Long-standing players of Destiny 2, the popular MMOFPS game developed by Bungie, have been waiting for a way to modify their characters' appearances without starting from scratch. After years of requests, Bungie has announced that they are taking a significant step towards accommodating this player desire, though with notable limitations that may dampen the excitement for some.
In the game's current setup, players who wish to update their characters, known as Guardians, have to undergo a rather tedious process. This involves deleting their existing character and creating a brand-new one to achieve a different look. If they wish to retain their progress, they need to transfer their gear and potentially replay story content. The lack of a simple feature to alter appearance has been a point of contention among the game's community.
However, in the recent Bungie blog update, the developers revealed that the upcoming feature will allow players to tweak their Guardians' appearance directly from the character select screen. The long-awaited addition promises that players can adjust various physical traits, such as body type, face, hair, and marking, free of charge and as frequently as they please. This quality-of-life change is anticipated to arrive in an update just before the launch of "The Final Shape," an expansion set to conclude the decade-long 'Light and Darkness Saga' storyline, which is expected in June.
This update heralds a significant improvement for personalizing your Guardian. Players fond of changing hairstyles, tattoos, and other physical features will now be empowered to do so, supporting the notion that a player's Guardian should indeed represent their ideal in-game persona.
Nevertheless, the update comes with a substantial restriction: changing a character's origin species will not be possible. Destiny 2 boasts three distinct origin species – Humans, Exos (human consciousness in robotic form), and Awoken (blue-skinned descendants of humans affected by a unique cosmic event). These origin species offer not just cosmetic differences but also distinct vocal characteristics and are a fundamental aspect of a Guardian's identity. Therefore, players desiring a complete transformation will find this limitation a significant shortcoming.
Despite the limitation, the upcoming feature will still greatly reduce the inconvenience of making cosmetic changes. As it stands, some players are so dissatisfied with their Guardians' looks that they choose to keep their helmets on at all times during gameplay to hide their character's appearance. The attachment to a character's look is understandable given that Destiny 2 has often been referred to as having a "fashion" endgame, where the appearance of a player's Guardian is as significant as their in-game accomplishments.
Adding to the potential frustration of dedicated players is a sense of wariness towards Bungie's approach to game development. Historical patterns suggest that Bungie often introduces new features in a minimalistic or constrained form, leading to a desire for more comprehensive updates down the line. This pattern has given rise to skepticism among the player base about the company's intent and the functionality of new features when first introduced.
The ability for players to update their Guardians' appearances without erasing their achievements is a step forward for Destiny 2. It acknowledges the importance of character customization in an MMOFPS where individuality is a crucial part of player expression. While hopes for a more robust feature set linger, the upcoming changes will undeniably improve the game experience, satisfying players who have long campaigned for the ability to alter their avatars without starting anew. As the final chapter of 'The Light and Darkness Saga' approaches, Guardians can look forward to tackling the impending challenges with a fresh look—if not a new origin.
You must be logged in to post a comment!
