Electronics giant and PlayStation maker Sony announced plans on Monday to spend $3600 billion at Bungie, the big game maker behind Destiny and the wildly popular Halo, and that's just the beginning of the spending spree. .
The unexpected announcement came on the heels of last week's surprising news that Xbox maker Microsoft was planning to take over Activision Blizzard, for which the Japanese company responded with its own major game acquisition.
“I want to make it very clear to the community that Bungie will continue to be an independent, cross-platform studio and publisher,” Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said in a blog post announcing the news. "As such, we think it makes sense for him to sit alongside the PlayStation Studios organization, and we're incredibly excited about the opportunities for synergies and collaboration between these two world-class groups."
The news comes just a week after Microsoft announced its intention to acquire game maker Activision Blizzard for €68,7 billion, making the €3,6 billion deal almost insignificant. But appearances can be deceiving: few studios have the scale of Activision, meaning any offering would pale in comparison. And if Sony were to go on a buying spree, it could quickly create a huge gaming divide and widen the gap between PlayStation and Xbox.
https://twitter.com/Bungie/status/1488211903482527744
Bungie creates games with exceptional technology that are extremely fun to play,” added Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios. "They also have an unparalleled dedication to the communities that play their games, and everyone at PlayStation and PlayStation Studios will be delighted with what we can share and learn from them."
"Bungie has created and continues to develop some of the world's most beloved video game franchises, and by aligning their values with people's desire for shared gaming experiences, they unite millions of people around the world," said Kenichiro Yoshida, president and chief executive officer. from Sony Group. Corporation, he said in a statement. “We will use the diverse array of Sony Group entertainment and technology resources to support the future evolution of Bungie and its ability to create iconic worlds across multiple platforms and media.”
And that is just the beginning.
In an exclusive interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Ryan described the move as the start of the company's plans. In other words, other acquisitions are clearly on the way.
“Wait more,” he said.