This past week saw Bungie finally lift the veil on Destiny 2, the sequel to its 2014 shared-world shooter. And with the game getting a PC release along with console releases, you have to ask if it's really that different.
The Good
First, let's start with the good. Running on PC gives Destiny 2 more horsepower. In general, the constant updating of machines has always given PCs an edge over consoles, with custom and modded PCs always outpacing dedicated gaming platforms like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Destiny 2 is going to benefit from this as well.
Fans and outlets who attended the gameplay and got hands-on time reported that the game does indeed run at 60 fps, while the PS4 and Xbox One versions will still be locked at 30 fps, like the first game was. The difference was noted by anyone playing, noting how smooth and, in some cases, faster the game felt on PC compared to console. This could make a huge difference, especially in the Crucible, Destiny's competitive multiplayer section.
While this is more subjective, many fans also noted the difference a mouse and keyboard makes for the game. Given that the first-person shooter genre was born on PC in the early '90s, it makes sense that the game would feel better using those peripherals instead of a controller. This is also bit subjective, because some people may still prefer the feel of a controller, especially given the array of powers and abilities in the player's hands.
The Bad ... Maybe
Now, while the clean slate will be stripping loot and abilities, Bungie didn't leave returning players out in the cold completely. A player's physical character can be imported at the start of the game. But, they'll have to stick to PS4 or Xbox since there will be no cross-saving or account transferring to PC. While not necessarily a big deal, Bungie did cosmetic options to anyone who carries a character over. That may not be huge for most, but a few aesthetically minded players might think twice about jumping to PC because of it, and yes, those kinds of players exist.
The bigger issue will be the continued lack of dedicated servers. While the game will be running on the Blizzard App, the former Battle.Net, the game will rely on peer-to-peer servers instead. This may be a big sticking point for a lot of players. Dedicated servers are generally regarded as the better option, offering more secure servers that can handle a large player base better.
Peer-to-peer is generally regarded as a step down from dedicated servers, and since this game comes from Activision Blizzard, it's even more disappointing. If there is a silver lining, though, the console version won't have dedicated servers either, leaving everyone in the same boat.
The third piece of disappointing news, though it may not be bad in the long term, is no release date for PC. It was believed that, when Destiny 2 was announced, it would launch on Sept. 8 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. However, during interviews conducted at the gameplay reveal, Bungie devs said that there was no release date set for PC.
While that's a letdown right now, it may not be a bad thing. It could still make the Sept. 8 release, but if Bungie waits a bit to make sure the game is working as well as it can, delaying the PC release might be a necessary evil that pays off.
