Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Destiny 2 is the clear choice if you want a looter shooter to play now. Anthem’s online servers shut down on January 12, 2026, and EA and BioWare said the online-only game would no longer be playable afterward. Destiny 2 remains available, with raids, dungeons, challenges, and other activities still in its endgame. The caveat: Bungie says its final planned live-service content update arrived on June 9, 2026, so Destiny 2’s future is not a normal seasonal roadmap.
This comparison needs a current-status correction before it gets to combat or loot: Anthem is no longer a live alternative. You can still compare the games’ design and combat identities historically, but only Destiny 2 remains playable. As of October 30, 2026, that makes Destiny 2 the practical winner for progression, endgame, and choosing what to play.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhich game is better to play in 2026?
Destiny 2, because it is still playable and Anthem is not. Anthem’s online service ended on January 12, 2026. Destiny 2 remains available, although Bungie says planned live-service content updates ended with Update 9.7.0 on June 9, 2026.
EA and BioWare announced the Anthem shutdown in their July 3, 2025 Anthem Game Update, stating that the game would no longer be playable after its servers went offline. That matters because Anthem was an online-only game: its combat, progression, and endgame cannot be treated as a currently accessible package. A comparison that recommends Anthem as an option today would leave out the most important difference between the two.
Popular on Amazon
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
The wording matters. Anthem did not simply stop receiving new updates while remaining available to play; the online service itself ended. EA and BioWare said the game would no longer be playable after the shutdown. So owning or having installed a copy does not turn it into a usable offline alternative. For someone deciding what to download, buy, or return to, there is no current Anthem playthrough to weigh against Destiny 2.
Bungie’s June 9, 2026 Destiny 2: Monument of Triumph and Update 9.7.0 Support Guide says the game will no longer receive planned live-service content updates after that release. Bungie also says Destiny 2 remains available. So it is playable, but readers should not mistake that for an ongoing promise of regular new seasons or content updates.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →That distinction leads to two separate questions: “Can I play it?” and “Will it keep getting new planned content?” The answer for Destiny 2 is yes to the first and no to the second, according to Bungie’s stated plan. For Anthem, the answer to the first is no. The distinction is more useful than an undated comparison of features because it describes what a player can actually access in 2026.
Which game had better combat?
Anthem had the more distinctive movement fantasy; Destiny 2 has the stronger combat package to experience now. Anthem’s defining contrast was its Javelin suits, flight, hovering, and traversal. Destiny 2’s strengths are weapon feel, abilities, and encounter design. The first is a historical judgment about Anthem, not a claim that it can still be played.
| Combat question | Anthem | Destiny 2 |
|---|---|---|
| What made combat stand out? | Javelin identity, flight, hovering, and movement through the world. | Weapon feel, abilities, and encounters built around combat. |
| Can you play it now? | No. Its online servers shut down January 12, 2026. | Yes. Bungie says the game remains available. |
| Can you judge the current combat loop firsthand? | No. The game is no longer playable after shutdown. | Yes, within the activities that remain available. |
| What is the fairest comparison? | A distinctive historical movement-and-suit fantasy. | A functioning combat loop connected to available activities and rewards. |
Anthem’s movement identity is still the clearest reason it earned a distinct place in this comparison. The Javelin concept tied traversal to the player’s suit, making flight and hovering part of its combat fantasy rather than an incidental feature. That can make Anthem the more interesting answer to “Which game had the more unusual movement?”
Flight and hovering are not just a checklist of isolated features in this comparison. They are the core of the historical distinction: Anthem’s suit identity linked how a player moved with how the game presented combat. That makes the game memorable as a movement-first counterpoint to Destiny 2, even though players can no longer test that feeling firsthand. It would be misleading, however, to describe those features as a current reason to install or choose Anthem.
Destiny 2’s case is less about one signature movement idea and more about how its weapons, abilities, and encounter design work together. Just as important, those systems remain accessible in a functioning game. If the question is which combat you can choose to play now, Destiny 2 wins by default; if the question is which historical design had the more distinctive movement, Anthem has a strong claim.
There is no clean way to make this a fully symmetrical hands-on contest in 2026. A player can still experience Destiny 2’s available combat activities, but Anthem’s servers are gone, so its combat can only be discussed as remembered design. The most honest verdict therefore separates distinctiveness from availability: Anthem had the more unusual traversal hook; Destiny 2 is the combat system a new or returning player can actually access.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Which game has better progression and loot?
Destiny 2 is the only one of the two with a progression and reward ecosystem you can access now. Anthem’s progression cannot be experienced through its live servers after shutdown, while Destiny 2 still connects play to available activities and rewards.
