Warframe’s Creative Director Reacts to Destiny 2’s Shocking End
The gaming world was rocked recently by the unexpected announcement regarding the end of Destiny 2’s development. This shocking news caught everyone off guard—from players and streamers to even the folks at Bungie, many of whom were reportedly blindsided by the decision. One notable reaction came from Rebb Ford, the creative director of Warframe, who expressed his disbelief, describing the situation as “unthinkable.”
During a recent episode of the OnlyFrame podcast, Ford remarked, “That news was just cataclysmic. There’s no scenario where it makes sense to just terminate one of the biggest games in the industry over the past decade.” He emphasized that such drastic moves often stem from the business side of things taking precedence over creativity, a trend he and his co-host, Cohh Carnage, have criticized in the past. “It’s just never hurt this much for a lot of people in our niche genre. It’s unthinkable,” he added.
For those unfamiliar, Warframe is often seen as Destiny 2’s main rival. While it may not have quite the polish of its competitor or reach the same player peaks on platforms like Steam, Warframe brings its unique charm to the table—albeit in a quirky and somewhat unconventional manner. Where Destiny 2 meticulously analyzes every weapon stat, Warframe invites players into a bizarre universe, even featuring the iconic filmmaker Werner Herzog discussing existential themes.
Despite its ups and downs, Warframe has maintained a solid and loyal player base over the years. Interestingly, Ford acknowledged that while Warframe predates Destiny, it has been heavily influenced by Bungie’s earlier games. He recalled how, at the age of 16, he and his friend picked up their copies of Halo 3 at midnight and spent countless hours immersed in the game. “There is no Warframe without the legacy of Bungie games,” he stated.
In a twist regarding the game’s future, Ford reminisced about a time when Sony was considering acquiring Leyou, the parent company of Warframe’s developer, Digital Extremes, prior to Bungie’s acquisition. “I’ll leave it at that,” Ford said with a hint of mystery, to which Carnage replied, “Y’all might have dodged a timeline bullet.” It’s worth noting that Leyou was ultimately acquired by Tencent for a fraction of what Sony paid for Bungie.
On a brighter note for Warframe fans, the annual TennoCon convention is set to return this July in London, Ontario, marking a decade of celebrating the game and its community. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Warframe universe as it continues to evolve amidst the changing tides of the gaming landscape.