2 Attachment(s)
More Signs Point to Microsoft Acquiring Destiny Dev Bungie
While getting off to a very slow start in this console generation, Microsoft has made significant moves under the leadership of Phil Spencer to improve the Xbox One ecosystem. With the next generation of consoles arriving next month, Microsoft is looking to get a better jump out of the gates and part of doing so is to show people the benefits of services like xCloud Streaming, Game Pass, and of course games. The company has already scooped up Bethesda to join its rapidly expanding Xbox Game Studios label, though more rumors have surfaced regarding another potential purchase possibly looming.
Last month, rumors originating from the GamesBeat podcast began swirling regarding a possible acquisition of Bungie by Microsoft, ultimately reuniting the two after their previous work together on the Halo franchise. With a new expansion due out in November and a massive popular game in Destiny 2, the time appeared right to have the studio join its first party lineup. However, the sources indicated that the deal fell through over Bungie's high price, which ultimately led Microsoft to turn its attention to Bethesda instead.
While Bungie CEO Pete Parsons called the acquisition rumors false, it appears that the acquisition rumors aren't quite over as many thought. XboxEra did a bit more digging on the subject and has come across more information regarding a recently appointed officer role. In the United States, when a company gets acquired, a person is added as an officer at the company who handles service of process on behalf of the corporation.
All of these filings can be found online for the US studios purchased by Microsoft including Obsidian Entertainment, ZeniMax Media, and even Sony's purchase of Insomniac. What's interesting is that Bungie now shows the same Corporation Service Agent listing as well, a strange thing to see for a company that has indicated it's not getting purchased.
While the agent listing doesn't signify the parent corporation, the listing is filed under "credit, KYC" which is typically done in advance of a purchase. According to opencorporates.com, KYC is essentially the early stages of an acquisition where the corporation assesses risks and verifies the identity of the company. It's unknown if this will ultimately lead to anything, but for Xbox and Destiny fans, it's certainly worth keeping an eye on.
Recently, both Microsoft and Bungie have been working together to bring the massively popular shooter Destiny 2 to Game Pass. Last month, the company placed the game as well as all of its current expansions onto the service, bringing a whole new sections of players into the experience. Next month when Beyond Light launches, Game Pass players will also be able to get their hands on it as well, day and date with the other platforms.
