I’m writing this because Bungie, I feel, is missing out on keeping a large portion of their player base engaged. Thus is missing out on a big opportunity to expand their player base, so I wanted to make the current state of the game known for players like myself (this is my experience and I can’t speak for everyone, but I’ve read enough feedback to know I’m in a commonplace of thought). TLDR @ bottom. Solo: I’d like to start by stating the type of player I am, and advising that others like myself exist in droves. I’m a casual, solo, adult player with a 9-5 job that plays multiple games (Destiny being one I’d like to stay committed to). I haven’t bothered playing Destiny since the new year/season dropped. Came in long enough to play the bulk of the story to get the Stasis ability and one exotic weapon and will drop in every once in awhile to play crucible or gambit. This game has been exceedingly more and more difficult for players like me. Immediately I struggled with certain content, because I wasn’t at a certain level and don’t play with other guardians because of time constraints. Enemies are difficult to deal with primarily because of my low level, so obviously I would have to put off the story to level up my gear on easier missions/modes. Eventually I was able to get my stasis ability unlocked, but to my dismay, it wasn’t fully unlocked and I have yet to acquire the additional nodes to do so because it’s so time consuming and dull. Getting stasis was already a chore that I feel should have been available from the start, and the additional nodes instead could have required quests or bounties to acquire. Content: This is obvious, but, generally speaking, any of destiny’s good or fun content is not accomplishable by players like me. Can’t do the raids, trials, and anything else requiring a fire team which is mostly everything worth your time. And before you say there’s dungeons or whatever their called, the rewards from those are not worth the time required. Just for the experience if that’s your thing. Exotics are also something I’ve come to accept I’ll rarely see. Maybe if Xur still sold exotics from current seasons or there were ways to alternatively acquire exotics for solo only, then I could, but unfortunately this is not the current state either. Power level is pretty simple to explain. Since I can’t do end game content, such as raids, upgrading my armor and weapons to an “endgame” level are nearly impossible unless you have all the time in the world and only focus on Destiny and Destiny alone, which I don’t. In the past I found workarounds and would occasionally join a friend that would be doing a raid, but since I rarely get on anymore, I don’t have these connections or time. For raids, my most fond memories were from Crota’s end in Destiny “1”. There were methods of getting to Crota as a solo player. It was subjectively harder but at least I was able to beat Crota on my own. I had the ability, regardless of difficulty. Now the current raid mechanics are generally impossible to do solo. For example: One person has to carry an orb, while another shoots ads, while the rest focus on the boss. And even if you can find a way around the mechanics, you have to be the highest level possible to even think you’re going to do any damage to that boss...if you even can with some being pure bullet sponges. To finalize on raids, I get the argument “it’s endgame content, it should be complicated and not easily beaten/available.” But why can’t they still have the difficulty value they currently have, but with a solo player being able to access it, along with 6? Why is it so bad that a solo player be able to beat a raid? Lastly on content, I’d like to mention, doing basic activities should also be worth your time. Spending time on earth, moon, or wherever should be worth that time. If I go to earth now and compete special events or just roam around killing endless waves of enemies, I’m literally wasting my time. Unless I have a bounty saying to do so, there is no reason to experience the environments Bungie spends so much time on because you won’t get anything for it, except maybe a blue engram or story completion. Good luck getting anything of value, unless by random, if you’re doing anything but endgame content. Other Games: Recently I’ve stuck to playing games like resident evil, call of duty, and more recently the Outriders demo and remnant from the ashes. These games and more allow you to access in game rewards as a solo player. Remnant is a good example of how rewards should drop. I played it on hard mode first play through and through much trial and error (that remained fun and inviting) was able to acquire and experience the best content the game had to offer and was rewarded for my time. It’s a similar story with the outriders demo. Remnant is the perfect example of acquiring loot as a solo player, but can also be a multiplayer as well. I have to try harder at beating bosses and end game content than those in a party, but at least they give you the opportunity to experience the same content and try. I really don’t understand why an alt method of gameplay isn’t available in raids for solo players or why bosses can’t just have lower health for the smaller your fire team is. And I really don’t understand why no rewards are given to players just exploring planets (completing special events, bounties, etc). End note: I love destiny, truly. I’ve been here since the beginning of the first demo with Dinklage as my ghost. I even have the D1 demo emblems like the one from going to the moon for the first time. So to say I don’t understand this game, haven’t fully given it a chance, or am not playing it right is unfair. I’ve spent more time in Destiny than any other game I’d bet. But it’s just not for me or players like me in its current state. And until it is changed in some fundamental way, more and more players are going to drop off with me. This game has the potential to be even greater than it once was. But if it keeps moving forward: barring solo players from good content, increasing the grind so that casual players won’t have time to bother, and making only certain portions of the game worth any play time, this game will continue to have players drop off with every season. Because one thing I can guarantee is that people get older and some get full time jobs. So unless there’s a reason for those with less time to play, to play daily and stay up late, they’ll just move on like I have to other similar games that cater to both crowds equally. *****TLDR: I’d love to say Destiny is a better game for me than some of these other multiplayers, because of the time I’ve put in and the great experiences I’ve had. Unfortunately I can’t say that anymore because everything good about destiny is locked behind a wall of time, grind, and preventative access. Why can’t raids or trials have a single player option? Casual/solo players should have to work hard for good rewards, but not so hard that the game becomes a chore rather than a pleasure. End game should be accessible even if you work full time and/or play other games. Anyone should be able to hop in and literally go anywhere/do any activity and it be worth their time with rewards or experience. They should be able to level up without having to enter end game content to do so. Most important, all players should be able to gain entry into all the activities the game has to offer and gain the same or similar rewards. This won’t sully any team efforts or victories, but stand side by side with it equally.