of Osiris made a triumphant return with smart reward design
Introduction
Destiny 2’s competitive PvP mode Trials of Osiris has achieved what many thought impossible – near-universal praise from its notoriously critical player base. The March 2021 weekend event demonstrated how smart reward design can revitalize even the most troubled game modes.
After numerous setbacks and temporary removals, Bungie’s premier PvP activity has finally found its footing through a combination of highly sought-after weapons and accessible reward thresholds that welcome casual players.
The Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of Trials
Trials of Osiris’ journey in Destiny 2 has been anything but smooth. Following its initial launch, the mode quickly became plagued by technical issues and cheating that drove away all but the most dedicated players. Match-fixing exploits, DDoS attacks, and recurring bugs created an environment where only the top 1% of competitors or those using underhanded tactics could consistently succeed.
The turnaround came in March 2021 when Bungie implemented crucial changes to the reward structure. Trials Report data showed player counts reaching 304,804 by mid-weekend – surpassing all but the first two launch weekends in the mode’s history. This resurgence proved that with the right incentives, even players who typically avoid PvP would engage with Trials content.
We’re not even halfway through this Trials weekend but the player count has already surpassed all but the first two weeks. The top 5:
Week 1: 358,866
Week 2: 347,151
This week: 304,804 (and growing!!!1!1!)
Week 45: 304,540
Week 3: 303,147 pic.twitter.com/lp7odXJO8g
— Trials Report (@TrialsReport) March 21, 2021
The Winning Reward Formula
The March 2021 success stemmed from two key reward design choices: offering meta-defining weapons and making them accessible at lower win thresholds. The Igneous Hammer hand cannon available at just 3 wins became the perfect case study in reward psychology. With potential perk combinations like Quickdraw/Moving Target and Rapid Hit/Rampage, it was both highly desirable and relatively easy to obtain compared to previous Trials weapons.
PVP creator DFPsheikh highlighted the importance of this approach: “When you combine top-tier weapons with reasonable acquisition requirements, you create an environment where players feel their time investment will be rewarded.” This philosophy represents a significant shift from earlier Trials iterations where the best rewards were locked behind flawless 7-win runs that only elite players could achieve.
Pro Tip: For players new to Trials, focus first on reaching the 3-win reward tier each week. The matchmaking system becomes more forgiving after each loss, making this an achievable goal even for average PvP players.
Community Response and Future Outlook
The Destiny community has been vocal about wanting Bungie to maintain this successful formula. Content creator MyNameIsByf summarized the prevailing sentiment: “When rewards are both good and attainable, the entire ecosystem benefits.” The data supports this – higher player counts create better matchmaking experiences across all skill levels.
While technical challenges remain, including ongoing anti-cheat efforts and server stability improvements, the March 2021 Trials weekend proved that reward structure alone can dramatically impact player engagement. As Gothalion noted, “More players means healthier matchmaking, which makes the entire playlist more enjoyable for everyone.”
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t burn out chasing flawless runs if you’re new to Trials. Focus first on consistent 3-win completions to build experience and collect rewards before attempting higher win streaks.
Related
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Destiny 2 hits its lowest player count ever
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