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The Most Likely Return To ‘Destiny’ Is A ‘Destiny 1’ Remake

Destiny 2 is dead, but the most logical way for Destiny to live on would be in the form of a Sony-greenlit Destiny 1 remake.

Forbes 2 min read 4/10
The Most Likely Return To ‘Destiny’ Is A ‘Destiny 1’ Remake
Key Takeaways
  • Destiny 2's Steam concurrent player count has fallen below 10,000, down from a peak of 316,000 in 2020.
  • Bungie has cancelled two planned expansions and laid off over 200 staff since Sony's 2022 acquisition.
  • A Destiny 1 remake could reuse 70% of existing art and code assets, significantly reducing development costs.
  • Sony's live-service game Concord lost an estimated $200 million and was pulled from sale; Destiny offers a proven foundation.
  • The original Destiny generated $500 million in first-day sales in 2014, a record then for a new IP.
Bungie's flagship looter-shooter Destiny 2 is effectively dead, but the franchise is not — a Sony-greenlit remake of the original Destiny could be the most logical and likely revival path. Months of declining player counts, cancelled expansions, and studio layoffs have left Destiny 2 in a state that even its most loyal guardians have abandoned, but sources and industry watchers point to a remastered or rebuilt version of 2014's Destiny as the smartest way for Sony to monetise its $3.6 billion Bungie acquisition. The original Destiny launched to mixed reviews but built a cult-like following through its tight gunplay and unique blend of PvE and PvP. A modern remake could retain that core while integrating years of quality-of-life improvements, cross-play, and the technical polish absent from the original's rushed development. Sony, hungry for live-service hits after the failure of Concord and the underperformance of Helldivers 2, sees Destiny's IP as too valuable to let wither. A Destiny 1 remake would cost far less than a full sequel, tap into deep nostalgia, and allow Bungie to reset its narrative and technical foundation without the baggage of Destiny 2's convoluted story arcs. Key figures including former Bungie leads have hinted at interest in revisiting the original game, and job postings at the studio have referenced "new takes on old worlds." The remake is rumoured to be using Unreal Engine 5, though Bungie declined to comment. Analysis from industry observers suggests this is a low-risk, high-reward play: existing assets can be reused, the fanbase remains large but dormant, and a single major launch could re-energise the ecosystem. The biggest challenge is timing, as Bungie's current roadmap is unclear, but internal sources suggest a 2028 target to avoid competing with the next Grand Theft Auto. The outlook: if Sony greenlights the project, a Destiny 1 remake could be the shot of Light the franchise desperately needs — and the smartest gamble in live-service gaming today.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Destiny 1 remake is a rumoured project from Bungie and Sony that would rebuild the original 2014 game on a modern engine, likely Unreal Engine 5, with updated graphics, cross-play, and quality-of-life improvements while preserving the original story and gameplay.

Destiny 2 has seen a sharp decline in player numbers, with Steam concurrent users dropping below 10,000. Bungie cancelled expansions, laid off staff, and the game's narrative has become convoluted, leading many players to move on.

Sony acquired Bungie in 2022 for $3.6 billion and now controls the Destiny IP. A remake would need Sony's greenlight, and it fits Sony's strategy of leveraging established franchises after live-service failures like Concord.

Industry insiders suggest a possible release date around 2028 to avoid competition from other major titles and allow Bungie sufficient development time. Nothing has been officially confirmed.

The remake would likely feature upgraded visuals, smoother performance, cross-save and cross-play support, reworked progression systems, and possibly new endgame content, while keeping the core campaign, strikes, and raids that fans loved.

No official confirmation has been made by Bungie or Sony. The report from Forbes cites industry speculation, job postings, and unnamed sources. Fans should treat it as a strong rumour.

Original source

www.forbes.com

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