Bungie, like most live-service devs, works off a pretty simple assumption: the longer you play, the better the odds you’ll buy something. If you’re in the game for hours at a time, you’re seeing Eververse ads constantly, you’re more invested in your character, and you’re more likely to rationalize dropping $10 or $20 on a skin, booster, or a level skip. The grind builds habit, and habits turn into money. The problem is that this logic only works up to a point. Industry research into free-to-play and live-service games shows that the real “sweet spot” for engagement is short, repeatable sessions — around 20 to 40 minutes per play, three to five times a week. That’s enough to keep people hooked and in the loop without overwhelming them. Fortnite and Genshin Impact have this nailed. Their grinds are time-gated and light, progression feels steady, and when people spend, it’s because they want the new skin or character — not because they’re exhausted. Destiny 2 is on the other side of that curve. The game often demands two or three hour sessions, several nights a week, just to keep up with seasonal levels, artifact power, and timed quests. That’s not fun engagement anymore — that’s fatigue. And instead of nudging players toward Eververse, it drives them away completely. Bungie is still designing like it’s 2017, where “hours played” was the holy metric, but in 2025 the reality is different. The grind doesn’t increase spending anymore, it just accelerates burnout.