Bungie’s next game is called Destiny, and will release next year, according to recently opened contracts between Activision and the developers.
The 27-page contract states that there’ll be four games set in the Destiny universe, starting in 2013 and ending in 2019, and just as many downloadable expansion packs codenamed Comet in alternate years, according to the document.
“The first Destiny game will initially only be available on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 consoles,” says the LA Times, “as well as its potential successor, which the contract refers to as the ‘Xbox 720’. Later games would be made for Xbox consoles as well as Sony Corp.’s expected successor to the PlayStation 3, and on personal computers.”
“Bungie would be entitled to royalties ranging from 20% to 35% of ‘operating income,'” says the article, “the amount left over after Activision deducts its costs, including development, production and marketing expenses.”
The contract also states that Bungie is working on a follow-up to Marathon, although the developer cannot devote more than 5% of its staff to the project.
cc_star
Very lucrative for Bungie, perhaps an insight into how desperate Activision were after the Infinity Ward fallout.
Shame no PS3 but perhaps understable given Bungie’s recent history, development time needed for quality engine development & supposed rumours that, like the Vita, the PS4 will have off-the-shelf PC parts.
2013 seems to have all the biggest games now.
IAmJacksMedullaOblongata
It doesn’t say it won’t be on the PS3, just that it’s a timed exclusive.
Check out this article for more detail.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-05-22-bungies-lucrative-contract-with-activision-is-revealed
“The platform strategy is to begin with the Xbox 360 or its successor (labeled “Xbox 720” in the contract), with ports for the PlayStation 3 if it can be done with “quality and feature parity.”
halbpro
Bungie get sick of working on just Halo games, buy company back from Microsoft, dis-entangle themselves from Halo, go out on their own to do what they want and… sign a six year contract tying them to one series of games. I’m seeing a cycle forming here…
Taylor Made
The last bungie game I played was Onie on ps2 nice game.
Anyway I see no ps3 love well I won’t show no love for them on ps4 & MMO sucks
cc_star
Massively Multiplayer Sci-fi Action-Shooter, I’d expect Halo-esque shooter in a persistent world, M.A.G. in space maybe.
The fact there’s a new game every 2 years would indicate it’s not just an FPS MMO
TSBonyman
Seems an odd move, you’d think they would want to build a fan base on both consoles from the beginning with this new IP. ME1’s exclusivity didn’t hurt sales of Mass Effect 2 and 3 but it did mean many never got to enjoy the full experience. I’m not thrilled at the prospect of another incomplete experience because of my console choice and this news has clouded any potential interest i might have in the series.
TSBonyman
Ooh, i missed the bit about Marathon first time i read – now that’s something i’m interested in, loved playing it on mac years ago.
gazzagb
Sounds good, and it sounds like Acti have learned from how they’ve dealt with West & Zampella + IW and are giving Bungie a bit more freedom and allowing them to work on a sequel to Marathon.