Home » Features » In-depth » Destiny: Making history, unifying the community and teaching a fossil how Reddit works
In-depth

Destiny: Making history, unifying the community and teaching a fossil how Reddit works

Yesterday, I spent all night doing who knows what in Destiny for no real reward.

IT WAS EXHILARATING.

In case you missed it, the internet exploded as a new quest line opened up in Bungie’s revitalised game. The Destiny Subreddit megathread on the matter quickly surmised it was the first step in getting the fabled Sleeper Simulant weapon… and from there, the thread took the #1 spot on Reddit. With a bullet.

A bullet from a Hunter’s Golden Gun.

And I was a part of it all. My Fireteam, who’d already gathered with the intent of taking on a Raid, quickly disbanded into smaller groups to tackle different phases of the quest. We used Xbox Party Chat to communicate the entire while. Some offered up the location of the next Warsat public event available, while others read off codes and theories from Reddit itself.

Did I mention that I finally understand Reddit now? Like, I get it. Seriously. I owe Destiny thanks for many, many things as a result of last night. I’m still only going to lurk though — let’s not get crazy, here. I’m also still going to capitalise “Reddit” and “Subreddit” — they’re proper nouns, damnit!

I digress. My Fireteam and I can Raid anytime, but yesterday? Yesterday was all about figuring out just what the hell Bungie was up to. And, eventually, turning in a quest item for nothing more than a pat on the back. That I had to give myself.

Sure, I spent at least an hour last night getting booted from game with only Caterpillar, Banjo and Bassoon errors to console me. Nevertheless, I was having the time of my life, playing my part in what I assume will be the most-talked about piece of video game history ever. Okay, I’m exaggerating, but the feeling was truly incredible. I’ve never been in the middle of a video game mystery before. I liked it.

I liked it a lot.

DestinyTitanHammerheader

I know the precise spot on the Moon that my Guardian was standing upon as the Reddit community used brute force on the Curious Transceiver’s codes. Like everyone else, I mashed refresh on my browser window as I was first booted from the game to see if other Reddit users were affected… and then again as it kept happening, over and over and over. I laughed at teammates who were booted just as a Warsat event popped up on their screens. Then apologised, of course – that’s what Canadians do. I marvelled at the amount of Guardians who were back in the common areas of the Moon, Mars and the Cosmodrome, once again interested in lowly year one Public Events via Patrol.

All night, I felt connected; part of an actual community. And in a way that no multiplayer mode has ever been able to accomplish.

I’ve had the best time back in Destiny thanks to the “Taken King”. Before the Sleeper Simulant, I finally got to experience the joining a group of five other – awesome — Guardians to walk through a new Raid from start to finish. With this new crew, I jump into their games when they need a hand, and they do the same for me. We stand around glitched out Thrall just because it’s weird and funny. It’s Destiny at its finest; how I expected it to be from day one, finally coming to be a year later.

I could go on, but I don’t have time. There are Relic Crystals to collect and Exotic Swords to form. More importantly, there are posts on the Destiny Subreddit that show off hidden quest items that I have in my own inventory. Me! In my inventory!

Disillusioned for a long time, I like video games again. I like Reddit AND I like playing games on the internet with other people, too. I’d never have believed I’d be able to say any of those things again, let alone all at the same time. Keep it up, Bungie.


This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.

About the author

Steve Wright

Steve's the owner of this very site and an active games journalist nearing twenty (TWENTY!?!) years. He's a Canadian-Australian gay gaming geek, ice hockey player and fan. Husband to Matt and cat dad to Wally and Quinn.