Bungie Addresses Player Concerns: Legendary Shards Being Removed from Destiny 2 After 6 Years - Potential for Improvement or Currency Crisis?

Destiny 2's Legendary Shards to be Gradually Phased Out in Future Updates, Completely Removed in Next Expansion 

Bungie Addresses Player Concerns: Legendary Shards Being Removed from Destiny 2 After 6 Years - Potential for Improvement or Currency Crisis?

Destiny 2 players have long struggled with the issue of Legendary Shards, either never having enough or facing an excess they can't spend fast enough. After six years of grappling with this currency, Bungie has decided to address the problem head-on in The Final Shape expansion.

In their latest blog post, Bungie dropped a bombshell: Legendary Shards are on the chopping block. Regardless of how many you've stockpiled, they're about to vanish into thin air. This move is part of Bungie's plan to streamline Destiny 2's in-game currencies, even if it feels as drastic as cutting off one's limbs to streamline their torso.

The rationale behind this decision, as Bungie explains, stems from the disparity in Legendary Shard wealth among players and the various methods players have exploited to farm them. Bungie believes that simplifying the game's economy by removing this currency is in the best interest of both the game and its players.

The demise of Legendary Shards will unfold in phases, starting with Season 23. The Monument to Lost Lights will no longer require Legendary Shards, making it easier for new and returning players to unlock weapons they might have missed.

Additionally, focusing ritual engrams will undergo a transformation in Season 23, no longer requiring Legendary Shards but instead requiring Glimmer and engrams, or Trials of Osiris wins and Nightfall Ciphers for endgame loot pools. However, the catch is that focusing these engrams will now cost significantly more, with players needing five engrams to focus a single Nightfall reward, a substantial increase from the previous cost of one engram. Iron Banner and Trials of Osiris will follow suit. Player reactions have been mixed, with many hoping for future adjustments.

The Final Shape expansion, slated for an early 2024 release, will be the ultimate nail in the Legendary Shard coffin. All remaining sources and costs related to Legendary Shards will be removed from the game, including Collections, Trials Passages, rituals, vendor purchases, and more.

Glimmer, akin to gold in MMOs like World of Warcraft, will take center stage as the primary currency in Destiny 2. However, the Glimmer economy raises concerns, especially without an increase in the Glimmer cap mentioned in the blog post. Players may be reluctant to grind activities solely for Glimmer, and this shift in currency dynamics isn't Destiny 2's first rodeo in terms of currency challenges.

Bungie emphasizes that there will be no currency exchange for stockpiled Legendary Shards, underscoring their commitment to creating a more accessible and equitable gaming experience. They clarify that Glimmer prices for items won't increase, nor replacement costs will be added for items that previously required Legendary Shards (though engram focusing costs remain).

In light of the Legendary Shard phase-out, rewards for dismantling gear will be adjusted to better suit the new economy. While exact values are subject to change, Bungie estimates that players will receive more Glimmer and Enhancement Cores on average per item dismantled. The popular Exotic merchant Xur will also see changes, though specifics remain under wraps for now.

Amid these significant currency shifts, there's some positive news for Destiny's economy. The notorious Essence of Crota grind for the reissued Crota's End raid Exotic, Necrochasm, will receive a nerf. Starting September 19, players will be guaranteed an Essence drop with bonus rewards on their first weekly clear. Defeating Crota post-raid will also offer a chance at an instant Essence jackpot, though players might ruefully amass 49 Essences before hitting the jackpot.

Lastly, in a noteworthy development unrelated to currency changes, Bungie recently imposed a substantial fine of $500,000 on a teenager accused of cheating and harassment, setting a precedent in the world of gaming enforcement.