To celebrate the recent launch of Destiny 2’s first season 3 Iron Banner event, Bungie is offering an exclusive time-limited Eververse bundle of items that includes a spiffy new Exotic emote called “Salute of the Lords.” However, many players aren’t happy about the fact that, currently, the only way to acquire the emote is to lay down some real-life cash.
Currently, the only way to acquire the Salute of the Lords emote is via an Eververse item bundle called The Iron Emote Bundle. Along with the emote, the bundle includes a single Fireteam Medallion (which grants bonus experience points to the user and their fireteam for a limited time) and a single Gleaming Boon of the Crucible (which awards the user and all other players in a single Crucible match a bonus cosmetic item upon completion), all for $10 worth of Destiny 2’s premium Silver currency.
The issue players have is that there is no other way to acquire the emote other than by purchasing the bundle. Tess Everis doesn’t offer the emote as a standalone purchase for Bright Dust (Eververse currency that players can acquire through gameplay), nor does Iron Banner showrunner Lord Saladin offer it as an event award. The emote obviously doesn’t affect gameplay in any way, but players see the locking of the emote behind a $10 bundle as yet another money grubbing ploy from Bungie, something which goes against the studio’s so-called commitment towards its players.
Granted, Bungie has taken steps to make the Eververse less of a headache for Destiny 2 players, most recently by introducing a Prismatic Matrix feature that allows players to earn at least one dupe-protected cosmetic item each week. However, the presence of the Iron Emote Bundle is proof that Bungie is also still trying to figure out ways in which it can squeeze a few more dollars out of players. Being able to directly buy a cool-looking emote without worrying about randomized loot boxes is nice, but Bungie might have to recalibrate its expectations if it thinks players will be happy with paying $10 for a single emote.