As multiplayer gaming technologies continue to develop, the ability to play with gamers from different gaming wireless platforms has become commonplace. A good illustration of this is the game Destiny 2, which has effectively managed to bridge players across systems. Thermopylae (2017). Crossplay can be defined as allowing players on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, PCs and even Google Stadium to team up or compete against one another. Such advancement has enhanced Guarding interaction as well as experiencing the world of Destiny 2.
The news on crossplay was released in 2021 during the ‘Season of the Lost’ in Destiny 2. It changed the possibilities of engagement and interaction between players and gamers on diverse devices. Gradually the global audience for the game expanded not only in the conquest of individual player territories but also in completing matches with strikes, raids or player vs. player activities. In this guide, we will delve into the system of crossplay in Destiny 2 and its forms, functioning from activating the system to solving related issues if they arise.
What is Crossplay in Destiny 2?
Crossplay in Destiny 2 refers to the ability of players on different platforms to play together. Be it a Guardian on PlayStation, Xbox, PC or even Stadia, one can fireteam, PvP and undertake activities with other players on a different platform. This is a tremendous improvement particularly towards members of the Destiny family as it helps assurance that irrespective of the platform one shares with their friends or clan, it is possible to interact.
The Benefits of Crossplay in Destiny 2
Before proceeding to the technical issues of how to enable and utilize the crossplay feature, one appreciates the advantages:
New Players Allowed: Crossplay significantly enhances the number of players for matchmaking which you can stay away from for long periods during activities such as Strikes, Crucibles, and Raids. More players also mean low chances of making long queues or when there is a limited player options to complete activities, for instance, even in the out of peak periods.
Bridging the Divides: In the past, users from Destiny 2 used to be confined within different platforms and thus it was hard to play with friends on another platform. Now, thanks to crossplay, chasing your PlayStation or Xbox friends even when on PC or Stadia is no longer a problem.
Elevated Player Versus Player Competition: The use of crossplay has enabled more players, with different consoles, to join competitive activities of Destiny 2 game, in modes like Trials of Osiris and Iron Banner. More players availed brought a more challenging, and bountiful robust ecosystem.
Easy Clan Integration: Pre-crossplay, it was the norm for most clans to have their members scattered over various platforms, making it difficult to engage in endgame content fully. The introduction of crossplay eliminates such worries as clans can now recruit and work together regardless of the platform.
How to Enable Crossplay in Destiny 2
Seeing the benefits of crossplay already, it’s about time we looked at how crossplay can be activated. Bungie has designed every single functionality, which players do not need to sweat about the rest of the process, for the introduction of cross play. There are however some few features that you have to implement to make sure that you are prepared and ready to play.
Step 1: Create And Link Your Bungie.net Account
The most important aspect of crossplay in Destiny 2 is attaching different platforms to a single account called Bungie.net. Here is how to go about it:
Visit Bungie.net: Launch your web browser and type in Bungie.net. You will have to create a Bungie.net account if you do not have one by following the signup instructions.
Signing Up or Logging In: Existing Bungie.net account holders can simply log in with their credentials. Otherwise, use the email to create a new account.
Connect Your Platforms: After you have signed in, go to the settings and click on the option “Account Linking.” This allows associations of Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Steam and Stadia accounts to the Bungie.net profile. This is because crossplay uses your Bungie.net account to keep the records and find other users across the network.
Cross Save (Optional): In addition, Bungie Cross Save included which helps you in carrying the game wherever you want in any platform. That is, it is quite handy when you have the game bought on several consoles and do not wish to begin the play from the very beginning on each one. To Turn on Cross Save, all that is needed is to go to the Cross Save heading on Your Bungie.net account settings And complete the steps in order to verify and attach your profile.
