In a recent interview, Bungie CEO Pete Parsons reveals that the company is aiming to be one one of “the world’s best entertainment companies.” Bungie’s plan or strategy involves bettering Destiny and creating more franchises leading up to the year 2025.
While Destiny 2’s PC version for Steam and Shadowkeep expansion is due out on October 1st, 2019, website IGN (archive.org) had the chance to interview Parsons, the CEO of Bungie, on what gamers and fans alike can expect from the company, Destiny, and what the year 2025 might bring.
When asked about the split from Activision, here’s what Bungie CEO had to say about the whole thing:
“You think this is going to be a really big stressor, but it’s become a really bright shining spot on our ability to bring products to the marketplace and customers.”
As Parsons continued about the future of Bungie and the company’s plans moving forward, the CEO had this to say:
“By 2025 we have a pretty specific path to make sure we transform Destiny and that we have other franchises within the marketplace. We need to build our publishing group, but part of our vision is also to become a multi-franchise entertainment company.
I think the long-term vision of Bungie would be, we have worlds like Destiny that are great places to go and build friendships in, and we begin to introduce new worlds that people care a lot about.”
In case you don’t remember, Bungie struck up a partnership with NetEase back on June 1st, 2018. In a segment on bungie.net, we learn that the aforesaid isn’t anything new:
“[…] We’re excited to announce that we’ve entered into a new partnership with NetEase to help us explore new directions. With their industry expertise, they’ll empower us to build new worlds and invite players, new and old, to join us there. They’ll help us support separate teams inside Bungie to bring our newest ambitions to life.”
On the same day, June 1st, 2018, Bungie studio CEO took up an interview with publication site gamesindustry.biz to relay the following about the partnership with NetEase:
“For now, we’re grateful for the opportunity to welcome NetEase to the family. We have a bold vision to explore with them […]”
It was mentioned in the past that Bungie struck this deal with NetEase for $100 million, but website Polygon (archive.is) reaffirmed that the deal is still for the same amount as of January 10th, 2019:
“In 2018, Bungie struck a deal with Chinese internet company NetEase to establish the game maker as a “global, multi-franchise entertainment company.” Bungie received a $100 million investment from NetEase to help the studio build new teams and new worlds, Bungie CEO Pete Parsons said at the time.”
Parsons also explained back in 2018 to gamesindustry.biz why the partnership came to be with the Chinese company:
“Really what this partnership is about is bringing the expertise NetEase has, sharing ideas and allowing us to incubate new ideas. There’s no explicit deal to publish our games in China. It’s more that they share our passion for games, our passion for building worlds that inspire friendships and building communities, and that’s the entire focus of it.”
In other words, Bungie has been sitting on the idea of branching out into publishing and wanting to become a big player in the games industry (in regards to publishing and developing) and feels that all of this can be done leading up to the year 2025.
