Destiny 2's Crucible PvP has long felt underwhelming due to the lack of new game modes and maps and because of how slowly balance patches are developed and released, but according to Destiny 2's Assistant Game Director Joe Blackburn, Bungie is looking to renew its dedication to the Crucible in the long term. Bungie is planning to add new maps and new game modes in 2022, with more coming on an annual basis. On top of this, though, the developer is also planning on bringing back a classic fan-favorite mode from the original Destiny — Rift.
In the original Rift mode, each team of players had a Rift at their spawn point that could be destroyed with a bomb-like "Spark" objective that spawned in the center of each map. Each team needed to try and take the Spark when it spawned, then carry it to the enemy team's Rift to "dunk" it and blow the Rift up. The catch was that the Spark would blow up and kill its holder 75 seconds after it was picked up, which encourages teams to play fast and aggressively. This led to some incredibly chaotic and scrappy gameplay that many players enjoyed, although matches could get surprisingly competitive and strategic too if both teams were coordinated.
First, the team is investigating getting Rift in Destiny 2 next year. It’s been too long since we’ve dunked on some guardians. The Destiny Sandbox has sped up in Destiny 2, so right now the team is validating that the mode still holds up with our new gameplay.First, the team is investigating getting Rift in Destiny 2 next year. It’s been too long since we’ve dunked on some guardians. The Destiny Sandbox has sped up in Destiny 2, so right now the team is validating that the mode still holds up with our new gameplay.— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) August 4, 2021August 4, 2021
It's exciting to think that Rift could finally make its way into Destiny 2 soon, but it's important to note that things aren't set in stone just yet. Blackburn commented that Bungie's sandbox team is making sure that Rift "holds up" with Destiny 2's faster and more energetic gameplay. Ultimately, I hope that the developers are able to tweak the mode so it plays well in Destiny 2 — I want to dunk on some Guardians.
What do you think of the potential return of Rift? Let me know. The latest Destiny 2 expansion, Destiny 2: Beyond Light, is available now for $40 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. The base game is free, so if you're looking to try Destiny 2 out before investing any money, you can do so.
If you do decide to try the game, don't miss our beginner's guide on how to get into Destiny 2 in 2021. Also, for some builds that will give you an edge in the Crucible, check out our guide to the best Destiny 2 builds, and how to make your own. Don't miss our roundup of the 10 best Destiny 2 weapons you need to farm in Season of the Splicer either, as several of them are very effective in PvP and can help you achieve victory.
Europa awaits
Beyond Light is the next big expansion for Destiny 2, introducing a new element for Guardians to wield, a new area on the Jupiter moon Europa, a new story, and plenty of loot to go around.