Step 2: Take Advantage of Crossplay Integration Inside The Game
Now that you’ve linked the platforms via Bungie.net, it’s high time for you to try out crossplay in Destiny 2. Turning on crossplay in the game is on by default, but in case you want to check your settings about the feature or turn it off for some reason, here’s what to do:
Open Destiny 2: Start the game on the platform you want to play on.
Go to Expedition Settings: Hit the corresponding button that opens the main menu of the game (Options/Start) and then find “Settings” tab.
Find Crossplay Control: In “Gameplay” section such option as crossplay can be enabled or disabled. This is probably turned on by default, although this can be changed if one wishes.
Save and Exit: Having made the necessary adjustments to your settings, close the menu, to the ready for crossplay.
Step 3: Add Friends via Bungie Name
Bungie Name System is one of the main features of crossplay functionality. This universal username system lets players search and add friends on different consoles. Here’s how to add friends via Bungie Name:
Bungie Name Obtaining: Every player in the game is assigned a specific Bungie Name comprising of his chosen one along with a combination of a hash symbol and its unique code, which usually comes as a four-digit number (example: Guardian#1234). This information you will have to ask from your friend.
Go to the Roster: In the Destiny 2 menu, click on the Roster tab. This is the list containing your friends, clan members and players who are currently online.
Add Friend: Click on the add a friend option and type in the person’s Bungie Name. After this step is completed, you will have the option to send them a friend request.
Friend Confirmation: Your friend will need to accept the friend request for them to be viewable in your friends list as well. After this is done, inviting them to your fireteam will be trouble-free no matter which platform they are currently on.
Step 4: Form a Fireteam and Play
Now that your friends have been added through their Bungie Name, you can begin to create fireteams for the purpose of cooperative plays. Game modes such as Strikes, Raids, or Crucible matches can be run as easy:
Invite Friends: Under the Roster tab, summon in as many members as you wish to your fireteam regardless of which platform they are on.
Choose Activities: As the fireteam leader, you have the powers to pick what activity is to be done whether it is a Story Mission, Strike, Raid, PvP, or any other. The members of your fireteam will join the activity once it is time to launch it.
Crossplay Restrictions in Destiny 2
As much as crossplay is a wonderful feature integrated into Destiny 2, it comes with certain limitations and aspects of concern:
1. Matchmaking by Input Devices for PvP Gameplay
When it comes to the competitive modes of the game, namely Crucible, Trials of Osiris and Gambit, Bungie has incorporated input-based matchmaking. As such, players using controllers will be pooled together and similarly players, who use mouse and keyboard, will play against each other only.
Except for some scenarios. For instance, if a player is in a fireteam where both controller players and mouse and keyboard players exist, then the game will treat the fireteam as one of the highest input device group and give them matched opponents of that input device. Mostly, this means that your fireteam will be placed in lobbies with players using mouse and keyboard only.
2. Voice Communication Over the Internet in Different Consoles at the Same Time
Playing together, one of the most crucial parts is the ability to communicate efficiently. Fortunately, Destiny 2 features a full-fledged cross-platform voice chat. No matter if you are playing on PlayStation, Xbox, or even on PC, you can always talk with your fireteam through the voice chat without a single problem. There is no need for external sources since Bungie has brought this option into the game.
Nevertheless, this is not to say that there are no exceptions, as you may also be inclined to use services such as Discord, in particular, to cater for bigger fireteams or clans and their members who are residing on various platforms.
3. Use of All Accounts on All Consoles and Ability to Continue Where You Left Off
As earlier indicated, Bungie has also gone further and included a Cross Save ability which makes it possible for a player to continue from where one stops on any console. This is of great advantage to users who are not specifically on one console but play on different family of consoles or even PC. However, it is good to emphasize that you can only have one character set assigned to your Bungie.net account at a time which is currently active.
For instance, if you are an avid fan of the game Destiny 2, and you got to play it on PlayStation and PC, it would imply that Cross Save feature would make you enjoy the harmony of progress on both platforms, such that you learn to manage only one character that is not split between two. On the other hand, if you choose to turn Cross Save off, you’d be back to the characters that are designated for that particular device.
