The last two months have been a rollercoaster ride for Fate 2 Fans, from the Heights of the critically acclaimed Final form extension into the depths of Job cuts in the studio who made it, as well as reports of big changes and abandoned ambitions for the sci-fi MMO. Fate 2 will continue, perhaps even more sustainably, but not in the way fans know it or as some had hoped.
Last night, Giant bomb Co-host Jeff Grubb reported that Bungie is withdrawing from Fate 2The major annual expansions focus on smaller “content packs” that are released alongside other episodic updates. And today Bloomberg shed more light on these changes, reporting that instead of big new paid campaigns every year, these smaller content drops would aim to be free and modeled on Fate 2‘s latest Into the light Update that added a horde mode and tons of new loot for players to collect.
Bloomberg also reported that a project in development called “Payback” was canceled earlier this year. It would be more of a determination Spin-off as a sequel, with third-person action and a focus on exploration and team-based boss battles, possibly in the style of Warframe or Genshin Influence. But in addition to the setting of the game, the layoffs this week were part of a reorganization that included cuts in Fate 2Audio, story and player support teams. Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy, long-time veterans who are often the face of determination just this year (and were allegedly working on “Payback,” according to Grubb), were also laid off.
Perhaps the most disappointing news for some fans, however, is that there is no Fate 3 at the end of this long, dark tunnel. According to Bloombergit does not yet exist and was not in development. While that does not rule out it happening in the future, it is clear that the recent downsizing means that Bungie is focusing on Fate 2precarious present and shipping of his new extraction shooter Marathon in 2025, rather than opening a completely new chapter in the science fiction universe that has been in the works for the past decade.
Accordingly Reporting by Game filethe turning point for Bungie and Fate 2 was not inevitable, but it was a long road, spurred by overly optimistic plans during the pandemic years from studio management and declining sales of each new Fate 2 Expansion. If there’s a silver lining in all this for players, it’s that it sounds like the introduction to the game will be a major focus going forward to help new players experience the fun, but notoriously complex and convoluted loot shooter.