This month, NetEase officially confirmed the existence of Destiny 2’s rumored mobile spin-off, a cell phone game initially leaked by Bungie developers – a development that has piqued the curiosity of many fans in the franchise. As speculation spread rapidly online following the circulation of a UI screenshot, it’s hardly surprising that hasty conclusions were drawn.
A screenshot showcasing the Gauntlet Ops team-based exercise, initially shared by the sports’ official Twitter handle, primarily focuses on the collaborative challenge designed for groups of six participants.
A viral Twitter post from fansite Future Bulletin’s account shared an analogous picture, garnering significant attention from players intrigued by a stamina mechanism apparently displayed at the top of the Gauntlet Ops UI. A golden token icon is situated beside the numbers 120/360, eerily reminiscent of an in-game currency that players might desire to expend to access the feature, much like the resin system found in other games.
The priority was escalated after a fan’s inquiry on the sport’s official Twitter account drew attention from NetEase, whose representative clarified: “We’ve seen similar questions arise, but we’d like to make it clear that the gold icon represents Pinnacle Vitality, which is used to collect Pinnacle Rewards.” “In the unlikely event that you exhaust your Pinnacle Vitality, you can still enjoy playing and earn rewards.”
The response to this revelation seems to be fairly evenly split between scrolling commentary by means of replies to the publication: Some vets liken the restriction to analogous reward gates erected in certain games; others still dub it a stamina mechanic, surmising that the alluded rewards are paltry, and conjecture that recharging pinnacle vitality will likely prove one of the mobile title’s monetization layers. While NetEase’s long-term plans for monetizing this sport remain unclear, its devoted fan base is undoubtedly preparing for the possibility of disruption.
