Destiny Franchise to Leave Activision Blizzard

Blizzard Posted 2019/01/10 at 3:14 PM by Anshlun

Destiny 2 Battle.net Support

Destiny 2 will still receive full support on BattleNet and we do not anticipate any disruption to our services or your gameplay experience. https://t.co/FFOE1iae3R

— BlizzardCS (@BlizzardCS) January 10, 2019Internal LeaksBlizzard's Diablo team late 2018

At today's meeting announcing the news, Bungie staff cheered loudly. Can't over-emphasize how happy they are not just to get away from Activision, but to have a game that they now own completely. Imagine a Destiny free from Activision's restrictive annualized schedule!

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) January 10, 2019

OUR DESTINY

When we first launched our partnership with Activision in 2010, the gaming industry was in a pretty different place. As an independent studio setting out to build a brand new experience, we wanted a partner willing to take a big leap of faith with us. We had a vision for Destiny that we believed in, but to launch a game of that magnitude, we needed the support of an established publishing partner.

With Activision, we created something special. To date, Destiny has delivered a combination of over 50 million games and expansions to players all around the world. More importantly, we’ve also witnessed a remarkable community – tens of millions of Guardians strong – rise up and embrace Destiny, to play together, to make and share memories, and even to do truly great things that reach far beyond the game we share, to deliver a positive impact on people’s everyday lives.

We have enjoyed a successful eight-year run and would like to thank Activision for their partnership on Destiny. Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce plans for Activision to transfer publishing rights for Destiny to Bungie. With our remarkable Destiny community, we are ready to publish on our own, while Activision will increase their focus on owned IP projects.

The planned transition process is already underway in its early stages, with Bungie and Activision both committed to making sure the handoff is as seamless as possible.

With Forsaken, we’ve learned, and listened, and leaned in to what we believe our players want from a great Destiny experience. Rest assured there is more of that on the way. We’ll continue to deliver on the existing Destiny roadmap, and we’re looking forward to releasing more seasonal experiences in the coming months, as well as surprising our community with some exciting announcements about what lies beyond.

Thank you so much for your continued support. Our success is owed in no small part to the incredible community of players who have graced our worlds with light and life. We know self-publishing won’t be easy; there’s still much for us to learn as we grow as an independent, global studio, but we see unbounded opportunities and potential in Destiny. We know that new adventures await us all on new worlds filled with mystery, adventure, and hope. We hope you’ll join us there.

See you starside.

BUNGiE

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Comment by frostyfire14LOOOOOOOOLComment by ArchimtirosAm I the only one hoping that Blizzard does the same and goes back to being a company for making great games that the consumer wants rather than everything being an activision money-grab?Comment by silentsaturnAm I the only one hoping that Blizzard does the same and goes back to being a company for making great games that the consumer wants rather than everything being an activision money-grab?Comment by teniossaA begning is the end!Comment by kaos95I want this to happen so badly.Comment by Detinator247Damn Destiny got away from Activision before the Gaming Industry crashes, lets hope Blizz (or at least WoW) can do the sameComment by kingganonAs far as I know wasn't this part of the deal from the start? Bungie does 2 Destiny games for activision and can keep the IP afterwardsComment by grayshirtDoes this actually mean anything? Does anything tangible, other than a bunch of legalese of what entity has whatever rights, end up changing with this event?

But if this changes something, and makes Destiny an amazing franchise and spectacular game. We all win. I hope for stellar results.

As someone who doesn't understand what publishing rights fully entail, I don't understand how this will end up allowing them to improve the game. If anything, to an uninitiated like me, it seems an incredibly risky move. Were there things they could not publish under Activision that they are now free to publish? Or otherwise, what actions by the team was the prior arrangement limiting or restricting them from?

Bungie self-publishing is honestly a scary scary thought.Comment by Detinator247Am I the only one hoping that Blizzard does the same and goes back to being a company for making great games that the consumer wants rather than everything being an activision money-grab?Comment by StroggsCan we split blizzard\wow and activision?Comment by DolanJTrumpAka Activision is abandoning it as they don’t see it as profitable.Comment by DrahkenDoes that mean they're finally going to take it out of my Bnet Launcher? Please? And take CoD too while you're at it.Comment by Sas148Does that mean they're finally going to take it out of my Bnet Launcher? Please? And take CoD too while you're at it.Comment by DemowareSee Blizzard, companies can leave Activision.Comment by RaynreWhelp, time to raise the monthly subscription price to make up for the lost revenue.Comment by mandrathaIt was 10 years, 3 games from what I remember.

I'd imagine a LOT of people are cheering at Bungie right now, including some that left because
of what Activision did to the corporate culture there.Comment by Tornado20Thank god we got some phone games coming in their plethora of unnanounced projects to cover the losses! Can't wait XD /sComment by JosephcurwenI hope for the best for blizzard games in the futureComment by BlackburnWRBlizzard is owned by Activision. Bungie was not. Entirely different set of circumstances unfortunately.Comment by krakimataBlizzard should do the same.

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