Bungie canceled hero-focused “Project Payback” Destiny title

Bungie canceled a major project codenamed “Project Payback” in the summer of 2024, despite it being described internally as the “future of Destiny.” According to reports from Jason Schreier, the project aimed to attract a younger demographic by departing from the franchise’s traditional formula.

Project Payback was intended to be a hero-focused title with a structure comparable to “Genshin Impact,” allowing players to control various characters. The gameplay was described as having MOBA and arcade-style qualities to ensure easier accessibility. The project was led by veteran developers Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy, though it remained unclear if the game would have been titled “Destiny 3” or treated as a spin-off.

Bungie’s decision to cancel the project comes amid broader challenges for the studio, including recent layoffs and the departure of key personnel who originally built “Destiny 2.” Currently, the studio is focusing on maintaining “Destiny 2” content and managing “Marathon.”