‘Destiny’ PC Version Getting The ‘GTA V’ Treatment From Activision
Destiny was finally released Tuesday to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One next-gen consoles plus the last-gen consoles, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. PC gamers were seemingly left out in the cold by Bungie, but the door hasn’t been shut completely, according to Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg. In fact, the executive is being so coy that it seems like déjà vu with Take-Two Interactive and the PC version of Grand Theft Auto V.
Hirshberg spoke with Polygon about why Destiny is releasing on both next-gen and last-gen platforms. Essentially, the multi-generational release is to get the game in as many hands possible. Completely unsurprising at this point, but the CEO gets into discussing a possible PC release.
“It is [a good fit], and it’s something we’re talking about and looking at very carefully, and obviously it makes a lot of sense with the genre and the type of game it is,” Hirshberg stated.
“Again, no announcements, but it’s something that’s a heavy point of discussion. And you asked how are we dealing with the complexity of developing for so many platforms, how about one more on top of that?” he continued.
“You know, developing on PC is a different animal than developing for consoles and so we just want to make sure that we’re putting one foot in front of the other and getting it right, and that it’s of the highest possible quality. But obviously I see the same things about the natural fit.”
Hirshberg’s statement basically implies that Destiny for the PC is a matter of when, not if. Gamers went through a similar bout of word play with the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC releases for GTA V before all three systems were officially announced by Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games at E3 in June. Of course, there’s still not a release date, but a mid-November release is currently anticipated after fears that it would be delayed to 2015.
As you begin your adventure in Destiny, we are watching. Thank you for joining us in this brave new world. See you starside.
— Bungie (@Bungie) September 9, 2014
Hirsberg does have a point about developing Destiny for the PC on top of four other platforms, however. Bungie last developed a PC release in 2001 with Oni. Afterwards, the developer was purchased by Microsoft to create the Halo franchise for the Xbox. PC ports of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 were handled by other studios. Additionally, several cross-gen games have seen their next-gen release handled by the main developer and the last-gen releases supported by other studios. This includes Titanfall, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and Forza Horizon 2, among others.
So yes, Bungie likely had its hands full bringing Destiny out to PlayStation and Xbox platforms to begin with. Now the question is how long it will take the game to reach the PC and whether the development work will be handled by Bungie or another of Activision’s studios. A 2014 release seems very dicey at this point.
Are you holding off on a PC release for Destiny? Let us know in the comments below.
[Images via Bungie]
