Following an update, the online shooter Destiny 2's moderation tools mistakenly changed a high number of players' account names. Read on for the developers' updates, statements, and what you can do if your Bungie Name has been wiped out.
Destiny 2 Players' Bungie Names Unexpectedly Get Changed Following Update
This week, Destiny 2 players discovered that their account names, known as Bungie Names, were unexpectedly altered after a recent game update. Many players found their tags replaced by "Guardian" followed by a series of randomized numbers. The issue, which reportedly began affecting players around August 14, was triggered by Bungie's name moderation tool.
"We are tracking an issue where a high number of account names have been changed by our Bungie name moderation tool," the Destiny 2 team announced on Twitter (X). "We are actively investigating and expect to have more information tomorrow, including details on an additional name change token for all players."
Bungie’s systems are designed to automatically change account names that violate the company’s terms of service, such as those containing offensive language or personal information. However, in this case, many players found themselves with the "Guardian[Random Number]" username, despite having committed no violation. This left players confused and frustrated, with some noting they had the same username since 2015 without any issues.
In response, Bungie acknowledged the error and launched an investigation. The Destiny 2 team communicated with players through a series of tweets, confirming that a "high number" of them were affected by the unexpected change.
The following day, Bungie reported that they had identified the cause of the issue and implemented fixes to prevent further accidental name changes. "We have identified the issue that was forcing a high number of Bungie name changes. We have applied a server-side change to prevent the issue from impacting accounts moving forward," the developers stated on Twitter (X).
"As noted yesterday, we are still planning to distribute name change tokens to all players at a later date to assist. As we have more information, we'll be sure to share it with you," they added.
As Bungie continues to address this unexpected issue, players are encouraged to remain patient and await further updates. Those affected by the accidental name changes can look forward to the upcoming distribution of name change tokens and further communication from Bungie.
