Jim Ryan, head of Sony Interactive Entertainment, spoke about the significance of the Bungie acquisition deal for the future of the PlayStation. We are talking about further investments in the multiplatform, the creation of game services and development beyond one console. At the same time, other major purchases should be expected from Sony in the future.Destiny 2
Ryan shared these details in a new interview with the publication GamesIndustry.biz .
We have selected the key points from the conversation.
- As stated in the press release dedicated to the deal, all Bungie projects will remain multiplatform, and the studio itself will have the right to work with any publishers. In return, Sony will receive the expertise of Destiny creators in the production of large online game services.According to Ryan, it was the easiest way to agree on such conditions:
- “This approach will extend to future Bungie releases. It’s not up for discussion.”Using the example of its own internal studios, PlayStation understands how important it is for Bungie to maintain creative independence.
- Sony’s task is to provide developers with all the necessary tools to realize their vision and potential.Ryan separately stressed that one of the key tasks of PlayStation today is to go beyond its main console and significantly expand its audience on other devices.
- To do this, the company began investing in a multiplatform and services. The purchase of Bungie should accelerate Sony’s development in these areas.”From a philosophical point of view, we are not talking about transferring all products to the PlayStation world, but about creating huge and beautiful new worlds together,” Ryan said.
- According to him, the company has already formed a clear plan to create new ways for players to interact with their favorite brands and PlayStation characters.
- However, the company is not ready to share specific details yet.On the one hand, Sony had the resources to create game services by internal studios.
- On the other hand, it is much better to enlist the support of an experienced partner in the person of Bungie. According to Ryan, the studio’s expertise will help significantly reduce the development time of such projects and avoid annoying mistakes.Bungie’s internal problems related to racism, sexism and discrimination in the workplace also became an important point in the negotiations.
- Ryan noted that Sony adheres to extremely high standards of corporate culture and expects the same from its partners. During the negotiations, PlayStation was impressed with how Bungie solves these problems and organizes its work.Ryan also stressed that the purchase of Bungie is by no means a response to Microsoft’s deal to acquire Activision Blizzard and other activities in the M&A market.
- PlayStation has been preparing for the deal for several months and acted solely in its own interests.For Sony, the purchase of Bungie for $3.6 billion is a serious purchase, since the company has limited financial resources.
- However, the company still has something to say in the field of investments and transactions: “We should definitely expect new acquisitions.
- We are by no means finished. We still have a long way to go with PlayStation,” Ryan concluded.