Destiny 2 is running on fumes. The player base has been steadily shrinking, major updates barely move the needle, and even long-time fans are starting to burn out. After nearly a decade of expansions, resets, and seasonal grinds, the magic that once defined Destiny feels buried under the weight of its own live-service model. The recent success of Destiny Rising—a fan-made project capturing the spirit of the early days—proves just how hungry players are for something new. People don’t just want another season; they want a true evolution. For many, that means one thing: it’s time for Destiny 3.
The Bungie Situation: Layoffs and Restructuring
Bungie today is a very different studio from the one that built Destiny 2. Over the past two years, the company has faced multiple rounds of layoffs that gutted key departments—community teams, QA testers, even parts of the narrative staff. Reports from Bloomberg and other outlets described the cuts as sudden and “undue,” leaving morale at an all-time low. Many of the developers who helped shape Destiny’s identity have since left, and internal sources suggest productivity has taken a major hit.
At the same time, Sony—who acquired Bungie in 2022—has reportedly lost patience. With Destiny 2 underperforming and Marathon struggling in development, Sony has begun taking a heavier hand in Bungie’s operations. What was once a proudly independent studio is now being folded into PlayStation Studios, signaling a major shift in how Bungie will work—and perhaps what they’ll even be allowed to make next.
Sony’s Control
When Sony bought Bungie back in 2022, the promise was creative independence — Bungie would keep full control over Destiny and future projects. But three years later, that promise is starting to unravel. Reports from Forbes and PC Gamer suggest Sony has seen enough after a string of missed goals and disappointing financials. Bungie is now being folded into PlayStation Studios, ending its era of autonomy. On one hand, this could mean more funding, stability, and access to PlayStation’s vast resources. But on the other, it also means tighter oversight and less freedom to chase Bungie’s own vision. For a studio that’s always defined itself by independence, that shift could fundamentally change the way Destiny — and any potential Destiny 3 — is made.
Marathon: The Other Problem
While fans are asking for Destiny 3, Bungie’s main focus right now isn’t Destiny at all — it’s Marathon. The studio’s ambitious extraction shooter was meant to be its next big leap, but reports suggest the project has faced repeated delays and internal challenges. Early feedback from playtests has reportedly been mixed, and much of the studio’s remaining talent has been redirected toward getting Marathon ready for launch. The problem is obvious: Bungie is already stretched thin maintaining Destiny 2, and developing Marathon at the same time leaves little bandwidth for anything else, let alone building a brand-new sequel from scratch. In many ways, Marathon represents both Bungie’s hope for the future — and the biggest obstacle standing in the way of Destiny 3.
The Dream of Destiny 3
For years, Destiny 3 has felt like the great white whale of the franchise — always rumored, never real. Bungie has repeatedly stated they have no plans for a sequel, instead choosing to evolve Destiny 2 through smaller, ongoing updates. According to reports from IGN and Forbes, the studio’s focus has shifted toward “sustainable development” and more manageable live-service updates, rather than the massive, years-long commitment a true Destiny 3 would require. On paper, that makes sense. After all, rebuilding a game of this scale would demand hundreds of developers and a stable production pipeline — two things Bungie currently lacks.
But for the fans, Destiny 3 isn’t just about graphics or content. It’s about identity. They want a fresh start — a world free from the technical baggage of Destiny 2’s old engine and the complicated web of expansions that have defined it for nearly a decade. The dream is a game that learns from everything that came before: deeper RPG mechanics, more dynamic storytelling, and a true sense of discovery that recaptures the wonder of the original Destiny.
And ironically, that dream isn’t entirely out of reach. Projects like Destiny Rising show that there’s still a spark — a hunger for what Destiny could be with modern tech and a renewed vision. The question isn’t whether players want Destiny 3 — they do. The real question is whether Bungie, in its current state, has the people, time, and creative freedom to make it happen.
What Destiny 3 Could Be
If Bungie ever decided to make Destiny 3, it wouldn’t just be another sequel — it would have to be a reinvention. Fans envision a universe that finally feels alive again, free from the technical limits that have weighed Destiny 2 down for years. Imagine a new engine built for next-gen consoles, seamless open-world exploration across multiple planets, and a narrative that truly reacts to player choice. A Destiny where the solar system isn’t a collection of static maps, but a living, breathing frontier that changes over time.
Sony’s involvement could actually make that possible. As part of PlayStation Studios, Bungie would have access to far greater resources — the same cinematic storytelling tools that fuel games like Horizon, God of War, and The Last of Us. A PlayStation-backed Destiny 3 could push narrative and visual fidelity in ways Bungie has never been able to before. And from Sony’s perspective, the opportunity is clear: Destiny 3 could be positioned as a flagship live-service exclusive for the next generation of PlayStation hardware.
But beyond the business and the technology, Destiny 3 represents something emotional — a chance to reset. To wipe the slate clean, to bring back that sense of mystery and wonder that defined the earliest days of Destiny. A place where Guardians don’t just grind for loot, but explore the unknown. For Bungie, it could be redemption. For players, it could be the sequel they’ve been waiting for since 2017.
Destiny 3 Could Save Bungie, But Can Bungie Save Themselves?
In the end, Destiny 3 feels like both the solution and the impossible dream. It’s the reset button the franchise desperately needs — a chance for Bungie to rediscover what made their universe special in the first place. But right now, the studio is fighting on too many fronts: layoffs, a struggling live service, a new game in Marathon, and growing pressure from Sony. Whether they even have the capacity to start over is uncertain. Yet, the hope remains. If Bungie can rebuild its teams, reclaim its creative confidence, and embrace a true new beginning, Destiny 3 could be more than just a sequel — it could be the comeback story of the decade. Until then, the dream lives on in the hearts of Guardians who still believe in what Destiny could be.