4. Content that is Available on One Platform but Not Other Platforms
One of the challenges associated with cross play, for instance, is having content that is available on one platform but not the other. Some benefits, such as certain graphical and audio modifications associated with particular advertising campaigns or pre-ordering the game for a given platform, can be obtained only for a given system. Because of crossplay, you can participate in the game with other players of different systems, however, you will not be able to carry over those special items to any other system. This is true about promotional content, content available previously only on PlayStation (in the past), or content unique to Stadia.
Common Issues and Fixes for Playing Destiny 2 Crossplay
While crossplay in Destiny 2 has a lot of upsides, there are some issues that the player might encounter when setting the feature or using it. Below the line, we will cover some basic troubles and give some solutions for them.
1. Bungie Name Problems
Players can have problems when they try to add someone as a friend using their Bungie Name. This is often the case when a player misprints the referred to name, mostly the number of the name after the hashtag. Pay attention that the name is copied with its correct findings like uppercase letters and numbers.
Solution: If you’re still having trouble adding someone then request that the person take a look at their Bungie name from the Roster in the game instead. You can also copy and paste the Bungie Name from the documents in your account at Bungie.net.
2. Confusion regarding Cross Save.
Cross Save can prove to be challenging to those players who play Destiny 2 on different consoles and cannot seem to understand how progression works across the systems. Some players still think that they would have separate characters on all platforms while having crossplay enabled. As stated before, this is not possible.
Solution: If you intend to have the same characters and progress on various platforms, then make sure to enable Cross Save through Bungie.net. Please note that once Cross Save is enabled, the characters on the platform that was opted out of Cross Save will remain locked until Cross Save is deactivated.
3. Issues with Voice Chat System
Voice chat can work fine within a single platform but can present problems when players across systems try to talk to each other. This can be due to improper configuration of microphones, different levels of privacy settings or incompatibility with the voice systems on the respective platforms.
Solution: Make sure the proper microphone and headset configurations are done in the console or PC settings. You might also want to check if the game even has enable voice chat option in Destiny 2 settings. In case of more issues, simple communication barrier solving methods such as Discord can be of use to assist in crossplay.
4. Input-Based Matchmaking complaints
Some players may think that input-based matchmaking is a bad thing, especially in competitive modes such as Crucible or Trials of Osiris. Being a controller player and playing against a mouse and keyboard user can be intimidating with the latter having more accuracy.
Solution: Bungie’s input-based matchmaking system will try to ensure fairness as much as it can. Mixed input fireteams however, will always be placed in higher input lobbies. For this reason, always ensure all members of the fireteam have the same input device.
5. Lags or Performance Hitches Unique to the Platform
With the introduction of crossplay, players on different platforms and with varying specs are able to participate in a game together. Sometimes, these tendencies cause problems like lags and stutters especially in hardened cases where players are involved in activities like Raids or competitive PvP.
Solution: Ensure that the connection to the Internet is intact and has good strength. If you are using a device like a PC, which can produce an enhanced resolution or frame rate, then you may have to lower some of your settings for a better frame rate while playing with console players. Also, due to the capabilities and designs of the consoles, older generation console players are expected to struggle more with performance issues than those using next-gen consoles or PCs.
6. Matchmaking Based on Different Regions
There are instances where a player may experience longer periods without any matchmaking or, in extreme cases, finds it less efficient to match with similar players especially in such cases when they are playing with their friends in other regions.
Solution: Though Destiny 2 has no option for selecting the region, playing with tethering on the VPN or off-peak playing time may help with regional problems. Moreover, in order to minimize the waiting time before being matched with other players, it is advisable to play the game during its peak hours.
Measures to Enhance Crossplay within Destiny 2 for Players
Few of the advanced useful crossplay measures that can be adapted so as to better enjoy the game in its entirety are; the following suggestions.
