Sony Purchases Bungie
Published on January 31st, 2022 | Updated on January 31st, 2022 | By FanFest
For $3.6 billion, Sony has purchased Bungie, the developer of Destiny and the originator of Halo, which is now known as “a game that galvanizes millions around the world.” Microsoft announced on Monday that it plans to buy Activision Blizzard in a deal worth $68.7 billion, which is just weeks away from its closing. Bungie will “continually independently produce and creatively develop our games,” Bungie CEO Pete Parsons states in a blog post.
“We have discovered a partner in SIE who unconditionally supports us in all that we are, and who is committed to accelerating our mission to develop generation-spanning entertainment while maintaining the creative control that beats inside of Bungie‘s heart,” Parsons explains. SIE sees our IPs, like us, as the beginning of what they can be. “By combining our expertise, we will strive to build and nurture iconic brands that bring people together across the world, bringing families from generation to generation, and fostering fanatics on multiple platforms and entertainment mediums.”
In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, announced that Bungie will continue to operate as a multiplatform and independent studio and publisher. The company’s PlayStation Studios developers will join with it “alongside” Bungie.“We believe that opening up the platform to hundreds of millions of gamers is a goal that our industry should strive for, and with Bungie’s world-class expertise in multi-platform development and live game services, we’ll be able to achieve it,” he added.
The head of PlayStation Studios, Hermen Hulst, made the same point in a separate blog post. “For decades, Bungie has excelled in developing highly engaged communities, and their technical expertise combined with their history of building engaging fan bases makes them an ideal match for collaboration with PlayStation Studios,” he continued.“We’re pleased to start making arrangements to share knowledge and experience, as well as to unleash the full potential of having Bungie’s brilliant minds under Sony’s roof.”
Bungie is telling the public that future installments of its games will not be PlayStation exclusives. “No. We want the virtual realms we are building to reach out and touch people everywhere who enjoy gaming.”We will remain self-published, creatively independent, and we will continue to maintain one, cohesive Bungie community,” the publisher promises in an FAQ on the merger. The company also stated in a FAQ that the acquisition will not have an effect on its long-running hit, Destiny 2.
Q. What impact, if any, will Bungie’s acquisition by Sony have on how I play and enjoy Destiny 2 as a Destiny 2 player?
No. Our commitment to allow players on all platforms to play together in the same Fireteam remains unchanged.
We want you to play The Witch Queen on the platform of YOUR CHOICE on February 22, 2022.
Q. Is Bungie’s pending acquisition of the PlayStation gaming firm going to have an impact on the Destiny 2 experience for players on non-PlayStation platforms?
No, we don’t want to change anything about your current platform. We simply want to keep the exceptional experience you have now.
Q. With Bungie becoming part of Sony, will any announced seasons, events, packs, or expansions be delayed or affected in any way?
No. Bungie maintains complete creative autonomy for our games and community. Our plans for the Light and Dark Saga have not altered, all the way through The Final Shape in 2024.
Q. Will there be any platform-exclusive features in Destiny 2: The Witch Queen?
No. There will be no platform-only content. No matter where you choose to play, you should get an amazing Destiny experience.
Q. Will cross-platform features, such as Cross Save, Cross Play, the Destiny 2 Companion App, or third-party applications like Destiny Item Manager (DIM), be modified or eliminated?
We’re not going to do it. Bungie’s dedication to cross-platform play and social elements has not changed. We think that games are enjoyed best with friends wherever they choose to play, and we will continue to develop new features and platforms.
Q. What about future Bungie games in development? Will they now be PlayStation exclusives?
No. We want the worlds we’re creating to be accessible across all game platforms. We will continue to self-publish, remain creatively independent, and maintain a single Bungie community.
Q. Will my game platform still be supported if I play Destiny on Steam, Xbox, or Stadia?
Yes.
The acquisition is the latest in a slew of huge deals that were announced earlier this month. The gaming industry was shocked last week when Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $5.5 billion, less than a week after Take-Two’s $12.7 billion acquisition of mobile developer Zynga. Sony has made numerous acquisitions in the past year to expand its PlayStation Studios family, including Housemarque creator Returnal and Demon’s Souls remake developer Bluepoint Games.
