Overview
Bungie is an American video game developer and publisher known for creating popular first-person shooter franchises such as Halo and Destiny. Founded in 1991, the company has a long history of developing innovative and immersive gaming experiences.
Founding and Early Years
Bungie was founded in Chicago, Illinois, by a group of computer science students at the University of Chicago. The company’s early projects included Operation: Desert Storm and Myth: The Fallen Lords, which established Bungie’s reputation for creating high-quality games with strong storytelling and immersive gameplay.
The Halo Franchise
In 2001, Bungie partnered with Microsoft to develop Halo: Combat Evolved for the Xbox console. Halo became a critical and commercial success, selling over 8 million copies worldwide and revolutionizing the first-person shooter genre. The game’s innovative gameplay, immersive story, and iconic characters made it one of the most popular video game franchises of all time.
Bungie went on to develop Halo 2 (2004), Halo 3 (2007), and Halo 3: ODST (2009), which further expanded the Halo universe and continued to receive critical acclaim.
Acquisition by Microsoft and Expansion
In 2000, Microsoft acquired Bungie and made it a first-party developer for the Xbox platform. This acquisition provided Bungie with significant resources and support, enabling it to explore new creative directions.
In 2010, Bungie announced that it would be ending its exclusive partnership with Microsoft and becoming an independent developer. The company retained the rights to the Halo franchise, while Microsoft would continue to publish future Halo games developed by 343 Industries.
Destiny and Beyond
After leaving Microsoft, Bungie began work on a new franchise called Destiny. Released in 2014, Destiny was a shared-world first-person shooter that combined elements of role-playing games. The game was met with mixed reviews but proved to be a commercial success, selling over 10 million copies worldwide.
Bungie has continued to support Destiny with expansions and updates, and it remains one of the company’s most popular games. In 2019, Bungie announced that it had regained full creative control over the Destiny franchise.
Company Culture and Values
Bungie is known for its strong company culture that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and player feedback. The company has a dedicated team of developers who are passionate about creating immersive and engaging gaming experiences.
Bungie’s values include:
- Player First: Bungie believes that players are at the heart of everything it does. The company listens to player feedback and strives to create games that meet their expectations.
- Collaboration: Bungie encourages its employees to work together and share ideas to create the best possible games.
- Innovation: Bungie is constantly pushing the boundaries of technology and gameplay to create unique and memorable experiences.
- Community: Bungie recognizes the importance of its player community and fosters a sense of belonging and engagement.
Current Projects and Future Outlook
Bungie is currently working on multiple projects, including:
- Destiny 2: Bungie continues to support and update its flagship franchise with new expansions and content.
- Project Matter: A new IP from Bungie that is scheduled to release in 2025.
- Destiny 3: A sequel to Destiny 2 that is rumored to be in early development.
Bungie’s future outlook is bright. The company has a strong track record of creating successful and innovative games, and its dedicated team of developers is committed to delivering exceptional experiences for players around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is Bungie known for?
A: Bungie is known for developing popular first-person shooter franchises such as Halo and Destiny.
Q: When was Bungie founded?
A: Bungie was founded in 1991.
Q: Is Bungie independent?
A: Yes, Bungie became an independent developer in 2010 after ending its exclusive partnership with Microsoft.
Q: What is Bungie’s current project?
A: Bungie is currently working on multiple projects, including Destiny 2 and Project Matter.
Q: When is Destiny 3 expected to be released?
A: Destiny 3 is rumored to be in early development, but no official release date has been announced.
Destiny: The Taken King
"Destiny: The Taken King" is a large-scale expansion pack for the video game "Destiny". It introduces a new campaign, a variety of new enemies, a new playable subclass, and new weapons and armor. The story revolves around a new threat to humanity in the form of Oryx, the Taken King, who has taken control of the Hive and is draining the Light from the Traveler.
The expansion features new missions, strikes, raids, and PvP modes. It also introduces a new mode called "Court of Oryx", where players can face off against Taken enemies and earn powerful rewards. "Destiny: The Taken King" was praised for its engaging and challenging content, as well as its improvements to the core gameplay of "Destiny".