That difference is more consequential than a theoretical comparison of loot systems. Progression in a looter shooter is not just the existence of gear; it depends on being able to play, pursue rewards, and use the activities that make those rewards meaningful. With Anthem offline, its past progression design can be discussed as history, but it cannot serve as a current reason to choose the game.
Destiny 2’s retained Monument of Triumph content gives players activities and rewards to pursue. Bungie’s support material lists triumphs and rewards alongside raids, dungeons, Pantheon challenges, destination activities, and social activities. The game is therefore still more than an inaccessible campaign or a title kept online without anything to do.
For a player weighing progression, the practical question is not simply which game once had more loot, or which system sounds better in the abstract. It is whether there is a live path from playing an activity to pursuing a reward. Destiny 2 retains that connection through its available activities and rewards. Anthem does not offer a reachable progression loop after the shutdown, so a present-tense verdict on which game has “better loot” would imply access it no longer has.
The available facts do not establish a numerical comparison of gear depth, drop rates, or the relative strength of individual rewards, so there is no sound basis here for ranking those details. The grounded comparison is about access and structure: Destiny 2 still has activities and rewards, while Anthem’s progression is inaccessible because its online-only game is no longer playable. That is enough to make Destiny 2 the meaningful choice for anyone who wants to progress in a looter shooter today.
There is an important limitation: “still playable” does not mean “still receiving planned live-service content.” Bungie’s June 9 statement draws that line clearly. Readers deciding whether to start should weigh the existing activities and rewards that remain against the end of planned content updates.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Which game has the better endgame?
Destiny 2 has the better endgame today because it still has a range of accessible endgame activities; Anthem’s endgame is no longer playable. Bungie’s Monument of Triumph material identifies raids, dungeons, Pantheon challenges, destination activities, triumphs, rewards, and social activities as available content.
Those categories offer different ways to spend time after the main progression path: raids and dungeons are major activity types, Pantheon adds a challenge category, and destination activities and social activities broaden the options. Triumphs and rewards provide additional goals tied to the retained content. This is a meaningful endgame package, even though it should not be confused with a promise that new planned live-service content will keep arriving.
Also popular on Amazon
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
The breadth matters because “endgame” is not a single activity. Bungie’s list includes activity types, challenge content, destination play, and social options, alongside goals and rewards. That gives players more than one category to consider when choosing how to spend time after progressing through the game. It also gives returning players a practical starting point: check the current Monument of Triumph and official support information to see which activities and rewards are available to pursue.
This does not mean every player will prefer every activity, or that the list guarantees a particular schedule, group size, reward, or level of difficulty. The point is narrower and more useful: Bungie identifies a spread of retained content, so Destiny 2 still has an endgame package to play. The available official information supports that broad claim, not a detailed ranking of every activity’s value.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Anthem cannot compete on present-day endgame access. Its online shutdown means players cannot log in to pursue its activities or rewards. That does not erase the game’s historical combat identity, but it does rule it out as a current endgame recommendation.
For someone who wants a live endgame now, the comparison is therefore not close: Destiny 2 has accessible options, while Anthem has none. For someone asking which game once had more appealing endgame design, the current status facts do not support a detailed side-by-side ranking. Keep those questions separate rather than treating Anthem’s former design as content that remains available.
What does Destiny 2’s future look like after its final planned update?
Destiny 2 remains playable, but Bungie has ended planned live-service content updates and described restoration work rather than a normal seasonal roadmap. Bungie identifies June 9, 2026, as the date of the final planned live-service content update.
In a September 17, 2026 statement, The Next Chapter for Bungie, the studio said work was beginning to restore vaulted campaigns, destinations, and raids. That is a different kind of future-facing plan from announcing a regular sequence of new seasons. The statement establishes that restoration work is beginning, but it does not by itself establish that every vaulted item is already back or provide a schedule for when specific content will return.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFor a returning player, the useful distinction is between content that is available now and content Bungie says it is working to restore. Check current official Destiny 2 support information before planning around a particular vaulted campaign, destination, or raid; the restoration announcement alone is not confirmation that a specific item is available on a particular date.
The September statement also helps clarify what “future support” means in this comparison. Bungie’s line about the final planned live-service content update refers to the end of planned content updates; the studio’s restoration announcement describes work on vaulted material. Those statements should not be collapsed into an assumption that Destiny 2 is shutting down, nor should restoration work be presented as a new seasonal roadmap. Bungie says Destiny 2 remains available, and the specific future-facing work named is restoration of campaigns, destinations, and raids.
