With Activision and former Infinity Ward heads West and Zampella currently embroiled in a fierce legal battle, the publisher has been forced to publish the contract they have with Halo developer Bungie.
The April 2010 contract available on the LA Times outlines the four game plan for “Destiny” – the series’ codename at the time. Fall 2013 will see the release of the first game in the “sci-fantasy, action shooter” series for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox (if out), with future series entries set for 2015, 2017 and 2019.
In the years we don’t see a Destiny release, downloadable expansion packs codenamed “Comet” are to be released – in fall 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
The first Destiny title and its “major downloadable content expansion pack” Comet will be developed for the Xbox 360 and the “Xbox 720,” according to the contract.
In fall 2014, the developer and publisher will have the option to release the first Destiny game on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.
The second Destiny game will “be compatible with the Xbox 360, Xbox 720 and the Sony PlayStation 4” and Windows PCs.
The Destiny franchise is described in the document as a “massively-multiplayer-style” with a “client based mission structures with persistent elements.”
Activision also has the right to take over Desting if Bungie fails to meet its requirements, but does say that it will not begin more Destiny projects until Bungie has completed its four games and DLC.
Marathon (Bungie’s 1994 sci-fi FPS) fans will be happy to note that the contract mentions that the developer is working on a prototype for a new Marathon game, but sadly the studio cannot dedicate more than 5% of its staff to working on the title, with the team size allowed to grow after specific operating income..
What do you think about the fact that the first Destiny game will be a Microsoft timed exclusive? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