Destiny: Rise of Iron
Destiny: Rise of Iron is the third expansion in the Destiny franchise. It was released on September 20, 2016, on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Set in the Plaguelands, an expansion of the Cosmodrome, the story centers on the player’s Guardian joining forces with Lord Saladin and the Iron Lords to defeat a new threat: the SIVA-corrupted Fallen, led by the Devil Splicers. Players explore new areas, participate in new missions and raids, and acquire new weapons and armor.
Rise of Iron also introduces a new social space, the Iron Temple, and a new mode called Supremacy, a 6v6 Crucible playlist where the objective is to capture and hold control points.
Destiny: The Witch Queen
Destiny: The Witch Queen is the fourth major expansion for the popular online-only first-person shooter video game Destiny 2, developed by Bungie. It was released on February 22, 2022, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
The expansion introduces a new campaign that follows the Guardian’s investigation into the hive god Savathûn’s plan to steal the Light. It also introduces a new destination, Savathûn’s Throne World, and a new raid, Vow of the Disciple.
Other new features include the Glaive, a new weapon type, and the Void 3.0 subclass, which allows players to customize their Void abilities to a greater extent.
Destiny: Beyond Light
DLC for Destiny 2 released on November 10, 2020.
Key Features:
- New Destination: Europa: A frozen moon of Jupiter with a desolate wilderness, hidden secrets, and the mysterious Pyramid spaceship.
- Stasis Subclass: A new elemental subclass for all classes, allowing Guardians to wield ice and darkness powers.
- Deep Stone Crypt Raid: A 6-player raid set within a massive Exo research facility on Europa.
- No Time to Explain Exotic Pulse Rifle: A powerful exotic weapon obtained through a time-bending questline.
- Beyond Light Campaign: A cinematic campaign that explores the rise of the Darkness and its effects on the Guardians.
- Variks as an Ally: The Fallen Kell of the House of Judgment joins forces with the Guardians to combat the Darkness.
- Improved Gameplay: Enhancements to the core Destiny 2 experience, including overhauled weapon systems, sunsetting of old gear, and a new way to focus engrams.
Destiny: Season of the Splicer
Season of the Splicer is the 13th season of Destiny 2, a science fiction first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie. The season was released on May 11, 2021 and lasted until August 24, 2021.
The season’s main story revolves around the Vex, a race of time-traveling robots, who have invaded the Last City and are attempting to alter the timeline to their advantage. The Guardians, a group of powerful warriors, must team up with the Splicers, a group of Guardians who can hack into the Vex’s network, to prevent the Vex from succeeding.
The season introduced a new activity called Override, where players must capture Vex points and defeat a powerful Vex boss. The Override activity also introduced a new mechanic called Splicing, which allows players to temporarily disable Vex enemies by hacking into their systems.
The season also introduced a new raid called Vault of Glass, a remastered version of the original raid from the first Destiny game. The Vault of Glass is a six-player raid that requires players to solve puzzles and defeat powerful enemies in order to reach the final boss, Atheon, Time’s Conflux.
Season of the Splicer was a well-received season by players, with praise for its story, activities, and new raid. The season helped to set up the events of the upcoming expansion, Beyond Light, which was released on November 10, 2020.
Destiny: Season of the Lost
In Destiny’s Season of the Lost, Guardians uncover the mysteries of Savathûn’s Throne World and delve into the Lost Realm to recover lost souls. They encounter Mara Sov, the Queen of the Awoken, who teams up to confront Savathûn and reclaim the Light stolen by the Hive goddess. Hunters investigate the astral projection known as the Astral Alignment, while Warlocks delve into the realm of Ascendant Challenges to confront nightmares of the past. Titans engage in a new activity called Expedition, searching for hidden secrets and caches among the scattered platforms of the Shattered Realm. Through the season’s narrative and quests, Guardians confront the themes of loss, redemption, and the eternal fight against darkness.
Destiny: The 30th Anniversary Pack
The 30th Anniversary Pack is a commemorative pack released for Destiny 2 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Bungie franchise. The pack features a new dungeon, Dares of Eternity, which is a six-player matchmade activity that takes place in a new realm of Xur’s Treasure Hoard. The dungeon offers a variety of rewards, including new weapons, armor, and cosmetics.
