Following the rollout of the latest major expansion, Destiny 2 continues to face a downturn in player participation, especially among PC users. Recent data indicates a significant decline this month compared to the numbers observed during the release of the previous Final Shape expansion back in June of the previous year.

The Destiny franchise has experienced numerous highs and lows over its ten-year tenure; however, it appears that a notable portion of players has concluded their journeys in Destiny 2 after The Final Shape wrapped up the epic saga surrounding Light and Darkness.

Still, Bungie is not done with the game, as the studio appears to have ambitious plans moving forward. The newly launched expansion, Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, marks the start of a new chapter known as the Fate Saga. This expansion is the first of two expected to be released this year, with another release scheduled for December 2, themed around Star Wars.

Moreover, Bungie is shaking up its usual release protocols this year, with major tweaks to the core gameplay mechanics of Destiny 2 introduced through the Edge of Fate expansion, impacting everything from activity direction to character statistics.

According to statistics shared by Steam Charts, as of the launch of **Destiny 2**'s recent expansion, there was a peak player count of 99,131 on the PC platform Steam. This number is notably less than one-third of the peak player count the game recorded during the launch of **The Final Shape** last year, marking it as potentially the lowest launch performance for any expansion in recent history.

A Decline Reflecting More Than Just the Newest Expansion

These numbers reflect only the Destiny 2 community on Steam, which could be indicative of broader declines in player interest across various platforms. Positive sentiment regarding the game was significantly stronger at this time last year when The Final Shape was both anticipated and well-executed, leaving players hopeful for the game’s upcoming trajectory.

The gradual falloff in player numbers is likely not solely attributed to the habitual exhaustion of a decade-old game. Players often report feelings of dissatisfaction regarding their investment in the game, and new players are frequently discouraged by a challenging user interface and a notoriously poor onboarding experience. Players will be observing how Destiny 2 performs throughout the remainder of the year, but it may very well need to prepare for a reduced average player base as it moves forward.