We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of "Playing the Edge." Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!
Destiny launches at midnight tonight, but developer Bungie says gamers shouldn’t trust early scorecards from reviewers that don’t have the “time or patience” to do the game justice.
The release of the highly anticipated, $500 million first-person shooter (PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One) is potentially the video game event of the year. However, Destiny developer Bungie only distributed review copies of the game today, explaining that it wants reviewers to experience Destiny with thousands of gamers populating its worlds.
“Typically, games receive their report cards before they become available to the public,” said Bungie community manager David Dague in a weekly update. “We don’t believe Destiny is a typical shooter.”
Destiny is a first-person shooter at heart, but it features cooperative and multiplayer elements that are deeply embedded in its build. Bungie feels that reviewers have to experience the game online, alongside thousands of other players, to get the full effect. “Without a vibrant population for the last safe city on Earth and Guardians roaming the wild frontiers, Destiny is a shadow of what it should be” said Dague. “That’s not how we wanted to submit for review.”
Event
GamesBeat Next 2023
Join the GamesBeat community in San Francisco this October 24-25. You’ll hear from the brightest minds within the gaming industry on latest developments and their take on the future of gaming.
So Bungie has taken what it says is a risk, aware that some rushed reviews of the game will appear on day one regardless.
“We fully anticipate seeing day one reviews from folks who decide to kick the tires,” said Dague, “but don’t have the time or patience to take our ride for a nice, long road trip.”
He added that gamers might want to wait for more rounded reviews to appear before they pick up a copy of Destiny. “We’re okay with that,” said Dague. “We’ve created something we’re proud of.”
Dague noted that early Destiny gamers will be rubbing shoulders with the “pagaent judges,” saying: “Who knows, you may end up on one of their live streams. They may end up on one of yours, too!”
GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.