In addition to the dungeon, the pack also includes a new Gjallarhorn Exotic Rocket Launcher, which is a fan-favorite weapon from the original Destiny. The pack also includes a new set of armor inspired by the Marathon trilogy, which was Bungie’s first major franchise.
The 30th Anniversary Pack is a significant addition to Destiny 2, and it offers a variety of new content and rewards for players to enjoy. It is a must-have for any fan of the Destiny franchise.
Destiny: Season of the Risen
In this captivating season, Guardians venture into the depths of a mysterious Pyramid to confront the ruthless Hive god, Savathûn. Armed with the newly acquired Scorn weapons known as Nightmare Decrypts, they embark on a quest to unveil the secrets surrounding her cunning plan.
As they delve deeper into the Pyramid, they encounter the enigmatic Caiatl, leader of the Cabal. A complex alliance forms between the Guardians and the Cabal, bringing them closer to unraveling Savathûn’s intricate scheme. The season also introduces a new Exotic mission, "Vox Obscura," where players engage in a high-stakes battle against Savathûn’s forces, testing their skills and determination.
Destiny 2: Season of the Haunted
In Destiny 2’s Season of the Haunted, Guardians confront the nightmares of their past as the Leviathan returns from the depths of Luna. Haunted by specters of their fallen comrades, Guardians must venture into the Nightmare Containment to confront their fears and uncover the truth behind the Darkness.
Key features of the season include:
- New Nightmare Containment activity: Engage in a matchmade horde mode against hordes of Nightmares, purging them while protecting the ritual that releases them.
- Return of the Derelict Leviathan: Explore the Leviathan under a sinister guise, where horrors from the past haunt the present.
- New weapons and gear: Acquire powerful weapons and armor themed around the Season of the Haunted’s haunting aesthetic.
- Seasonal story and characters: Embark on a gripping narrative that unveils the secrets of the Nightmare Containment and the Darkness lurking in the shadows.
- In-game event: Participate in a limited-time in-game event that offers additional rewards and challenges related to the season’s theme.
NetEase Games
NetEase Games is a Chinese video game developer and publisher established in 1997. A subsidiary of NetEase, the company has offices in multiple countries, including the United States, Japan, and South Korea. NetEase Games is known for developing and publishing popular mobile, PC, and console games, including:
- Onmyoji Arena
- Identity V
- Diablo Immortal (in partnership with Blizzard Entertainment)
- Naraka: Bladepoint
- Total War: Elysium (in partnership with Creative Assembly)
The company has a strong presence in the Chinese gaming market and has expanded its reach globally. NetEase Games is known for its innovative and high-quality games, as well as its commitment to user experience and community engagement.
Bungie Day
Bungie Day is an annual celebration held by Bungie, a video game development studio known for the Halo and Destiny franchises. It is typically held on July 7th, the anniversary of the studio’s founding in 1991. The event features various activities and rewards for players, including:
- In-game rewards: Bungie awards exclusive items and cosmetics to players in its games, such as Destiny 2 and Halo Infinite.
- Community events: The studio hosts live streams, Q&A sessions, and other online events where players can interact with developers and learn more about upcoming projects.
- Merchandise giveaways: Bungie often releases limited-edition merchandise and collectibles tied to their games during Bungie Day.
- Fan art and creations: Players are encouraged to share their fan art, cosplay, and other creations inspired by Bungie’s games.
Mobile Games
Mobile games are video games designed specifically for portable devices such as smartphones and tablets. They are typically designed with shorter play sessions and intuitive controls to cater to the on-the-go nature of mobile gaming. The market for mobile games has grown exponentially in recent years, with a wide variety of titles available in different genres, from casual games to AAA blockbusters. Mobile games are often free-to-play or offer a freemium model, relying on microtransactions for revenue. As technology continues to advance, mobile games will likely continue to evolve and offer new and innovative gaming experiences.
Destiny Mobile Game
Destiny, the popular first-person shooter game, has expanded to mobile devices with "Destiny 2: The Legendary Campaign." Players can experience the iconic story campaign and engage in fireteam-based activities on their smartphones. The mobile version offers a streamlined interface and optimized controls for mobile gameplay. Users can play solo or team up with others to conquer challenging encounters and earn rewards.