Activision Blizzard, a game developer known for triple-A titles such as "Call of Duty: WWII," has recently been struggling with sales in their 2017 sci-fi shooter game, "Destiny 2" due to unpopular in-game requirements.
According to Doug Creutz, a Wall Street analyst, microtransactions, flawed in-game mechanics, and a lack of immediate response to the fanbase are the main causes of "Destiny 2" taking a hit in the market.
"Destiny 2" is struggling right now with player engagement appearing to be on the wane," Creutz wrote in a letter to clients, as obtained by Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC). Creutz further noted that this bad performance can potentially "offset" the successful reboot of the "Call of Duty: World War" series.
The company's "Destiny" series has been shaky since its debut in September 2017. While the game is easily enjoyable, its critics have mostly pointed out that its narrative and open-world mechanics fall short of the high expectations it was surrounded with.
While the company has addressed some of those concerns, it also added potentially worse issues. Particularly, microtransactions within the game are one of its biggest problems. Then, poorly implemented experience points (XP) mechanics, along with an ending that leaves a bad aftertaste, are other reasons for the said downfall.
Regarding the storyline of "Destiny 2," the Wall Street analyst noted in his letter that there were several "key aspects" from "Destiny 1" that was removed in the sequel, causing the game to feel as if it were "neutered."
Furthermore, game viewership has shown alarming signs. Particularly, its Twitch viewership is at an all-time low of 4,000 to 7,000 views a week, which is 10,000 views removed of its standard.
Creutz thinks that after a shaky debut title, and a potentially even worse sequel, Activision's "Destiny" series might not reach a trilogy anymore. However, he noted that there is always a chance for the company to fix the current game.
"Destiny 2" currently sells at $66 in selected game stores worldwide.
