Sony buying Bungie for $3.6 billion - Blu-ray Forum

Mavrick · 01-31-2022, 05:02 PM

Destiny studio will remain multiplatform, able "to self-publish and reach players wherever they choose to play"

Sony Interactive Entertainment today announced a deal to acquire Bungie for $3.6 billion, the latest in a string of big-ticket consolidation deals in the games industry.

After the deal closes, Bungie will be "an independent subsidiary" of SIE run by a board of directors consisting of current CEO and chairman Pete Parsons and the rest of the studio's current management team.

Sony has said Bungie will remain a multiplatform studio, with the option "to self-publish and reach players wherever they choose to play."

At present, the studio is working on maintaining Destiny 2, expanding the Destiny franchise, and working on new IP.

"We've had a strong partnership with Bungie since the inception of the Destiny franchise, and I couldn't be more thrilled to officially welcome the studio to the PlayStation family," said SIE president and CEO Jim Ryan.

"This is an important step in our strategy to expand the reach of PlayStation to a much wider audience. We understand how vital Bungie's community is to the studio and look forward to supporting them as they remain independent and continue to grow. Like Bungie, our community is core to PlayStation's DNA, and our shared passion for the gamer and building the best place to play will now evolve even further."

Parsons said SIE supported the studio's dual goals of making generation-spanning entertainment while staying creatively independent.

"Both Bungie and SIE believe that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IP will become," Parsons said. "Our original universes have immense potential and, with SIE's support, we will propel Bungie into becoming a global multimedia entertainment company dedicated to delivering on our creative vision."

The deal caps off a massive January for games industry acquisitions. Take-Two announced an agreement to acquire Zynga for roughly $12.7 billion on January 11, and Microsoft followed up with a $68.7 billion deal for Activision Blizzard a week later.

This would be the second time Bungie has been bought by a platform holder. Microsoft acquired the studio in June of 2000, securing its then-upcoming shooter Halo as an exclusive title for the original Xbox's 2001 launch.

Bungie would regain its independence shortly after the launch of Halo 3 in October of 2007. It produced two more exclusive Halo games for the company -- Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach -- before signing a 10-year deal with Activision that would lead to the creation of the Destiny franchise.

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...usd3-6-billion

dyne · 01-31-2022, 05:09 PM

That's an insane amount for them imo. Comparatively, look at the Bethesda deal that was "only" 7.5 billion and all the studios and IP that come with that price tag.

McGarnigal · 01-31-2022, 05:28 PM

I read this 5x times and still don't really understand what they will and won't own...

Nerdkiller likes BD · 01-31-2022, 05:49 PM

deckard82 · 01-31-2022, 06:01 PM

This may also put some pressure on MS to make some of their recently acquired IPs stay muliplatform titles.

gundamcero · 01-31-2022, 06:13 PM

Interesting move. Multiplatform could mean PS/PC only one day for Bungie. Could be used as a move if Microsoft decides to take away Call of Duty from Playstation.

My main thought would be to expand Bungie to make new original games that would be PS exclusive. That would be a good idea.

Would rather see Sony buy a JP studio like Square, Capcom, or Sega.

deckard82 · 01-31-2022, 06:29 PM

I hope that Sony will manage to buy Konami. Or at least certain Konami IPs like MGS and SH. Make a deal a little more attractive to them by allowing Konami to still use these IPs for their silly slot machines. But Sony and Konami...that used to be such a dream team. Great things could happen.

gundamcero · 01-31-2022, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deckard82

I hope that Sony will manage to buy Konami. Or at least certain Konami IPs like MGS and SH. Make a deal a little more attractive to them by allowing Konami to still use these IPs for their silly slot machines. But Sony and Konami...that used to be such a dream team. Great things could happen.

Oh yeah. Sony having Metal Gear, Silent Hill, and Castlevania would be a gamers dream. I would be 1000% more excited for that than any new COD iteration.

CrowKiller · 01-31-2022, 06:40 PM

lol Bungie. Looks like I'll probably be getting a Series X is go around if I have the desire to upgrade to the current gen. Sony needs something better than this. Eating up Japanese companies could take away a lot of popular in Japan games that could hurt Microsoft's neverending efforts to try and appeal to folks in Japan.

deckard82 · 01-31-2022, 06:43 PM

MGS1 and SH1 were to video games what The X-Files and Twin Peaks were to television. They just changed the whole ball game. I think most gamers would love to see new big budget MGS and SH games done right.

