Destiny 2 Hits Record-Low Player Count Ahead of Star Wars Crossover

Bungie’s once-glorious space saga, Destiny 2, has found itself adrift in one of the toughest stretches of its life. Once a symbol of live-service success, the game’s momentum has slowed to an alarming crawl, and the numbers tell a sobering story. According to data from Steam Charts and a report by The Game Post, Destiny 2’s player count recently hit its lowest point since debuting on Steam in 2019.

The game now averages around 18,100 concurrent players – a record low for a title that once regularly drew hundreds of thousands of Guardians to orbit.

The fall in engagement comes despite the modest boost from the release of The Final Shape, an expansion meant to cap off a major narrative arc. But any goodwill from that chapter has been overshadowed by a cascade of internal troubles. Over the past two years, Bungie has faced layoffs, controversy over alleged toxic management, and allegations of creative stagnation. Reports of poor leadership and questionable decision-making have painted a grim picture of a studio struggling to reconnect with both its employees and its community.

Meanwhile, the studio is preparing for what might be its most daring gamble yet – a full-fledged Star Wars crossover expansion titled Renegades, expected this December. The idea of wielding a lightsaber in Destiny 2’s sandbox sounds like fan-service gold, but whether it can actually reverse the game’s downward trend remains uncertain. The upcoming expansion follows the lukewarm reception of Edge of Fate, which failed to retain many players for long. Even those willing to return often find Destiny 2’s labyrinthine systems intimidating, especially for newcomers or lapsed players.

Bungie’s problems extend beyond Destiny 2 as well. Just days ago, the studio announced a closed technical test for Marathon, its ambitious extraction shooter rebooting an old IP. However, leadership changes have added more turbulence: long-time CEO Pete Parsons has stepped down and officially retired, marking the end of an era for Bungie. The studio, once hailed for its innovation and close relationship with players, now faces the daunting task of restoring trust and excitement.

Whether Renegades will be the light at the end of the tunnel or just another fading spark remains to be seen. Fans are hopeful but cautious – the Force may be strong, but Bungie’s biggest battle is no longer in the stars; it’s for the hearts of the Guardians who have already walked away.