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[Strakt]

We’ve grown suspicious of delays.

It’s not that we don’t know how long, or how complex, game development is; it’s just that we’ve been burnt by broken promises and empty assurances before. Which is why Bungie’s unceremonious announcement it needed to push back the PC release of Destiny 2 – the studio’s first foray into PC development for sixteen years – drew a raised eyebrow or two. And when the console release went ahead as planned, leaving a seven-week window between the console release and its PC debut? Cynicism is a hard habit to break, even for the most devoted Guardians.

“It was disappointing,” admits Dave Shaw, PC Project Lead of Destiny 2, reflecting upon the delay. “One of the most challenging things we did is when we decided we needed that extra time with PC. But it was that important that we do it – that we land it properly, that it was worth all that.

“But those seven weeks really were critical to us to making sure we could land a game that people are going to be happy with from day one.”

“PC players need to be first class citizens,” adds Shaw when asked what PC gamers need to know about Destiny 2. “We want them to feel like we understand them – we are them: there’s tonnes of PC gamers at Bungie! They waited three years to get Destiny, right? We wanted to bring them something that really said, hey, we get it, we love you, we are you, and we really want you to have fun.”

When it comes to Destiny 2 on PC, there’s a couple of things Bungie are keen to stress. Firstly? It’s not a port. “One Design Build” was the mantra throughout development, which means regardless of what platform you prefer, it’s undeniably the same game, offering the same experience. But beyond that, Bungie also want you to know that despite the launch delay, the PC version will never play second fiddle to its maturer console sibling.

“Once we get through that launch window, everything’s the same. The PC should never see another delay,” says Shaw. “We build one game, and we ship on multiple platforms, and that is that is our culture, that is the way that our stuff is engineered.”

And how will the partnering with Blizzard’s Battle.net affect the community?

“I think it’s just the perfect spot for Destiny 2 on PC,” says Gawrys. “It fits in, it adds this chance for communities to come together. Maybe people that are Blizzard fans that have been playing Blizzard games for years and maybe never played a console game ever… I would love [them] to come and experience the universe.”

More here: http://www.godisageek.com/2017/10/destiny-2-pc-interview-bungie-vicarious-visions/