Destiny 2 is now embroiled in one of its most significant endgame controversies as Bungie has announced investigations into cheating allegations tied to the Contest mode during the raid for The Desert Perpetual.

Players first had access to The Desert Perpetual on July 19 at 10:00 a.m. PDT, coinciding with the start of the World First raid race, introducing new gear, content, and activities.

Continuing Bungie’s tradition, the game’s expansion, Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, launched alongside a raid within the first week. After completing the initial encounter of the raid, players noted its nonlinear structure, allowing access to various bosses based on player choices. Contest Mode remained active for the first 48 hours post-launch, granting players who completed the raid during this period special rewards.

However, concerns about cheating have once again surfaced, prompting Bungie’s inquiry into several reports of manipulation during competition flights. On July 25, Bungie reiterated that violating the Code of Conduct will have repercussions, affecting not only the cheaters but also those who have benefited from collusion.

The investigation has ignited fervent discussions in the Destiny 2 community, with many players monitoring their standings on the Contest mode leaderboard. Some community members have reported significant jumps in their ranks, indicating the potential involvement of championship teams with cheaters.

Many players have since questioned the effectiveness of Battleye—for those unaware, it’s an anti-cheat solution used in the game’s combat platform. Estimates suggest that nearly 400 of the 600 Contest mode clears might be tainted by cheating, leading calls for more robust consequences for cheaters in future raids.

This isn’t the first instance of cheating plaguing Destiny 2, especially in PvP scenarios, and when combined with concerns over poor launch statistics for Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, a precarious future for the game is beginning to take shape.