Destiny — the most pre-ordered new IP in video game history and one of the most anticipated games of 2014 — is set to release tomorrow, September 9 at 12:01am. You would think that a AAA blockbuster with hype as big as this would have some reviews by now, but, unfortunately, that's not the case.
As we reported last week, advance copies for Destiny would only be arriving at outlets today, meaning we probably won't get launch-day reviews. Despite concerns by some, we urged you not to worry — after all, Destiny is a living, social world that needs players for the full experience. For an accurate review, especially with an online game, you need actual other players. SimCity is proof of that. Addressing the topic in the most recently weekly update, Bungie explained the process of reviewing a game like Destiny, addressing the concerns you may have about the lack of reviews.
"Typically, games receive their report cards before they become available to the public. We don’t believe Destiny is a typical shooter. You could experience the storyline, jump into a few rounds of competitive multiplayer, and form a Fireteam of friends and take on all the Strikes and you would just be getting started. Those activities are critical components of Destiny, but they are also a foundation for so much more," Bungie wrote.
"After thousands of internal playtests, an internal Alpha, and a public Beta, we’ve also learned that Destiny isn’t Destiny without the most crucial component to our living, social world: You.
"From the beginning, we set out to make Destiny feel like more than bits on a drive. We wanted to build a place for players to visit – a place filled with luminous life. Without a vibrant population for the last safe city on Earth, and Guardians roaming the wild frontiers, Destiny is a shadow of what it should be. That’s not how we wanted to submit for review," the developer continued.
Estimating that it would take "thousands of gamers" to ensure the potential public space in Destiny would be populated, Bungie opted to wait until the mass majority had their hands on the game. "So review of Destiny will wait for your arrival," Bungie wrote.
"On day one, you’ll be rubbing elbows with the pageant judges, so look sharp. Who knows, you may end up on one of their live streams. They may end up on one of yours, too!"
Bungie acknowledges that some folks "don’t have the time or patience to take our ride for a nice, long road trip" will rush to get those day-one reviews up, and they're okay with that. Whether you get it at launch, or choose to wait for your trusted outlet to put out a review, Bungie is accepting.
"We've created something we're proud of," the developer concluded.
