Bungie has unveiled significant changes to the HUD system in the upcoming Destiny 2 expansion, The Final Shape, focusing on enhancing the visibility of active buffs and debuffs. Presently, players can view only up to four buffs on their screens simultaneously in Destiny 2, leading to potential confusion when critical buffs get displaced from the HUD.
The Final Shape expansion for Destiny 2 is slated to launch on June 4, bringing forth the innovative Prismatic subclass, fresh exotic combinations, and a myriad of new features. The expansion marks the debut of a novel enemy faction, The Dread, featuring winged adversaries capable of suppressing players with their ear-splitting screeches. The faction is under the command of the notorious supervillain in Destiny 2, The Witness, expected to pose as the primary raid boss in the expansion. While Bungie has previously teased numerous gameplay modifications and additional content for June, it recently announced substantial alterations to the HUD as well.
The HUD adjustments in The Final Shape expansion aim to increase the number of buffs visible on the screen simultaneously, along with altering the prioritization and display of buffs. This enhancement introduces two new 'buff channels,' one positioned at the screen's top center to exhibit crucial buffs linked to wipe mechanics and roles, and another on the left side above the Super meter to showcase weapon-related buffs. Each new channel can display up to two buffs concurrently, while the original channel on the left side of the screen retains its functionality of displaying supplementary buffs. The second modification, buff prioritization, classifies buffs into four groups based on importance: activity details, immediate gameplay decisions, short-to-medium-term gameplay choices, and passive buffs aiding in learning or confirming intuition.
Destiny 2 Elevating HUD to Emphasize Buff Information
The revamped prioritization ensures that high-priority buffs displace lower-priority ones on the HUD, guaranteeing players receive crucial buff information consistently. The Final Shape update also enhances buff legibility by incorporating thicker lines and relocating a buff's countdown timer to the left side of its title. Additionally, Bungie divulged further insights into the new Prismatic subclass in Destiny 2 in the same announcement.
These are the key adjustments coming with The Final Shape's HUD improvements, while enthusiasts can explore the new Into the Light update in Destiny 2, featuring the introduction of a PvE horde mode named Onslaught, the Hall of Champions social space, and a range of new weapons.
Looking beyond The Final Shape expansion, indications suggest that development on Destiny 3 may already be in progress. A Bungie creative director recently hinted at forthcoming news regarding the future of Destiny 2 and beyond, promising an exciting journey ahead for fans.