The Destiny 2 Shaders Controversy: A Comprehensive Guide
One day after Destiny 2‘s release, fans of the acclaimed FPS-MMO clamored for blood after discovering that the color customization system from the original Destiny was replaced silently in the second game. According to Eurogamer, the developing company did not announce this change, neither did they tweet any change of the customization features whatsoever.
The original game’s shaders system was a simple and swap-in-swap out feature. Basically, you can simply select your color of choice and you can swap it out for another color ad infinitum. However, this original system was altered into a consumable system by the Destiny 2, gaining the ire of fans. Enraged fans consider this as a profiteering ploy to make use of the in-game market, where you can purchase Bright Engrams with real world currency.
The Wrath of /u/WeilageM
In a reddit post that garnered 42.5k upvotes, /u/WeilageM rallied the Destiny subreddit to stop spending a single cent on micro transactions, hopefully seeking to move Bungie into a decision that would appease the fans. In his reddit post, WeilageM articulated some reasons for redditors to drop the purchase of microtransactions until shaders become unlimited use:
- Frequent consumable drops are not an improvement over rarer, permanent rewards.
- You’re going to be collecting armor and weapons in this game, and you’re going to need a shader for each and every piece.
- Min-maxers and collectors will basically never use shaders until they have absolutely perfect gear, if they run the risk of losing those shaders every time they find something better.
- Making something that used to be fun, simple recoloring of gear, into a commitment that is not a good change.
WeilageM reasoned that no one in Bungie cares about shaders. However, people do notice when they don’t get any money whatsoever. In his words, “Micro transactions for cosmetics are usually harmless, but we had a better system in the first game. Plain and simple. This was a choice, and it was not a choice made with the enjoyment of the game in mind.”
Mental Gymnastics?
Luke Smith, the director of Destiny 2, defends the use of Shaders with a series of tweets:
Shaders are earned through gameplay: leveling, chests, engrams, vendors. We expect you’ll be flush w/ Shaders as you continue to play. (1/4)
— Luke Smith (@thislukesmith) September 7, 2017
When you reach level 20, Shaders will drop more often: vendor rewards, destination play and endgame activities. (2/4)
— Luke Smith (@thislukesmith) September 7, 2017
Shaders are now an ongoing reward for playing. Customization will inspire gameplay. Each planet has unique armor and Shader rewards. (3/4)
— Luke Smith (@thislukesmith) September 7, 2017
With D2, we want statements like “I want to run the Raid, Trials, or go back to Titan to get more of its Shader” to be possible. (4/4)
— Luke Smith (@thislukesmith) September 7, 2017
So Smith and co. defend the use of shaders by making it part of the gameplay, and earned. While this seems like a very well-reasoned defense, I hardly think this justifies the decision made. Such a cosmetic feature shouldn’t have to be earned in a game where the loot is the feature.
But that’s my two cents. What are yours? Comment below and let me know!
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