Square Enix and/or Bandai are probably more likely to be acquired though.

Gamma_Winstead · 01-31-2022, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyne

That's an insane amount for them imo. Comparatively, look at the Bethesda deal that was "only" 7.5 billion and all the studios and IP that come with that price tag.

I think you underestimate just how much Bungie has been making from Destiny. While bethesda has some major hitters, everything not Elder Scrolls, Fallout, or Id has been performing wildly below expectations. They didn't spend that money on Prey or Evil within, that's for sure.

NARMAK · 01-31-2022, 07:11 PM

I genuinely don't understand this deal tbh. They make it sound like Bungie are still independent and releasing games on Xbox. Why not say it will be PS5/PC or something for the platforms if not.

The purchase is overpriced and Bungie are not anywhere close to what they used to be. Sony are spending money in a really stupid manner imo.

The only real headline without even looking that great is "Hey look, they took Crash from us but we got the guys who made Halo(!)"

I genuinely hope this joke ends. MS have won over them twice now. They got Bethesda and a plethora of IPs and did it again with Activision and Sony is left hold the proverbial you know what in their hands.

neoz · 01-31-2022, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gundamcero

Interesting move. Multiplatform could mean PS/PC only one day for Bungie. Could be used as a move if Microsoft decides to take away Call of Duty from Playstation.

My main thought would be to expand Bungie to make new original games that would be PS exclusive. That would be a good idea.

Would rather see Sony buy a JP studio like Square, Capcom, or Sega.

I kind of want to see that but don't Sony censor their JP games a lot?

Also pretty interesting news. I was just thinking about Sony buying Bungie after MS said they would own Activison and yep. Next Nintendo will straight up buy Sega lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by deckard82

MGS1 and SH1 were to video games what The X-Files and Twin Peaks were to television. They just changed the whole ball game. I think most gamers would love to see new big budget MGS and SH games done right.

Square Enix and/or Bandai are probably more likely to be acquired though.

I think Bandai are the third biggest game developer after Sony but not sure if Sony would buy them out. Maybe but Bandai hold a lot of rights to anime related stuff. Sony would also get Sunrise if they bought Bandai.

dyne · 01-31-2022, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gamma_Winstead

I think you underestimate just how much Bungie has been making from Destiny. While bethesda has some major hitters, everything not Elder Scrolls, Fallout, or Id has been performing wildly below expectations. They didn't spend that money on Prey or Evil within, that's for sure.

I get that the money is mostly for certain IP but how much exactly IS Destiny bringing in these days? I ducked out during the first game and kind of know their current business model but I've never seen financial reports. Seems like it's always articles complaining about the game and how it's dropping players.

I was thinking more of how they've had to have seen their new project and think it's a game changer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NARMAK

I genuinely don't understand this deal tbh. They make it sound like Bungie are still independent and releasing games on Xbox. Why not say it will be PS5/PC or something for the platforms if not.

Why are people still in the mindset that shoring up exclusives is the best way forward financially? With how big the player base has gotten it only makes sense to put your titles everywhere. Money coming in is money coming in.

ZHobbs · 01-31-2022, 08:01 PM

This purchase makes a lot of sense to me. Almost every PlayStation studio has been hiring for multiplayer positions. We've known that for years Naughty Dog has been working on an "untitled multiplayer project" *cough cough* TLOU live service. Firesprite (Twisted Metal free to play), Guerilla, & Sucker Punch are working on multiplayer games. Insomniac is rumored to be doing a Marvel MMO. The bungie purchase is not about Destiny, its the talent, experience, & gaming engines that PlayStation has very clearly shown they think is the future of their console.

Zivouhr · 01-31-2022, 08:36 PM

Interesting news sort of. All these competitors buying up all the studios for themselves.

Sony can't even hire enough team members for their PS5 updates, and they're buying Bungie for 4 billion dollars?

It's their money, so they can do whatever they think will earn them more, but Destiny? Not a good deal IMO. I guess they want the name Bungie, which made better games in the past I heard, like Halo.

gundamcero · 01-31-2022, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neoz

I kind of want to see that but don't Sony censor their JP games a lot?

Not sure about a lot but they do and that wouldn't change if the bought them or not.

