Destiny 2 Update Causes Players' Usernames to be Wiped Out

Following an unexpected update, the popular online shooter Destiny 2 experienced a significant issue where numerous players' account names were inadvertently changed. This article delves into the developers' responses, their official statements, and the steps you can take if your Bungie Name has been altered.

Destiny 2 Players' Bungie Names Unexpectedly Get Changed Following Update

Bungie Distributing Name Change Tokens

This week, a recent update to Destiny 2 triggered an unexpected change in many players' account names, known as Bungie Names. Players discovered their tags replaced by "Guardian" followed by a series of randomized numbers. This issue, which started around August 14, was caused 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 alter account names that breach 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 adhering to the rules. This left many players feeling confused and frustrated, especially those who had used the same username since 2015 without any issues.

In response, Bungie swiftly acknowledged the error and launched an investigation. The Destiny 2 team communicated with the community through a series of tweets, confirming that a significant number of players were affected by the unexpected name changes.

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 further explained.

As Bungie works to resolve this unexpected issue, players are encouraged to remain patient and keep an eye out for further updates. Those affected by the accidental name changes can look forward to the upcoming distribution of name change tokens and additional communication from Bungie.