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Destiny costing Activision $500 million

According to a report from Reuters, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is quoted as saying the Destiny will see a $500 million investment from the publisher. A spokesperson from Activision told Reuters that the number was accurate, but that it accounted for “marketing, packaging, infrastructure support, royalties and other costs.”

The figure has been compared to the estimated $260 million USD spent developing and marketing Grand Theft Auto V. While GTAV has sold 32 million copies and is nearing $2 billion USD in retail sales it’s the fifth main entry in an established franchise, while Destiny — despite being developed by Halo creators Bungie — is a new, untested IP. However, Destiny is a project with massive scope and a persistently online world that Bungie is planning to support for at least a decade. Maintenance costs, customer support, DLC and continual development will likely be accounted for in the $500 million figure. Grand Theft Auto V on the other hand likely requires much less expenditure to keep GTA Online running.

Acitivision is a publisher that creates event games and franchises and will be looking to do the same with Destiny. If Destiny is a success it will join the likes of Call of Duty, Skylanders and Diablo and if it flounders it will go the way of Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. While at face value $500 million sounds like an excessive amount for one game, but it is important that everything associated with Destiny is accounted for across its multi year planned life-span.

Destiny will be available for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.


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