Last week brought the unhappy but entirely expected news that Bungie is ending ongoing development for Destiny 2. In response, the community has been mourning the ill-fated loot shooter through lore posts, weapon comparisons, and highlights of their most impressive feats. Yet as cool as those clutch plays and team wipes are, I am far more fond of a relatable form of commiseration that has emerged alongside them. Instead of crowning achievements, Destiny 2 players processing their grief have been sharing clips of their most shameful fumbles, creating a surprisingly heartwarming tribute to a game that mattered deeply to so many.

The Unconventional Commiseration of the Destiny Community

This trend took off after MLG Halo player and FPS streamer Makowski shared a video of his finest Crucible kills. He captioned the montage with the rhetorical question, "Dad, how good were you at Destiny?" While the original clip showcased immaculate sniping, others quickly pivoted to an entirely different genre of highlight reel. Answering the hypothetical child's curiosity, they revealed a brutally honest truth: "Kid, I was pure dogshit."

This unconventional form of communal mourning highlights Bungie’s signature ability sandbox. The game provides a broad and deep toolkit for launching yourself on the exact trajectory you absolutely shouldn’t take. Take the clip from @EndlessGL, which perfectly displays a talent for using all available movement tech to plunge expertly into a bottomless pit. It is a classic Guardian experience that resonates across every fireteam.

Watching Destiny 2 Players Processing Their Grief in Real Time

Phil Savage, PC Gamer’s global editor in chief and long-suffering Destiny diehard, captured the essence of this phenomenon perfectly. He noted in Slack earlier today that "the triumph of D2 is that every class has their own specific way of looking dumb." The community quickly proved him right with a parade of spectacular failures:

  • Warlock @Ka2chaN_03 demonstrated speedrun techniques with flawless precision until the moment it extremely wasn’t.
  • Hunter @durkoffdaperc executed a stunning heroic swan dive directly into the abyss while trying to take down an enemy player.
  • @Iunarran shared her struggle because she "couldn't even die right," attempting a comedic capper on a wiped raid attempt instead.

The outpouring of fondly remembered failures extends beyond traversal mishaps. Raid fumbles abound, such as the clip from @SSG_Jonny who could have salvaged a boss clear with one climactic golden gun shot. Instead, they sent it sailing over the target’s head, dooming their entire group to death via orbital cannon. You hate to see it happen, but you absolutely recognize the panic.

Whether you are scrolling through these montages on May 25 or May 26, there is a shared understanding in every clip. Nothing captures this sentiment quite like the video from @TheKillerAxe2, who encapsulated a universal experience in one high-stakes firefight. They managed to apply lethal force to literally everything except the exact enemy player who was killing them. It is a specific brand of panic that every Guardian knows too well: "dad how good were u at d2".

A Wholesome Farewell to the Light and Dark

There may be many stages of grief, but this particular one feels incredibly wholesome and humanizing. Seeing players gleefully trade their less-than-glorious moments serves as a vital reminder that Destiny 2 was never just about world first raid clears or flawless Trials runs. It was always a space for sharing the full spectrum of canonical experiences. Those shared laughs over falling into holes and missing golden guns are exactly what kept us coming back for years, making this final chapter all the more meaningful to watch unfold.