Destiny 2 players have been facing frustrating server outages and error codes for several months, causing them to be unable to play the game regularly. Bungie, the game’s developer, has now acknowledged these issues and provided an update on the steps they are taking to resolve them. However, the news comes with a mix of good and bad developments.
The Culprit behind the Server Issues
Bungie explains in a recent blog post that the primary cause of the server problems is a component of the game’s infrastructure called Claims. This system is responsible for tracking gameplay in real-time and ensuring that every kill, orb, or unit of Glimmer is correctly delivered to the intended recipient. While changes were made to Claims before the release of Lightfall to improve stability during high-traffic moments, these modifications inadvertently resulted in issues related to error recovery functionality, subsequently impacting the overall stability of the game.
Addressing Error Codes and Server Outages
The issues with Claims have led to the occurrence of various error codes such as Weasel and Baboon, as well as frequent server outages. Bungie acknowledges that their new system does not always recover as expected, resulting in the need for hard restarts of the Claims service or even the entire Destiny 2 infrastructure. Consequently, players experience downtime. However, Bungie reassures players that they are actively working to rectify these problems.
Bungie emphasizes that resolving these stability issues is a complex process that cannot be accomplished overnight. Rushed changes may further exacerbate the situation. The team stresses the importance of the ongoing improvements, which will not only address the immediate issues but also equip them to handle any future problems more effectively.
A Roadmap for Stability Fixes
Bungie has provided a roadmap outlining the planned stability fixes for Destiny 2, spanning across Seasons 22 and 23. Efforts to reduce disruptions and minimize downtime windows are already underway and will continue. Additionally, an update set to be released this season will introduce diagnostic enhancements, streamlining troubleshooting and triage processes. This improvement aims to expedite the identification of issues and confirm the effectiveness of fixes outlined in the roadmap.
The launch of Season 22 will focus on enhancing the “self-healing” ability of Claims, aiming to reduce the need for temporary offline periods when problems occur. This update intends to enhance detection capabilities, implement targeted Claims fixes for stability and recovery, and decrease the likelihood of a “death spiral” scenario where slow messages cause a cascade of further delays. Season 22 is anticipated to result in reduced downtime, providing a more seamless gaming experience for players.
Season 23 will witness deeper and broader architectural improvements to enhance service stability and recovery in Destiny 2. These improvements will encompass a range of enhancements designed to address the root causes of stability issues.
The Good and the Bad
The positive aspect is that Bungie has identified the specific segment of the Destiny 2 infrastructure causing the majority of problems and has outlined actionable fixes in their roadmap. However, it is important to note that implementing these solutions will take time, considering that each season lasts for several months. Currently, Season 21 still has over a month remaining. Additionally, Bungie acknowledges that some of the structural changes they plan to introduce may introduce additional instability during the initial rollout. Therefore, players should expect ongoing errors and outages, possibly even new ones, for the foreseeable future. The Destiny 2 community eagerly awaits the implementation of these fixes and hopes for a smoother gameplay experience soon.
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