Destiny 2 Surges in Popularity, Server Crash Sparks Sequel Buzz

WHO:

IGN - Bungie is the developer of Destiny 2, and Sony is its parent company.

Kotaku - Players of Destiny 2 are rallying for a sequel and expressing their support for the game.

WHAT:

IGN - Destiny 2's final update was released, leading to a peak concurrent player count of 167,000 on Steam.

IGN - The all-time peak player count for Destiny 2 was previously 314,000 during the release of The Final Shape expansion.

Kotaku - Destiny 2's servers crashed shortly after the final update went live, with over 130,000 players logging in on Steam.

Kotaku - Players celebrated the server crash as a demonstration of their support for the game and a demand for Destiny 3.

WHERE:

IGN - The player count statistics are based on data from Steam, a digital distribution platform.

WHEN:

Kotaku - The final update for Destiny 2 was released on June 9, 2026.

Kotaku - The server crash occurred around 1:45 p.m. EST on June 9, 2026.

Kotaku - The servers began coming back online around 1:55 p.m. EST on June 9, 2026.

WHY:

IGN - Fans aimed to crash the servers to demonstrate the game's popularity and to advocate for continued support from Bungie and Sony.

Kotaku - Players wanted to prove that there is still a significant audience for Destiny 2 and to express their desire for a sequel.

HOW:

IGN - Players coordinated efforts to log in simultaneously to create a high concurrent player count.

Kotaku - Players shared images of error messages online as a form of celebration after the server crash.

(UPDATED June 10, 2026 01:49 UTC)

Destiny 2's final update has sparked a surge of player enthusiasm, with a peak concurrent count of 167,000 logged on Steam, although the servers crashed shortly after due to over 130,000 players trying to log in. Fans celebrated the crash as a sign of support for the game and a clear demand for a sequel, with many coordinating their login efforts to showcase the game's popularity. Bungie, the developer of Destiny 2, is now facing a strong call from players who are eager for continued support and the potential for Destiny 3.