Hi there! As an investment analyst and long-time Destiny fan, one question I get asked a lot is whether the original Destiny game from 2014 is still playable in 2024. With Destiny 2 being the focus now, it‘s natural to wonder if Destiny 1 is even still online.
Well, I‘m here to tell you that yes, Destiny 1 is absolutely still playable in 2024! But being in a sunset state means it functions a bit differently than during its heyday.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll overview everything you need to know about playing Destiny 1 today – what content is available, how big the player base is, whether it‘s worth playing, tips for the best experience, and what the future holds.
What Destiny 1 Content Can You Still Play?
While no new content is being added, all existing Destiny 1 activities through the Rise of Iron expansion are still playable, including:
- Original campaign and all story missions
- 5 expansions: The Dark Below, House of Wolves, The Taken King, Rise of Iron, Taken Spring
- 4 playable worlds: Old Russia, Moon, Venus, Mars
- 19 strikes and 8 raids
- Crucible maps and multiplayer modes
- 3 classes, each with 9 subclasses to unlock
- Hundreds of exotic, legendary, and rare weapons and armor
So there‘s a ton of content and progression to work through! However, regular updates, balance changes, and holiday events no longer occur.
How Big is Destiny 1‘s Remaining Player Base?
As you‘d expect 7 years post-launch, Destiny 1 doesn‘t have as many active players as its heyday. But the data shows a dedicated community still plays it daily.
| Daily PvE Players | 25,000 – 50,000 |
| Daily PvP Players | 10,000 – 25,000 |
| Weekly Raid Participants | 100,000 – 200,000 |
Destiny 1 saw over 30 million monthly players at its peak, so while the population is diminished, hundreds of thousands still play – especially on PS4 where most users are.
You can easily matchmake into playlists like Heroic Strikes or normal Crucible. Organizing raids takes more effort due to their difficulty, but Destiny LFG sites have decent activity.
So while the playerbase is concentrated around top activities, it‘s still sizable enough for a great multiplayer experience!
Should New Players Try Destiny 1 in 2024?
For those who enjoy looter shooters but never tried Destiny 1, I think diving in now can absolutely be worth it!
You have all the content from the past 5+ years available to play through – the amount of story missions, strikes, raids, gear, and activities is massive. And the gunplay and visuals hold up well on current generation consoles.
Many parts like the Taken King expansion are genuinely some of the best content in the franchise. You‘ll get hundreds of hours of enjoyment out of the complete Destiny 1 experience.
Of course, some areas haven‘t aged perfectly – the original campaign is repetitive, and missing quality of life improvements from Destiny 2 may be frustrating. Managing expectations around that is important.
But overall, Destiny 1 remains an incredible looter shooter, especially for newer players looking to experience the game’s origins and vast content library.
Should Destiny Veterans Revisit the Original?
For Destiny 1 loyalists, I think revisiting your old stomping grounds can also be great nostalgic entertainment – running Vault of Glass or just exploring the Moon or Venus patrol areas recaptures that magic wonderfully.
The gunplay still shines, and aligning schedules to raid with old friends or clanmates makes for amazing memories. The soundtrack also induces sweet pangs of nostalgia.
Downsides include missing modern Destiny 2 conveniences like mantling or weapon crafting. And attempting to solo old raids or Nightfalls often proves frustrating.
So returning veterans should manage expectations around certain regressions. But overall, reuniting with Destiny 1 provides an excellent nostalgia trip!
Tips for the Best Destiny 1 Experience Today
If you do decide to play Destiny 1 now, here are some tips to maximize enjoyment:
- Play on PS4/Xbox One – Old generation console populations are too low for good matchmaking.
- Team up – Using LFG to find fireteams makes all activities more rewarding.
- Follow leveling guides – They ease confusion for reaching max light level.
- Focus on endgame – It offers the most rewarding and populated activities.
- Use top weapons – Gjallarhorn, Black Hammer, and Fatebringer still dominate.
- Manage expectations – No new content or events will come, so set appropriate expectations.
Grouping up, playing on current gen, and honing your grind to reach top level activities gives you the smoothest Destiny 1 experience.
What Does the Future Hold for Destiny 1?
While the Destiny 1 servers will remain online for the foreseeable future, the player base will slowly continue declining without new content releases.
At a certain point, the population may fall below the threshold needed for good matchmaking and finding fireteams. It‘s impossible to predict an exact end date, but Destiny 1 has likely seen its last great era already.
However, Bungie does typically honor the game’s legacy nicely, like giving Destiny 1 emblems to players in Destiny 2. I expect occasional nostalgic tributes across Bungie games for years to come.
The Bottom Line
While Destiny 1 remains frozen in time, there‘s still tons of fun to be had revisiting it in 2024 – especially for first-time players who can experience years of content new!
Veterans will enjoy strolling down memory lane too. The gameplay mostly holds up, and reuniting with old friends brings fantastic nostalgia.
Will Destiny 1 ever return to its former glory? Sadly no – but its impressive evolution and special place in gaming history persist. I highly recommend all looter shooter fans play this classic if they haven‘t already!
Let me know if you have any other questions! Happy looting, Guardian!
