Destiny 2 Update Erases Player Usernames

Following an update, the popular online shooter Destiny 2's moderation tools mistakenly altered a significant number of players' account names. Here, we delve into the developers' updates, official statements, and what steps you can take if your Bungie Name has been affected.

Destiny 2 Players' Bungie Names Unexpectedly Get Changed Following Update

Bungie Distributing Name Change Tokens

This week, Destiny 2 players encountered an unexpected issue where their account names, known as Bungie Names, were changed following a recent game update. Many players reported seeing their tags replaced by "Guardian" followed by a series of randomized numbers. The issue, which reportedly started 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 modify 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 not violating any naming rules. This led to widespread confusion and frustration among players, some of whom had maintained the same username since 2015 without any issues.

In response, Bungie swiftly acknowledged the error and launched an investigation. The Destiny 2 team communicated updates through a series of tweets, confirming that a "high number" of players were impacted by the unexpected change.

The following day, Bungie reported that they had pinpointed the cause of the issue and implemented server-side 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 shared 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 continued communication from Bungie.