Bungie is going for the triple crown of gaming publishers, having once joined forces with Microsoft, then Activision, and now, Sony. Sony has confirmed that they are acquiring the Halo and Destiny developer for $3.6 billion.
Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan assures that “Bungie will remain an independent and multi-platform studio and publisher.” Bungie will become an independent subsidiary of SIE, with the current management team still intact.
Pete Parsons, CEO of Bungie, released a lengthy statement confirming they will remain in charge of their own destiny, pun surely very much intended.
In Sony, we have found a partner who unconditionally supports us in all we are and who wants to accelerate our vision to create generation-spanning entertainment, all while preserving the creative independence that beats in Bungie’s heart. Like us, Sony believes that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IPs can become. 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.
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.
More than anything, Sony understands that our people and our community are both the priority, and the heart of our success, and are willing to stand alongside us as we continue to use our platform to drive action towards a more welcoming and equitable world. Our goal is to build a place where the world’s most creative and talented people can come and do their best work, no matter who they are, where they are from, or how they identify.
Bungie is currently still maintaining Destiny 2, and working on a new IP.
Microsoft previously acquired the veteran studio back in 2000. Halo released in 2001 as an Xbox-exclusive and a huge system seller for the platform. Bungie would leave Microsoft in 2007 after Halo 3 to become independent. In 2010, they signed a 10-year contract with Activision, and made Destiny, another huge hit. Needless to say, the developer has become a popular favorite among gamers and publishers alike.
