Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced Monday that it will purchase Bungie, best-known for Destiny and Halo, for $3.6 billion.
Over on Bungie’s official blog, CEO and chairman Pete Parsons claims that the studio will remain independent and continue releasing games on multiple platforms while receiving additional support from Sony.
“Like us, SIE believes that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IPs can become,” Parsons said. “Together, we share a dream of creating and fostering iconic franchises that unite friends around the world, families across generations, and fans across multiple platforms and entertainment mediums.”
Parsons continues: “We remain in charge of our destiny. We will continue to independently publish and creatively develop our games. We will continue to drive one, unified Bungie community. Our games will continue to be where our community is, wherever they choose to play.”
Bungie has limitless potential to unite friends around the world.
We have found a partner in PlayStation that shares our dream and is committed to accelerating our creative vision of building generation-spanning entertainment.
Our journey begins today.https://t.co/PLuVn48zdy pic.twitter.com/kAhRbAg3vD
— Bungie (@Bungie) January 31, 2022
The messaging on Parson’s part is interesting, particularly the emphasis on independence and still publishing games on multiple platforms. When Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard two weeks ago, many were speculating if titles like Call of Duty would remain on PlayStation — which it will, for now.
Over on SIE’s blog, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan explains Bungie’s new role within the company. Hinting that games like Destiny 2 probably will remain on Xbox and PC.
“Bungie’s successful track record in multi-format publishing and live game services will assist us in realizing our ambitions to take PlayStation beyond the console and increase our potential audience,” Ryan explains. “They will remain independent and multi-platform, will enjoy creative freedom, and their track record in developing massively successful franchises in the sci-fi shooter genre will be highly complementary to SIE’s own IP portfolio.”
It also sounds like Sony isn’t done picking up other studios either.
And Jim Ryan told me 'We should expect more' when it comes to further PlayStation acquisitions
— Christopher Dring (@Chris_Dring) January 31, 2022
What those developers might be is anyone’s guess, though we’ll find out soon enough.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
