Destiny 2’s older subclasses can eventually be upgraded, such as Stasis

Destiny 2latest expansion, Beyond light, Stasis introduced. This power set is the first of what we expect to be three planned Dark Classes that would compete against the existing Classes of Light (Arc, Solar and Void). But the older classes feel a bit stale compared to Stasis and its all-new modular customization system. According to Bungie, the studio would like to bring this new customization system to the old subclasses – it’s just not clear if or when that will happen.

“We only want one central system for supers,” Destiny 2 game director Luke Smith told Polygon. But while Bungie wants to add new content, keep up with seasons, eventually add new Darkness powers, and improve Stasis in Year 4, there’s no planned release date for updated Arc, Solar, and Void Supers. But “on a long enough timeline” is something Smith is passionate about.

“I can fully imagine it [it] in ‘Luke Fantasyland’, ”said Smith. “You know, all Supers use the same system, that sounds great. But also the Supers we have in the game would be an edited list. It would be something that has been edited towards more identity than what we have today. ”

Smith explained that ‘the lessons [Hunter, Warlock, and Titan] are quite homogeneous. He then noted that revisiting the Super system for these classes could provide an opportunity to hone them.

Image: Bungie

In the pre-Tasks King era of Destiny, Smith said, Bungie had created a nice balance between each class. At the time, Titans had the powerful Bubble (aka Ward of Dawn), which prevented damage and boosted party members, but it was completely immobile. Titans also had Fists of Havoc, which allowed them to take a single hit of damage to take out a group of enemies. Titans didn’t have a roving Super like they have now, where they can run around the map and ruin people for about 30 seconds. That was first unlocked Tasks King. Bubble’s immobile battle arena and Fists of Havoc’s “oh shit” button gave Titans a unique identity, as did Warlocks ‘self-resurrection abilities and Hunters’ mobile Supers.

Because classes have gotten new Supers over the years – during Tasks King, Deserted, and Beyond light – there has been less reason to bring multiple different classes to a raid or Nightfall. So when Bungie eventually remakes old Supers in the highly customizable Stasis system, Smith plans to use that framework to reduce some of the class bloat and hone the identity of each skill set.

Learning an identity is easy in some cases, he said.

“It’s much easier for me to look at Nova Bomb and say Nova Bomb is IP defining,” Smith said. “It’s an IP-defining super; remove Nova Warp. But in this case, Smith is talking about a classic Warlock skill, Nova Bomb, and comparing it to a mediocre, PvP-only Super, Nova Warp. Cutting Nova Warp may hurt some fans, but it’s generally fairly safe, more people like Nova Bomb than Nova Warp, but for other subclasses the decision wouldn’t be that easy.

Image: Bungie

“Within Solar Warlock, there are two really different fantasies that don’t work together at all,” said Smith. Currently, Solar Warlocks can drop a Well of Radiance at their feet, which heals allies and improves their damage. But another tree from Solar Warlock has the class flying around in the sky, raining down hellfire from a flaming sword. Same subclass, different trees, very different use cases. And unlike Nova Warp vs. Nova Bomb both have identities worth keeping. To transition Solar Warlock to the modular Stasis system, Bungie would have to choose one of these playstyles to align the subclass identity, potentially alienating those who love the benched playstyle.

Obviously, cementing that identity will be a challenge for Bungie – if it happens. But Smith seemed excited about “class jealousy”; that idea that you could look at an allied fighter and be jealous that you can’t use Golden Gun on the boss just like they look at your Titan and wish they could use Ward of Dawn.

That’s Smith’s goal, to give players a reason to play each class and make Hunters, Titans and Warlock all feel special about playing their chosen class. But to do that, Bungie would have to support the game’s wide variety of subclasses, something that may not be happening for years to come.