While this sadly isn’t a new concept in the world of Destiny 2, with past iterations of Iron Banner also featuring exclusive shaders locked behind similar systems, this particular shader has gained a lot of praise from the community due to the unusual texture changes it creates on armor pieces. But with it only being available for such a short time, it has become the ultimate representation of FOMO in the game. Bungie sometimes relies on this to boost player engagement and retention, something players can usually feel.
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2023’s First Iron Banner Plays A Lot Like Normal Control with a Twist
Meanwhile, Iron Banner is a limited-time PvP event that takes place in the game’s Crucible mode every few weeks or months. The mode usually features a reprise of more regular Crucible modes like Control. This time around, Iron Banner plays a lot like Control with a few tweaks and additions, like a new contestable point spawning periodically defended by AI turrets. If one team holds that new point, they are rewarded with many points over time, which can act as a nice catchup mechanic. Additionally, Iron Banner features special-themed gear, offering Iron-Banner-only rewards like themed weapons, armor, and the coveted shader.
Because the event is only available for a few weeks at a time, players have less choice than ever before when it comes to what is available in the Crucible while this iteration of Iron Banner is live. The requirements to unlock the new Iron Banner shader are unfortunately steep, with players needing to reset their progress nearly twice over dozens and dozens of matches. If the requirement for obtaining the shader was different in almost any way, it would be an improvement to the player experience. Bungie could potentially improve the way it handles FOMO-based events in Destiny 2 going forward by either increasing the amount of time players have to accomplish the goal or by easing the requirements to begin with.
FOMO-Based Frustration in Destiny 2 Has Yet To Be Solved
This has led to a lot of frustration among players, as many feel that the requirements to unlock the shader are too high. The fact that it is only available for a short period of time only adds to the sense of FOMO, as players feel pressure to grind out the required games in order to earn it before it disappears forever. Despite the frustrations, many players are still trying their best to unlock the shader, with some even dedicating entire streams or videos to the process. The shader has become a hot topic among the Destiny 2 community, with players debating the fairness of the requirements and sharing tips and tricks for unlocking it.
Overall, Destiny 2’s new Iron Banner shader has undoubtedly caused a less-than-positive FOMO experience among players. Its impressive texture changes and limited availability have made it a highly sought-after reward, but the requirements to unlock it are what have caused frustration in the community. Still, for those who are able to unlock it, the shader is sure to be a highly prized possession, with many likely showing it off for weeks to come. So, it can be said that the new Iron Banner shader is both a blessing and a curse for the players of Destiny 2.
Destiny 2 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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