Destiny: Rising is a free-to-play mobile game from Diablo Immortal developer Bungie “provides oversight and approvals”

The long-rumored Destiny mobile game has finally become a reality, with the announcement offering a first-time trailer and word of a closed alpha test on November 1st.

Destiny: Rising is a free-to-play sci-fi RPG set within the Destiny universe that Bungie has spent the last decade building. But this new Destiny game on mobile wasn’t developed or even published by Bungie itself. It is developed and published by NetEase Games, the Chinese giant behind the likes of Diablo Immortal, Once Human and the upcoming Marvel Rivals, under an official license granted by Bungie.

In 2018, NetEase invested over $100 million in Bungie to build a new game. The investment gave NetEase a minority stake in Bungie and a seat on its board, but that all changed when Sony bought Bungie for $3.7 billion in 2022.

Destiny: Rising™, a brand new Mobile Epic Sci-Fi RPG shooter: ✨ https://t.co/cxUuUfrcL0

He carried the light of a bygone age. Bringing hope to a time before the Guardians. Save humanity and rise to the challenge.

Pre-register now to get #High Destiny Alpha closed in November. pic.twitter.com/sRBGIIO3yQ

– Destiny Rising (@_DestinyRising) October 14, 2024

Now, two years after Sony’s purchase and six years of NetEase’s investment, Destiny: Rising is a reality. While NetEase is the developer and publisher of Destiny: Rising, Bungie “provides oversight and approvals for the game’s development.”

In terms of gameplay, Destiny: Rising has first-person and third-person options, with the player able to switch between them at will. Destiny: Rising supports touch controls and supports PlayStation and Xbox controllers, as well as mobile controllers.

While Destiny: Rising takes place within the Destiny universe, it takes place in an alternate Destiny timeline. Explores the story in the post-Dark Age era (the era that occurred after the collapse of the Golden Age of Fate). Here is the official blurb:

As the genesis of new possibilities in the Destiny Universe, Destiny: Rising delves into an unseen era where thriving hope once again flourishes after the terrifying collapse of civilization and the dangers of the resulting Dark Age. With the help of the legendary Iron Lords, humanity breaks free from the shackles of tyranny and begins to band together against alien forces bent on their extinction. Amid the chaos of this early era of the city, a new generation of Lightbearers, resurrected by mysterious entities known as Ghosts, set out to restore humanity’s significance and secure its future.

NetEase Games said there will be single-player, co-op and competitive multiplayer gameplay, including “beloved” game modes familiar to Destiny players, and brand new modes. There are campaign missions and six-player co-op strikes that are considered “iconic” in the Destiny franchise. Maybe we’ll get something along the lines of Destiny 1’s Cerberus Vae III strike, whether we want it or not.

As for characters, expect “familiar” faces from Destiny as well as completely new characters. There’s clan support, “fun and casual” party modes, and customizable shared spaces.

Environments include the Haven (a refuge for Lightbearers and survivors), the icy ancient Jiangshi Metro, and the barren expanse of the Red Sea Rift. As expected, Destiny: Rising’s exotic weapons are the franchise’s signature weapons.

“For over a decade, we’ve built this universe with so many unique and fascinating stories, and we’re excited to see mobile gamers being able to experience this new version of the Destiny universe from the creative team at NetEase,” commented Terry Redfield. Creative lead at Bungie.

The announcement of Destiny: Rising comes at a difficult time for Bungie and the Destiny series after mass layoffs occurred at the legendary studio earlier this year. In September, Bungie revealed what it called “major changes” to Destiny 2 Designed for recovering players. Bungie is said to be struggling to meet key financial goals, with Destiny 2 underperforming significantly last year. Final shape The expansion, released in June, is said to have sold less at launch than 2023’s critically panned Lightfall.

In a Share LinkedInDon McGowan, former general counsel at Bungie, reacted to Destiny 2’s changes to say he was pleased with parent company Sony’s clear influence in the decision-making process, which, he said, means the studio is finally “running the game like a business.” “.

Bungie reportedly has no plans for Destiny 3 and has canceled a Destiny sub-project known as Payback. Development on Marathon revival It is said that it is still ongoing.

In December, IGN reported what it looks like A scramble by Bungie studio leadership to avoid a full takeover by Sony. Then, in March, IGN reported on it Changing leadership at Marathon Which included removing longtime Bungie designer Christopher Barrett from the role of game director.

Wesley is IGN’s UK news editor. You can find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].