Bungie has never been shy about using Destiny 2 as a vehicle for the developer's many charitable efforts, and this has been the same with the latest Guardian Games event bringing in a large sum of money to be put to good use. Typically, the studio's charity work is done through the Bungie Foundation arm, most recently joining other organizations in raising funds for relief efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in February 2023. The funds from this latest effort, though, will be going to Direct Relief and the International Rescue Committee's ongoing efforts across the globe to aid those suffering from poverty and humanitarian crises.
As with previous Guardian Games events, Destiny 2 players were tasked with accruing medals between the event-specific playlists and weekly ritual activities in the hopes of seeing their guardian class come out on top. Titans won the inaugural Guardian Games in 2020 during Season of the Worthy, while Hunters would win in 2021 and Warlocks took the top spot in 2022. As of this writing, it appears the event has come full circle as Bungie has indicated Titans will be the first class to become two-time Guardian Games winners.
The launch of Season of the Deep brings with it the end of the latest iteration of the Guardian Games event and the opportunity to make a donation toward Direct Relief and the International Rescue Committee's work. It proved to be another fruitful effort on Bungie's part, though, as the studio revealed it has raised over $140,000 during the three-week event. As with other charity drives, the studio incentivized players to donate by awarding a special emblem which could only be acquired with a donation of $25 or higher.
Bungie will also be awarding several prizes to the top fireteams to partake in Guardian Games, with the studio tracking medals dunked and the amount of money each individual team donated. The top team in each category will receive custom artwork by two of the Destiny community's most talented artists - GammaTrap and PherianArt - both of whom have art showcased by Destiny YouTubers such as Myelin Games and MyNameIsByf. Additional prizes include a special Guardian Games pendant, another emblem, and discount codes for the Bungie Store.
Given the studio's track record, it would not be surprising to see more charitable efforts from Bungie before 2023 comes to a close. The studio has already cultivated positive relationships with other charities and efforts as well, including various Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ organizations, which have received consistent support from the Bungie Foundation over the years. Upcoming events such as the Solstice and Festival of the Lost would also make fitting backdrops for these efforts in the same way Guardian Games has in 2023.
Destiny 2 is currently available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.