Zivouhr · 01-31-2022, 10:42 PM

What's odd about this deal is that Sony will allow Bungie to make whatever games they want and market them to not only Sony consoles, but also Microsoft and PC gamers, for a larger market of income, versus hogging it all for the PS5.

Why couldn't Bethesda agree to that deal when they signed with MS? I guess we'll find out when Star Field and Elder Scrolls arrive in a few years.

tcripe · 02-01-2022, 12:17 AM

So let me get this straight.... Bungie will be owned by Sony but will not report to Sony?

Zivouhr · 02-01-2022, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcripe

So let me get this straight.... Bungie will be owned by Sony but will not report to Sony?

Yeah, pretty much they can release whatever games they want to any console or PC, and Sony gets a cut. Although they also want Bungie to pursue Sony's creative vision, "Our original universes have immense potential and, with SIE's support, we will propel Bungie into becoming a global multimedia entertainment company dedicated to delivering on our creative vision."

This deal was 4 billion from Sony.
70 billion Microsoft paid this year for Activision. How much money do they have to work with? Trillions?

01-31-2022, 05:02 PM	#1
Mavrick Gaming Moderator Top contributor Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Wales Home Theater Gallery:121 4K collection:62 Blu-ray collection:813 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:5 Trading Score:1	Sony buying Bungie for $3.6 billion Destiny studio will remain multiplatform, able "to self-publish and reach players wherever they choose to play" Sony Interactive Entertainment today announced a deal to acquire Bungie for $3.6 billion, the latest in a string of big-ticket consolidation deals in the games industry. After the deal closes, Bungie will be "an independent subsidiary" of SIE run by a board of directors consisting of current CEO and chairman Pete Parsons and the rest of the studio's current management team. Sony has said Bungie will remain a multiplatform studio, with the option "to self-publish and reach players wherever they choose to play." At present, the studio is working on maintaining Destiny 2, expanding the Destiny franchise, and working on new IP. "We've had a strong partnership with Bungie since the inception of the Destiny franchise, and I couldn't be more thrilled to officially welcome the studio to the PlayStation family," said SIE president and CEO Jim Ryan. "This is an important step in our strategy to expand the reach of PlayStation to a much wider audience. We understand how vital Bungie's community is to the studio and look forward to supporting them as they remain independent and continue to grow. Like Bungie, our community is core to PlayStation's DNA, and our shared passion for the gamer and building the best place to play will now evolve even further." Parsons said SIE supported the studio's dual goals of making generation-spanning entertainment while staying creatively independent. "Both Bungie and SIE believe that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IP will become," Parsons said. "Our original universes have immense potential and, with SIE's support, we will propel Bungie into becoming a global multimedia entertainment company dedicated to delivering on our creative vision." The deal caps off a massive January for games industry acquisitions. Take-Two announced an agreement to acquire Zynga for roughly $12.7 billion on January 11, and Microsoft followed up with a $68.7 billion deal for Activision Blizzard a week later. This would be the second time Bungie has been bought by a platform holder. Microsoft acquired the studio in June of 2000, securing its then-upcoming shooter Halo as an exclusive title for the original Xbox's 2001 launch. Bungie would regain its independence shortly after the launch of Halo 3 in October of 2007. It produced two more exclusive Halo games for the company -- Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach -- before signing a 10-year deal with Activision that would lead to the creation of the Destiny franchise. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...usd3-6-billion Last edited by Mavrick; 01-31-2022 at 05:11 PM.

01-31-2022, 06:13 PM	#6
gundamcero Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2009 Location:US Blu-ray collection:50 Trading Score:207	Interesting move. Multiplatform could mean PS/PC only one day for Bungie. Could be used as a move if Microsoft decides to take away Call of Duty from Playstation. My main thought would be to expand Bungie to make new original games that would be PS exclusive. That would be a good idea. Would rather see Sony buy a JP studio like Square, Capcom, or Sega. Last edited by gundamcero; 01-31-2022 at 06:22 PM.

01-31-2022, 08:01 PM	#15
ZHobbs Power Member Top contributor Member since:Jul 2017 Location:The Redwoods Trading Score:34	This purchase makes a lot of sense to me. Almost every PlayStation studio has been hiring for multiplayer positions. We've known that for years Naughty Dog has been working on an "untitled multiplayer project" cough cough TLOU live service. Firesprite (Twisted Metal free to play), Guerilla, & Sucker Punch are working on multiplayer games. Insomniac is rumored to be doing a Marvel MMO. The bungie purchase is not about Destiny, its the talent, experience, & gaming engines that PlayStation has very clearly shown they think is the future of their console. Last edited by ZHobbs; 01-31-2022 at 08:15 PM.

