It has been three weeks since the launch of Destiny 2, and Destiny players moving on to the sequel are still complaining about the game's shader system.
Shaders, which allow players to change the colors of their characters' outfits, were very popular in Destiny. However, in Destiny 2, developer Bungie changed how shaders work, drawing the frustration of fans of the futuristic shooter series.
Shaders: Difference Between 'Destiny' And 'Destiny 2'
In Destiny, players acquired shaders from completing activities, and sometimes also received them as random rewards. Players can freely switch between the shaders in their collection, as once they are acquired, they are permanently available. While some players stick to a certain shader until they come across a new favorite, some players constantly switch between their available shaders.
However, things drastically changed in Destiny 2. For the sequel, shaders are mostly acquired in the same way, but Bungie changed shaders into consumable items. This means that once players apply a shader to their gear, it is gone from their inventory. If players want to use that certain shader again, they will need to collect more of it.
In addition, Destiny 2 players were given the option to apply shaders to individual pieces of their characters' armor and weapons. While this gave deeper customization options, this also meant that if players would like to have their character in a single shader, they will need to collect five of that certain shader.
Perhaps the biggest issue with the new Destiny 2 shader system is the fact that players are always looking to upgrade their weapons and armor. This means that if players want their in-game characters to look cool, they will need to keep using up shaders on weapons and armor that will likely be replaced.
Will Bungie Change How 'Destiny 2' Shaders Work?
Many gamers believe that the new Destiny 2 shader system is a part of Bungie's plan to sell more Bright Engrams in microtransactions. However, given the random nature of shader drops, it will take either a lot of money or time for players to accumulate a good number of their favorite shader, which is something that was not a problem in Destiny.
Making matters worse for players is that Destiny 2 director Luke Smith affirmed Bungie's support of the new shader system after the game was released. This means that Bungie consciously made this decision, and it looks like it will be sticking with it over upcoming Destiny 2 DLC and updates.
Destiny 2 players, however, should keep trying to get Bungie to change the shaders system, as it was a huge part of Destiny that was needlessly made worse in the sequel. Making Destiny 2 sparrows easier to acquire might never happen as the early drought for the vehicles are part of the game's story and gameplay, but for a cosmetic item, Destiny 2 shaders might have a chance of being changed back to how they worked in Destiny.
