How Destiny 2's Multiplayer Will Work Like A Dating App

When Destiny 2 arrives, it still won't offer open matchmaking for some of the game's more demanding modes. Despite that fact, Bungie has heard fans loud and clear and will be implementing a couple of new features they think will help solve the problem of traditionally solo gamers not being unable to enjoy certain modes. And according to PvP Lead Lars Bakken, these features are pretty similar to the experience you would get out of a dating app.

In the original Destiny, matchmaking was not offered for activities including Nightfall Strikes, Trials of Osiris and the big six-person Raids. Bungie has held since the beginning that this is due to the fact that they believe the most trying activities in the game require like-minded players to be grouped up before going in. That meant a lot of folks were unable to enjoy some of the game's best content and, to combat that, Destiny 2 will offer both Clan support and a feature they're calling Guided Games, where solo players can find a group on the lookout for someone to fill an extra slot. Bakken said that it's basically an in-game dating service, where the dates are shooting rampages.

Those lasting relationships are what the team is hoping to foster more of in Destiny 2. According to Bungie's stats, about 50 percent of players never took part in Raids/Nightfalls/Trials in the original Destiny. The reasons for that were touched on during a gameplay reveal hosted out of the Jet Center Los Angeles on May 18.

Specifically, there was no matchmaking, so players who did not have a group of friends playing the game at the exact same time had to jump through hoops in order to find a group to play with. That usually meant either joining a community elsewhere or crawling through "looking for group" sites in the hopes of finding what you were looking for. To keep with the analogy, it was like going to a bunch of bars and hoping to bump into a decent person to have a drink with. With the Guided Games feature, you can look through the available groups beforehand and pick one that looks to have the same goals in mind.

The thought here is that a group of five, in need of a sixth to tackle a Raid, can open that final spot to a Guided Game. Once that's done, a solo player looking to run said Raid might come across your group and decide to tag along. As Bakken puts it, you can either have a good time as a group and then go your separate ways, or maybe you'll decide to join the group's Clan and become a more active member.

We think this sounds like a pretty fantastic compromise, basically bringing the "looking for group" community into the game itself while adding some personal touches that make the experience a little less slapdash and random. According to Brakken, the aim was also to prevent some of the toxicity that can form from traditional matchmaking. In a random group of six, there's no telling who you're getting paired with or what type of people they might be. Let's just call a spade a spade: You might end up with some real foul-mouthed jerks who aren't interested in teamwork and, at the drop of a hat, might abandon the group whenever it suits their mood.

With Guided Games in Destiny 2, both parties are looking for something very specific: Likeminded folks who just want to knock out some missions together. Yes, you might still wind up playing with some unsavory types, but at least this extra step in the process is aimed at lessening those chances.