Destiny 2: 5 Ups & 5 Downs
1. Microtransactions Can Be Pay-To-Win, And Shaders Are Now Consumables
Onto a one-two punch of devastating proportions when it comes to negatives, as there are a couple of really nefarious business practices at play.
Maybe something like this was to be expected from one of the most money-grubby publishers in the industry (Activision), but first up we've got the fact that Shaders are now consumable and not reusable, so if you want to change your character's look, you'll have to save up the Glimmer and buy another or hope the colour you want drops from an enemy. Say goodbye to amassing an inventory of shades that you hop between on a regular basis; that feature has been straight-up removed.
On top of this, Shaders are now divided into attaching to multiple pieces of your character like weapon, arms, legs, etc., meaning if you want to outfit an entire Guardian in one colour, that's multiple 'lucky rolls' needed when items drop, or a reliance on microtransactions to buy more blind boxes.
Speaking of which, Destiny 2 has White Engrams; the game's 'endgame content' that's awarded every time you hit a new level after 20, but can also be bought with real money.
It's here where a REALLY big issue appears, because White Engrams can contain weapon and armour, meaning if someone has the surplus cash, they can literally pay to win.
With this framework, it's very easy to see Destiny for - potentially - what it "really is": A duplicitous mobile game-influenced gambling machine exploiting peoples' inherently addictive tendencies for its own gain.
Gunplay, graphics and lore backstory is all supplanting the fact that we're pointing weapons in one direction and chasing the 'high' of shooting things to make the bright colours appear. When it happens we feel great, and there are plenty of shiny loot items as rewards, but that sensation is fleeting... unless you buy more.
Not saying it IS this, of course, but you have to take these sorts of things into account when analysing the structure of the product overall.