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Bungie has revealed some big changes coming to Destiny 2’s Portal system with the Ash and Iron update, but instead of excitement, most fans are feeling frustrated. The new Portal hub was introduced back in July with the Edge of Fate expansion, meant to streamline activities and give players new ways to chase rewards. But since launch, things haven’t gone exactly as Bungie hoped.

Players quickly found ways to push the system to its limits. Many began speedrunning Solo Ops missions like K1 Logistics or Caldera to level up faster and reach max power quickly. While this was an efficient method for grinding, Bungie says it wasn’t the way they envisioned players engaging with the Portal, and now changes are on the way.

In its latest weekly blog, the studio confirmed that Solo Ops are getting nerfed. Rewards for power progression will be lowered by one level for each grade, effectively slowing down the speed at which players can climb. Bungie explained that Solo Ops had become the “above-all best method of leveling” for all types of players, and the team wants to push Guardians toward other activities like Fireteam and Pinnacle Ops instead. Those activities are getting buffs and extra content to make them more appealing.

The problem is, players don’t see this as balance. They see it as Bungie once again punishing the most efficient way to play. Many have called the decision tone-deaf and unnecessary, especially since the grind in Destiny 2 is already time-consuming. Fans argue that instead of nerfing what works, Bungie should focus on making the rest of the game equally rewarding.

Not all of the changes were received badly, though. Bungie initially planned to force players to visit Rahool at the Tower to decrypt Prime Engrams, adding another step before loot could be claimed. After backlash, the studio walked that idea back, with the community team confirming that the change was scrapped. Players praised Bungie for listening, but they’re still asking for bigger adjustments, like reworking Solo Ops restrictions and making activities feel more generous overall.

This debate isn’t new for Destiny 2. Bungie has often been accused of nerfing fun out of the game instead of letting players enjoy powerful tools for a while. A good example came earlier this summer with the Third Iteration exotic scout rifle, which quickly became a fan favorite thanks to its high damage. It didn’t take long for Bungie to tone it down with a patch, leaving many Guardians disappointed.

With Ash and Iron, it seems history might be repeating itself. Bungie says it wants balance, but many in the community feel that the developer is once again trimming away what makes the game exciting. As Destiny 2 moves forward, the big question is whether Bungie will find a middle ground that keeps both challenge and fun alive, or if these updates will keep players feeling like they’re losing more than they gain.