At this point, Destiny is no stranger to change. The game has already been tinkered with quite a bit since its launch just over a month ago: new patches, balance fixes and a reworked loot system have all made their way into Destiny post-release. There may be a lot of criticisms leveled at the game, but Bungie's response time to issues with Destiny isn't among them.
The game's newest hotfix is set for release today, and much of the update is relatively standard. Some glitches are set to be fixed, as are some problems with specific perks. What's interesting is the changes to the 'Vault of Glass' raid and the Auto Rifle weapon class.
The Vault of Glass is not easy to get through, and players have made sure to make use of every possible advantage. The Templar boss fight is a prime example of this as tall spires litter the battlefield, and crafty players can make their way to the top and rain fire down on enemies below. That is, until the hotfix is released.
Bungie is introducing kill-zones to the tops of the spires. Basically, if a player remains on the spire for too long, they'll die and have to wait for respawn. It could end up being a major blow for lower-level teams or speed runners looking for an easy vantage point.
The relic, which is necessary to remove the Templar's shield, is also being reworked. If the player holding the relic leaves the playable area, the item will reappear at its original spawn location, which is usually covered with enemies.
Bungie is also reworking the game's weapon balance, and more specifically, the team is taking away some of the Auto Rifle's stopping power. Aside from a general 2% decrease in power, the rifle's precision damage and stability are also taking a significant hit. Essentially, the weapon won't hit as hard or as accurately as it once did. This is in stark contrast to the Scout Rifle, which is receiving a 6% boost in damage. There are also a few Exotic weapons being reworked, though the changes are much more specific than the others.
Finally, the hotfix will address issues with both Titan and Warlock perks, as well as Engrams appearing in post-Strike rewards notifications. The post also includes the cryptic line " The Fallen have also retreated from their hold over the Rocket Yard to discuss a new takeover plan." It seems that certain specific enemy types will be gone from that map for now, though any larger plans Bungie may be hinting at are still a mystery.
Balance changes are always controversial. It's inevitable that players will complain about their favorite weapon being too weak to use or that their enemies' weapons are far too powerful to compete against. Bungie has always been quick to address balance issues before, and the team has quite a bit of experience making sure their games are as fair as possible. So until players get their hands on the updated game, there's no way of telling if these changes are for the best.
