Bungie, the developer behind the popular Destiny franchise, has announced a new addition to the series. Destiny: Rising is an upcoming free sci-fi shooter mobile game by NetEase and Bungie, set to launch on iOS and Android app stores.
The game is being developed following China-based NetEase’s partnership with and $100 million dollar investment in Bungie, in 2018. Bungie let go of more than 200 employees during July this year, making the outcome of their upcoming projects crucial to the company’s success. NetEase is licensing the official Destiny brand from Bungie, giving them complete creative control over Destiny: Rising, including its storyline and overall artistic vision. “We want to capture and depict specific time where the reins are in the hands of the players to experience, to explore, to define,” says Stone Shi, the senior narrative designer at NetEase, according to The Verge.
Destiny: Rising is a mobile “RPG shooter, featuring multi-character-focused action and a wide range of gameplay modes” according to the game’s website. Players will be able to control an ever-expanding “roster of characters,” each with unique features and abilities. The game is set in an alternate timeline many years before Destiny 1 and Destiny 2, giving players the opportunity to see and play as powerful Lightbearers from the series in their formative days.
Single-player, co-op, and competitive multiplayer will all be available in the game, providing variety of gaming experiences. Players can switch between a first-person and third-person point of view as well, using touchscreen controls or controllers. It will feature typical campaign missions and player co-op strikes, along with repeatable PvE and PvP modes.
A release date has not yet been revealed, but the game plans on having its first Closed Alpha Test starting November 1st, available to players in the USA and Canada. Those interested in Destiny: Rising can also pre-register for the game in order to stay up to date with any future updates or announcements.