Is Destiny 1 Still Worth Playing in 2026? A Complete Guide

With Destiny 2 remaining hugely popular after over five years, some may wonder if there‘s any reason left to revisit its predecessor, 2014‘s Destiny 1. While Bungie‘s shared world shooter has clearly moved on, Destiny 1 laid the groundwork for what the franchise would become. For only $20-30 now, is diving back into the origins of Destiny worthwhile for new and veteran players alike? Let‘s explore everything it still has to offer in 2024.

Can You Still Access Everything in Destiny 1?

The short answer is yes – Destiny 1 remains completely playable on PS4 and Xbox One, with the main campaigns, expansions, and most activities left intact. Only certain live events and limited-time modes tied to past seasonal updates are no longer accessible.

While Destiny 2 saw numerous updates over the years, Destiny 1 has remained online since 2014. You can play solo or cooperatively, though matchmaking takes longer due to a smaller player population. As long as PSN and Xbox Live function, Destiny 1 persists in a functional state.

All four expansions – The Dark Below, House of Wolves, The Taken King, and Rise of Iron – added massive amounts of content. You can experience the entire evolving narrative and depth of content across three years.

Every destination, story campaign, strike, raid, exotic quest, and loot pursuit remains achievable for just $20-30. With no new updates planned, Destiny 1 offers a fixed amount of content unlikely to disappear.

How Does Destiny 1‘s Gameplay Hold Up?

The foundation of Destiny‘s addictive gameplay loop was already strong in 2014. Crispy gunplay honed by Bungie during the Halo era feels fantastic. Landing a perfect draw headshot with Fatebringer or one-shotting an enemy with Black Spindle still delivers that intense satisfaction.

Rolling through Vanguard Strikes or hopping between public events with friends provides a relaxing, social experience. While subclasses and weapon slots saw big changes in D2, Destiny‘s core DNA shines through.

However, Destiny 1 definitely shows its age in some areas. Early progression systems are painfully grindy and convoluted. Newcomers will miss many quality of life updates around quests, gear management, and progression made over the years.

Destiny 1 also lacks any seasonal model or live events to keep things fresh. The replayable loop grows repetitive faster without constant updates. But for nostalgic veterans, trying vintage gear and abilities offers entertainment.

How Relevant is Destiny 1 to Destiny 2?

Destiny 2 continues the story and many plot threads directly from D1. The backstory across three years of expansions enriches the sequel. Longtime NPCs and locations have more resonance when you‘ve seen their origins.

For example, experiencing Uldren Sov‘s journey as an arrogant anti-hero in The Taken King adds depth before he becomes the central villain of Destiny 2: Forsaken. The tragic fate of his sister Queen Mara Sov also hits harder.

While gear doesn‘t carry over, catching up on the source material for weapons, enemies, and environments appearing in D2 makes the universe feel coherent. Spotting subtle links between the games rewards observant fans.

Destiny 1 in 2024 – What Should New Players Know?

Due to used copies selling for only $20-30 now, Destiny 1 offers incredible value as a complete experience for new franchise fans in 2024. Trying D1 first also lets you better appreciate all the updates added over the years when moving on to D2.

The total amount of story content, loot pursuits, and endgame activities across 4 expansions provides at least 100 hours of playtime. That‘s wildly good value for the current cost of entry.

Of course, D1 shows its age with cryptic systems, weaker delivery of narrative, and lack of matchmaking on some endgame content. The fixed weapon rolls and basic subclass trees are primitive by today‘s standards.

But with a fixed scope of content and no fear of missing out on limited-time events, Destiny 1 has a completeness that D2 lacks. For just 1/4th the cost of a new release, Destiny 1 remains highly rewarding.

By The Numbers: Declining Destiny 1 Engagement

To illustrate how Destiny 1‘s playerbase and engagement have shrunk over time, here are some telling statistics:

• Destiny 1 daily players peaked at 6.3 million in January 2015. By April 2016, it declined to 800,000 before the big Taken King expansion sparked a revival.

• In January 2017, daily players dropped to just 500,000. Following the Destiny 2 beta and launch later that year, the population took a nosedive.

• By January 2019, estimated daily players sat between 15,000 – 75,000. That‘s over a 90% drop from peak daily users.

• In September 2022, Charlemagne.io tracked just 47,328 weekly active PVE players and 6,386 PVP players on PlayStation. Series population has shifted firmly to Destiny 2.

While stark, these declining engagement metrics illustrate that Destiny 1 now lives on as a smaller niche experience catering mainly to franchise devotees. But it still endures as a functional, rewarding looter shooter for newcomers.

The Pros and Cons of Revisiting Destiny 1

Based on my experience playing Destiny 1 as an early beta tester and longtime fan since 2014, here‘s my personal take on the pros and cons it offers players returning in 2024:

Pros:

• Immediate access to vast amounts of content for a low entry cost
• Complete story experience not fragmented across seasons
• Fantastic core gunplay with classic weapon archetypes
• Raid challenges like Vault of Glass and King‘s Fall offer epic team puzzles
• Strikes like The Nexus Mind and Fallen SABER are intricately designed
• Nostalgia factor and vintage loot bring joy to D1 veterans

Cons:

• Progression systems are grindy and convoluted for new players
• Matchmaking lack hurts completing some endgame activities
• Loot pool lacks depth with fixed weapon and armor rolls
• Original storyline lacks focus compared to later expansions
• Social areas like the Tower feel empty and lifeless now

While showing its age in areas, Destiny 1 earns its iconic status in the shooter genre. Revisiting where Guardians‘ journeys began supplies nostalgia for veterans and ample value even to new fans in 2024.

Conclusion: Absolutely Worth Revisiting With An Open Mind

Despite Destiny 2 moving forward with expansions like Lightfall in 2024, the complete Destiny 1 experience persists in a functional state, offering piles of content for an incredible value.

Beyond cost, its narrative and systems foundation enriches future enjoyment of Destiny 2. Veterans receive an intoxicating nostalgia trip to the good old days. And trying fixed roll guns like Gjallarhorn and Ice Breaker brings unique enjoyment.

However, dated systems and a lack of updates show the series‘ evolution. But with an open mind towards its flaws, Destiny 1 absolutely warrants a revisit. Where this legendary looter shooter began deserves to be remembered.

For just $20-30 and a download, both new players and devotees can relive the origins of Bungie‘s shared world shooter success. I‘d rate Destiny 1 a 8/10 in 2024 based on the wealth of content remaining playable. Whether you played back then or not, it‘s worth a trip down memory lane to the Tower. Gear up, Guardians.