Biggest difference between Destiny 1 and Destiny 2 is the focus on story

Sounds like they heard fan criticisms.

Destiny 2 won't simply be changing the game's setting, adding new weapons, armor, and features – it's also bringing a new focus on narrative. This re-focusing on narrative is the biggest difference between the original game and Destiny 2.

In an interview with GamesRadar, Destiny 2's director, Luke Smith, revealed how the team was approaching Destiny 2 differently, at least as far as the story goes. 

Smith explained that the biggest difference between the original Destiny and the upcoming sequel is how the team is going about creating the story (and basically the fact that they chose to focus on it).

"I think broadly speaking it's probably the inclusion of a story. It’s actually focusing on having a followable narrative, and having a big sort of storyline, epic scenario. Layering the story content in a way we haven’t done yet for Destiny.

"So that main campaign, that’s what the trailers are about. Then, below that in the layering, you have adventures that are stories about the worlds, the planets and the particular enemies contained therein – it doesn’t directly relate to the Red War, it tells a different story."

Bungie's goal of bringing story into focus in Destiny didn't begin with Destiny 2, it started with Taken King.

"I think one of the things for bringing new people into Destiny is going to be the way we’ve approached narrative differently, in terms of trying to tell a cohesive campaign. I think in Taken King it’s certainly something myself and the team tried to bring in and improve. We’ve got the space in Destiny 2 to let that breath a little." 

Destiny 2 releases on Xbox One and PS4 on September 8th and on PC on October 24th.