Also popular on Amazon
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Widely Compatible: Transform any USB-C port into a USB-A port and USB-A port into a USB-C port, and connect up a wide range of USB-C(including MacBook, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, iPhone models with USB C ports, Samsung Galaxy series, and Google Pixel series. ) and USB A devices(including external hard drives, phones, mice, printers, and more)
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Bungie also said, “Destiny is foundational to Bungie’s future,” in its September 17, 2026 studio statement. That is a statement about the franchise’s importance to the studio, not a dated promise for a particular Destiny 2 release, feature, or schedule. Players should rely on specific official availability and update information when deciding what to play, rather than reading more into a broad studio statement than it says.
This produces a more measured outlook than either “Destiny 2 is over” or “Destiny 2 will keep getting seasons.” It remains playable and has retained content to pursue, but planned live-service content updates have ended. Bungie has described restoration work, while leaving the status and timing of individual vaulted items to be confirmed through official updates. That is the support picture a new or returning player should understand before investing time.
Should you choose Anthem or Destiny 2?
Choose Destiny 2 if you are deciding what to play now. It remains playable and has a documented spread of activities and rewards. Anthem should be treated as a historical comparison: its Javelin-based movement and combat identity are worth discussing, but the game’s online service has ended.
Destiny 2 also comes with a real qualification. Bungie says planned live-service content updates ended on June 9, 2026. If your main reason to play is a continuing seasonal content stream, do not assume that is still part of the offer. If you want to play the existing game and its retained activities, Destiny 2 is the only viable choice between these two.
The recommendation changes only if the question changes. If you are asking which one you can play, which has accessible progression, or which has an available endgame, the answer is Destiny 2. If you are asking which had the more distinctive movement fantasy, Anthem deserves credit for its Javelins, flight, and hovering. That historical praise is not a recommendation to seek out Anthem as a functioning game in 2026.
If you are returning to Destiny 2, verify the status of any specific campaign, destination, or raid you plan to play. Bungie has described restoration work for vaulted content, but its September 17 statement does not say that every item has already returned or publish dates for each one. If you are new, treat the list of raids, dungeons, Pantheon challenges, destination activities, triumphs, rewards, and social activities as a picture of the available activity breadth, then use current official support information for specific details.
In short: Anthem had the more distinctive movement fantasy; Destiny 2 is the better current looter shooter because it is playable, has accessible progression and endgame activities, and is the only one of the pair you can choose today. Its planned live-service update cycle has ended, so the recommendation is for the game and activities that remain available—not for a promised stream of future seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anthem still playable in 2026?
No. EA and BioWare said Anthem’s online servers would be available until January 12, 2026, after which the online-only game would no longer be playable. It is not a current alternative to Destiny 2.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Does Anthem still have servers?
No. EA and BioWare announced that the servers would be sunset on January 12, 2026. Since Anthem was online-only, the shutdown also ended the ability to play the game.
Can you play Anthem offline after the servers shut down?
No. EA and BioWare described Anthem as online-only and said it would no longer be playable after its servers were sunset. Having the game installed does not make it an offline-playable alternative.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Is Destiny 2 worth playing in 2026?
If you want to play one of these two games, Destiny 2 is the viable choice: Bungie says it remains available and identifies raids, dungeons, Pantheon challenges, destination activities, triumphs, rewards, and social activities as available content. Keep in mind that planned live-service content updates ended on June 9, 2026.
Is Destiny 2 still getting updates?
Bungie says June 9, 2026, was the final planned live-service content update. On September 17, 2026, the studio described work beginning to restore vaulted campaigns, destinations, and raids. That restoration work is not the same as a regular seasonal roadmap.
Does Bungie’s vault-restoration announcement mean old Destiny 2 content is back already?
Not necessarily. Bungie’s September 17, 2026 statement describes work beginning to restore vaulted campaigns, destinations, and raids; it does not confirm that every item has returned or give a date for each one.
Will Destiny 2 get another season after June 2026?
Bungie says June 9, 2026, was the final planned live-service content update. Its later restoration statement is not the same as announcing another season or a regular schedule of new updates.
Recommended Free Tools
Which game had better combat, Anthem or Destiny 2?
For distinctive movement and suit identity, Anthem had a strong historical claim through Javelin flight and hovering. For combat a player can experience now, Destiny 2 is the answer because Anthem is no longer playable and Destiny 2 remains available.
Which game has the better endgame now?
Destiny 2. Bungie’s Monument of Triumph material lists raids, dungeons, Pantheon challenges, destination activities, triumphs, rewards, and social activities. Anthem’s online service has ended, so its endgame cannot be played now.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Destiny 2 is the only playable choice in this matchup in 2026. Anthem’s servers shut down on January 12, while Destiny 2 remains available with a meaningful set of activities and rewards. Just do not mistake that availability for a continuing seasonal roadmap: Bungie says planned live-service content updates ended on June 9, 2026.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
