To say that Activision has a lot riding on Destiny is an understatement of epic proportions. Bobby Kotick and his Activision comrades are no strangers to investing heavily in the products they believe in, but even by their standards the numbers being thrown around for Destiny are mind-blowing. Bungie's upcoming MMO extravaganza has no other option than to be just about perfect, that's the only way it will come close to matching expectations - expectations of chart-topping Metacritic ratings, and headline-grabbing sales. This is a lot to ask of any game, let alone a brand new IP without the historical fan goodwill that comes with a loved franchise to back it up. But, like many of life's challenges, if you throw enough money at it, it should all work out in the end. Which is the angle Activision is going for with Destiny, and in a big way. CEO Bobby Kotick made a splash across the internet when he revealed that the publisher is "making a $500 million bet" with Destiny - almost double Rockstar's bill for GTA V. But Activision is playing the long game here, and that budget figure takes that into consideration. Development, marketing, MMO infrastructure, launch propaganda and more, and whereas a game like GTA V is for the most part a once-off cost, Destiny is being plotted out over the next decade. A grand concept with a grand price tag. Looking at earnings potential, you would have to assume that Destiny is destined to be huge. With the amount of hype surrounding the title at the moment - heightened by the Beta doing the rounds now - we can assume it will be selling in big numbers right out the gate. Profitability, in immediate terms, would need somewhere around 16 million copies sold... a big ask for most games, but analysts don't see it being a problem. Right now, though, while we wait eagerly for the release date just around the corner, it's all still up in the air. But our money is on Destiny taking care of that $500 million production bill within weeks, if not days.
Game-obsessed since the moment I could twiddle both thumbs independently. Equally enthralled by all the genres of music that your parents warned you about.
