The $3.6 billion deal will still haveDestinyon multiple platforms
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced today that it is acquiring Bungie, the studio behind popular shooterDestiny. The deal comes in at $3.6 billion, butDestinywill still be published on multiple platforms.
Once the deal closes, Bungie will be an independent subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Speaking toGamesIndustry.biz, SIE president and CEO Jim Ryan said this is part of Sony’s strategy to expand the reach of PlayStation to a much wider audience.
“We understand how vital Bungie’s community is to the studio and look forward to supporting them as they remain independent and continue to grow,” Ryan told GI Biz. “Like Bungie, our community is core to PlayStation’s DNA, and our shared passion for the gamer and building the best place to play will now evolve even further.”
Bungieconfirms in a blogthatDestiny 2will stay on all current platforms and expand to new platforms. The studio also says it will maintain “full creative independence” for its games and the community. There won’t be any platform exclusives for upcoming expansionThe Witch Queen, either.
There may be more on the way for PlayStation as well.GI Biz’s Christopher Dring saysRyan told them to “expect more” when it comes to further PlayStation acquisitions.
This caps off a massive month in acquisition news. Earlier in January,Take-Two announcedit would acquire Zynga in a $12.7 billion deal. And just a few weeks ago, Microsoftannounced its own acquisitionof Activision Blizzard, for a whopping $68.7 billion.
With Sony’s news, the once-Microsoft studio is now at PlayStation. Bungie says the “most immediate change” seen will be an acceleration in hiring talent across the entire studio. Itwill also retain the option to independently publishand develop games. With bothDestiny 2and any potential new IP in the future, this is a big move to cap off a month of massive acquisitions in the gaming world.