01-31-2022, 05:09 PM	#2
dyne Blu-ray Baron Member since:Feb 2011 4K collection:77 Blu-ray collection:508 Trading Score:7	That's an insane amount for them imo. Comparatively, look at the Bethesda deal that was "only" 7.5 billion and all the studios and IP that come with that price tag.

01-31-2022, 05:28 PM	#3
McGarnigal Blu-ray Guru Member since:Oct 2008 4K collection:148 Blu-ray collection:328 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:10	I read this 5x times and still don't really understand what they will and won't own...

01-31-2022, 05:49 PM	#4
Nerdkiller likes BD Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Wrestling in Ireland. PSNetwork: Nerdkiller316PSN Nerds beaten up: Loads 4K collection:75 Blu-ray collection:880 Trading Score:1

01-31-2022, 06:01 PM	#5
deckard82 Special Member Top contributor Member since:Jun 2012 Location:Germany	This may also put some pressure on MS to make some of their recently acquired IPs stay muliplatform titles.

01-31-2022, 06:29 PM	#7
deckard82 Special Member Top contributor Member since:Jun 2012 Location:Germany	I hope that Sony will manage to buy Konami. Or at least certain Konami IPs like MGS and SH. Make a deal a little more attractive to them by allowing Konami to still use these IPs for their silly slot machines. But Sony and Konami...that used to be such a dream team. Great things could happen.

01-31-2022, 06:40 PM	#9
CrowKiller Banned Member since:Feb 2017 4K collection:273 Blu-ray collection:2491 DVD collection:1190 Trading Score:2	lol Bungie. Looks like I'll probably be getting a Series X is go around if I have the desire to upgrade to the current gen. Sony needs something better than this. Eating up Japanese companies could take away a lot of popular in Japan games that could hurt Microsoft's neverending efforts to try and appeal to folks in Japan.

01-31-2022, 06:43 PM	#10
deckard82 Special Member Top contributor Member since:Jun 2012 Location:Germany	MGS1 and SH1 were to video games what The X-Files and Twin Peaks were to television. They just changed the whole ball game. I think most gamers would love to see new big budget MGS and SH games done right. Square Enix and/or Bandai are probably more likely to be acquired though.

01-31-2022, 07:11 PM	#12
NARMAK Blu-ray Prince Member since:Feb 2007 Location:United Kingdom Blu-ray collection:141 Trading Score:18	I genuinely don't understand this deal tbh. They make it sound like Bungie are still independent and releasing games on Xbox. Why not say it will be PS5/PC or something for the platforms if not. The purchase is overpriced and Bungie are not anywhere close to what they used to be. Sony are spending money in a really stupid manner imo. The only real headline without even looking that great is "Hey look, they took Crash from us but we got the guys who made Halo(!)" I genuinely hope this joke ends. MS have won over them twice now. They got Bethesda and a plethora of IPs and did it again with Activision and Sony is left hold the proverbial you know what in their hands.

01-31-2022, 08:36 PM	#16
Zivouhr Blu-ray Grand Duke Member since:Dec 2011 Location:USA 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:127	Interesting news sort of. All these competitors buying up all the studios for themselves. Sony can't even hire enough team members for their PS5 updates, and they're buying Bungie for 4 billion dollars? It's their money, so they can do whatever they think will earn them more, but Destiny? Not a good deal IMO. I guess they want the name Bungie, which made better games in the past I heard, like Halo.

01-31-2022, 10:42 PM	#18
Zivouhr Blu-ray Grand Duke Member since:Dec 2011 Location:USA 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:127	What's odd about this deal is that Sony will allow Bungie to make whatever games they want and market them to not only Sony consoles, but also Microsoft and PC gamers, for a larger market of income, versus hogging it all for the PS5. Why couldn't Bethesda agree to that deal when they signed with MS? I guess we'll find out when Star Field and Elder Scrolls arrive in a few years.

02-01-2022, 12:17 AM	#19
tcripe Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jul 2018 Location:Seattle	So let me get this straight.... Bungie will be owned by Sony but will not report to Sony?

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