Following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $673, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on Jan. 31 that it was acquiring Fortune series developer Bungie for $3.6 billion, the latest in a series of large consolidation deals in the gaming industry. Upon completion of the transaction, Bungie will become an independent subsidiary of SIE, managed by a board of directors comprised of current CEO and chairman Pete Parsons and other members of the studio's current management team.
Sony said Bungie will remain a multi-platform studio that will be able to self-publish and reach players on any gaming platform. Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, Bungie has more than 900 employees and is the developer of the multiplayer shooter series Destiny and Halo. Currently, the studio is committed to maintaining Destiny 2, expanding the Destiny series, and working on developing new IPs.
Jim Ryan, President and CEO of SIE, said: "We have had a strong partnership with Bungie since the start of the Destiny franchise and I am very excited to officially welcome the studio to the PlayStation family. We understand the importance of the Bungie community to the studio and look forward to supporting them as they remain independent and continue to grow." Like Bungie, our community is at the heart of the PlayStation DNA, and our shared passion for gamers and building the best places to play will now grow even further. ”
Pete Parsons, CEO of Bungie, said: "SIE supports the dual goal of the studio, which is to produce intergenerational entertainment while remaining creatively independent. Both Bungie and SIE believe that the game world is just the beginning of our IP, that our original universe has great potential, and with the support of SIE, we will push Bungie to become a global multimedia entertainment company committed to realizing our creative vision." ”
In addition to acquiring studios, Sony has also invested in PS5 exclusive games by working with several independent studios. Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, said Bungie's technical expertise and experience building the community will be shared among other developers at SIE.