NetEase partners with Bungie for Destiny: Rising mobile game
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Chinese publisher NetEase Games has partnered with Bungie to develop and publish new mobile shooter Destiny: Rising.
Based on the Destiny franchise, the title marks the IP’s first foray into the mobile space. Destiny: Rising is described as a free-to-play RPG shooter featuring a number of playable hero characters.
It includes a variety of game modes playable in single-player, co-op and competitive multiplayer. The title is set in an alternate timeline exploring the post-Dark Age era.
Destiny: Rising is set to head for a limited access closed alpha test in November. Those interested can register here.
“With Destiny: Rising, NetEase Games is honoured to partner with Bungie to deliver a Destiny-calibre experience to mobile devices,” said NetEase senior VP Ethan Wang.
“Destiny is an incredible franchise with a passionate and dedicated global fanbase. As huge fans ourselves, we are humbled and thrilled for the opportunity to bring gamers an action-packed RPG shooter set within the Destiny universe.”
Bungie creative lead Terry Redfield added: “For over a decade, we have built this universe to contain many unique and wonderful stories, and we are excited to see mobile gamers be able to experience this new take on the Destiny universe from the creative team at NetEase.”
NetEase ties
A Destiny mobile game has long been rumoured but had yet to be formally announced. Bungie has previous ties with Netease: in June 2018, NetEase invested more than $100 million to acquire a minority stake in the studio.
At the time, NetEase CEO William Ding said the publisher aimed to support Bungie in transforming “from a single franchise development team into a global, multi-franchise entertainment studio”.
A Bungie statement at the time also added the deal would “help us explore new directions”.
NetEase has previously worked with another US developer, Blizzard, to make Diablo Immortal for mobile devices.
Sony acquisition
In 2022, Sony acquired Bungie for $3.6 billion, with the company planning an “accelerations in hiring” across the studio to support its “ambitious vision”.
“We remain in charge of our destiny,” said Bungie CEO Pete Parsons at the time. “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.”
In July, it was announced that Bungie would be laying off 220 staff, accounting for 17% of the studio’s workforce, as it aimed to make “substantial changes” to its cost structure and focus development on Destiny and Marathon.
