Bungie Canceled Hero-Focused Destiny Game Codenamed Payback in 2024

Bungie canceled a game codenamed Payback in summer 2024 that was intended to expand the Destiny universe, according to reporting from Jason Schreier. The project was led by Bungie's Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy and was scrapped after the Final Shape expansion launched.

Payback was designed as a departure from traditional Destiny gameplay. Rather than the franchise's established first-person shooter format, the canceled title adopted a hero-focused approach where players could select and play as characters from the Destiny universe. Schreier compared the gameplay style to Genshin Impact, though he specified the comparison was about character selection mechanics rather than monetization models.

The game was positioned to attract younger players and newcomers unfamiliar with Destiny's deep lore. According to Schreier, Destiny's playerbase had aged alongside the franchise because it struggled to bring in fresh audiences. Payback was meant to address this demographic challenge by offering an entry point for new players through a different gameplay experience.

The exact reasons for Payback's cancellation remain unclear. Bungie has since shifted its strategic focus toward preserving Destiny's legacy, which includes plans to restore vaulted content that was previously removed from the game. The studio did not officially announce the Payback project or its cancellation.