1. Fireteams Comprising all Game Platforms
Crossplay allows for the making of various teams which comprise players from different gaming platforms. This is a vital feature for the higher content level such as Nightfalls, Raids, and Trials of Osiris. Forming cross-platform teams helps in minimizing the period of inactivity as well as assist in creating a more eliminative team based on a bigger pool of players.
Suggestion: Accessibility to other players can be enhanced by using Bungie.net’s Fireteam Finder or other community based apps such as Discord to help people get fireteams organized even if they are using different platforms. These enable the user to select the platform they are using and look for people who also want to join them in their crossplay.
2. Using Other Means at One’s disposal
Some applications and websites designed by other developers can come in handy when wishing to play across different platforms. Application, which is called Destiny Item Manager (DIM), for example, helps managing unobstructedly one’s inventory across different platforms so that a person is ever ready for combat irrespective of the console one is on.
Suggestion: Moreover, in addition to managing your in-game belongings, you can think of employing websites such as Raid Report which allows you to keep track of your achievements in-game over different platforms so you would know how well to advance.
3. Managing Clan Crossplay
Crossplay has significantly reduced barriers to the way clans operate in Destiny 2. If the case that you are a clan leader, use advantage of the crossplay and do not limit the recruitment to the active members of your platform alone and saturate the roster with players from other platforms constantly.
Suggestion: It is advisable to talk to the members of your clan using other platforms’ applications like Discord to arrange for activities within the games across different platforms, strategize and plan for events more effectively.
4. Crossplay Raids
Raids are some of the most difficult yet fulfilling activities in Destiny 2. It allows for forming a raid team in which the members can be from separate gaming consoles. This eliminates the interaction gap, which enables formation of better strategies and more players available to engage in raid attempts.
Tip: Make sure everyone is ready for the specific role they are required to play as a team, take advantage of the Ishtar Commander; import the loadouts and check statistics, and set an audio agenda before the raid to discuss what strategies will work best and if any changes need to be done. Mixed-platform raids do have some apparent disadvantages as long as there is less communication.
5. Involvement in the Community Outside the Game
Destiny 2’s crossplay functionality has helped to blur the lines between the various Destiny clans or communities on different platforms. Today, you can engage with more players than ever and make some friends, as well as experience different kinds of play that may have not been possible before. Casual strikes or high-level raids, you name it; the crossplay feature has completely changed the inter-player communication.
Tip: Socialize and look for crossplay bridge fireteam members and new friends on community hubs like Reddit, Discord, and other social media platforms. Using such connections will help you enjoy playing the game more, particularly the endgame dry content such as Trials or Raids.
As crossplay is integrated into Destiny 2 it can be regarded as an important feature.
It is no doubt that crossplay within Destiny 2 is a worth addition as it allows players more convenience and enhances camaraderie among them. By making all those who own a gaming device or computer connected to PlayStation, Xbox, PC or Stadia or any other service under Bungie gaming comprised Destiny 2, ensures that one of the cross-platform games remains the most convenient and active one.
The fact that players can turn on crossplay very easily as well as the great social structures provided in Bungie.net and other applications working in synergy also eliminate possible hitches in the process of searching for friends and creating fireteams. The overall experience is even more uplifted despite some problems here and there such as matchmaking concerns due to inputs or slight differences in performances across platforms.
For Guardians wishing to utilize their leisure in the expansive Destiny 2 universe, crossplay reduces the limitations within which they can operate, players can engage in Raids, Nightfalls, Trials of Osiris, and so many more with anyone from any part of the gaming world. For a casual player as well as a dedicated one, crossplay inclusions will come as a positive addition and the feature will likely develop more because Bungie will keep working on the system.
It goes without saying that as Destiny 2’s future seasons and expansions emerge, crossplay will be a focus in the game, enabling Guardians all over the world to unite and face whatever threats the universe has to offer upon them.