Bungie has decided to reverse its recent nerfs to the Destiny 2 Portal, citing community feedback and describing the original changes as “too conservative.” They also revealed several reward enhancements set to be included in the upcoming Ash & Iron update.
After facing backlash over last week’s adjustments to the Portal, Bungie has announced that the nerfs to Solo Ops power gains and Exotic mission rewards will be undone. In a recent post detailing changes for the game, Bungie admitted that their previous decisions were “the wrong call” and have chosen to revert them.
In a statement released via the Destiny 2 Team account, Bungie elaborated on its plans. Today’s This Week in Destiny post provided deeper insights, confirming the immediate reversion of various adjustments, including the Solo Ops grade reduction, cuts to engram rewards from missions like Encore, Starcrossed, and Whisper, and alterations to Prime Engram decryption.
Reversing Portal Nerfs and Announcing Buffs for Ash & Iron Update
The update is part of Bungie’s latest This Week in Destiny segment, where they outlined the modifications being implemented and previewed what players can expect with the Ash & Iron update. “In response to player feedback, we are re-evaluating our approach to progression balance, as we recognize that the previous changes were overly cautious and counterproductive,” the developer stated. They emphasized that they want all game modes to feel rewarding, contributing tangible progress to players’ Power climbs.
Bungie highlighted their long-term goal of ensuring no single activity is overly favored for Power leveling, advocating for a social gaming experience where players are encouraged to engage with friends rather than opting for solo play for efficiency. “We don’t want players who prefer Solo or Pinnacle Ops to feel penalized by unintended nerfs,” the statement read, indicating a shift towards enhancing options rather than reducing them.
Key Updates and Enhancements
Bungie confirmed the immediate retractions of three planned changes: the reductions for earned Power in Solo Ops, alterations to engram drops for Encore, Starcrossed, and Whisper missions, and the previous mandate for Prime Engram decryption only at the Tower. All these adjustments are canceled, reflecting a notable pivot in Bungie’s strategy.
Additionally, timing limits for matchmade Fireteam Ops have been extended: +25% for Expert, +50% for Master, and +75% for Grandmaster difficulties. These changes were already put into effect with update 9.0.0.8.
Looking toward the upcoming Ash & Iron release on September 9, 2025, Bungie has unveiled a number of exciting buffs for the Portal system, including increased drop rates for specific activities like Liminality and Inverted Spire, rebalancing of timers for various Ops, and an overall enhancement to drop rates in Fireteam Ops.
Portal Rewards Changes:
- Increased chances of Prime Engram drops based on completion rewards, especially for activities with more base rewards.
- Aiming for a “more consistent Power reward experience” for players in the upper Power range (500–550) during Ash & Iron.
In related news, NetEase’s Destiny: Rising mobile game has officially launched, set in an alternate timeline focusing on the Dark Age. Available for iOS and Android, players looking to experience it on PC can consult our comprehensive guide.
What are your thoughts on Bungie’s reversal and the new reward plans for the Destiny 2 Portal? Share your opinions in the comments!
