Bungie's upcoming online shooter, Destiny 2, has hit open beta for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One users. The PC beta is expected to come later.
What's In the Destiny 2 Beta?
The beta offers a chance tor users to test out part of the campaign mode and some of the multiplayer functionality. Gamers can take on Destiny 2's first mission, Homecoming, and check out some of the game's cinematics. One of the main criticisms of the previous game was the lack of focus on story, but Destiny 2's Matthew Ward has said that team put a lot emphasis on the story the second time around.
"We're learning from and listening to all the feedback we got on Destiny 1, and we're applying it," Ward told IGN. "I hope people complain about how much story we have. That'd be the Reddit thread I'd like to read. 'Too much damn story.'"
While the increased emphasis on story is sure to excite plenty of people, Destiny 2 is, first and foremost, a multiplayer game and several of those elements will be available for testing during the beta. First up is the attack/defend Countdown Mode on the Endless Vale map which should give gamers the chance to test out the game's player vs. player elements. For those more interested in collaborative gameplay, the open beta will also feature one of the game's strikes, the Inverted Spire. For those not familiar with the concept, Spires are missions that see a team of players working together to overcome challenges that would be too powerful to take on alone.
In addition to the core content, July 23 will also see the opening of the game's main social hub which is called the Farm. We don't know too many details about the Farm, but we do know that gamers can kick a soccer ball and befriend a chicken. Though, if Legend of Zelda has taught us anything, it's that gaming chickens are to be avoided at all costs.
Given that the game is still in beta, users should not be surprised to learn that there are still a lot of bugs to be worked out, but the team has said that the beta's feedback has been "amazingly helpful" both in terms of squashing bugs and fine tuning the content.
Destiny 2 is scheduled to release on Sept. 6 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The PC version, which will be available on Blizzard's launcher, will come on Oct. 24.
