Destiny Rising, a mobile game set in the Destiny universe, features new heroes, story missions, strikes, and PvP. Sources reveal minimal Bungie involvement and development led by NetEase.
Rumors about a Destiy mobile game, titled Destiny Rising and codenamed “Viper,” have been circulating for a while, and recent insider information has shed new light on this upcoming mobile game.
First reported by The Game Post in 2022, it looks like this title is nearing official reveal as a new domain and social media accounts related to the name “Destiny Rising” were recently spotted online.
Despite skepticism from the core Destiny fanbase, Destiny Rising appears to be a fully-fledged Destiny experience but on mobile devices, featuring PvP, story missions, strikes, and a raid, according to multiple sources familiar with the project.
Destiny Rising: Bungie’s Failed Co-Development Negotiations With NetEase
Earlier this month, Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb revealed that Destiny Rising is being primarily developed by NetEase, with “not a lot of people from Bungie working on it.” While Bungie’s role now is significantly reduced, it appears that wasn’t always the case.
At the start of Destiny Rising’s development, Bungie was heavily involved, to the point where it sought to renegotiate the contract with NetEase to establish a co-development partnership, according to one source familiar with the project. However, when these negotiations fell through, Bungie reduced its role, scaling back its involvement significantly.
As of recently, Bungie’s contribution was largely limited to providing Narrative and Support, offering visual assets such as character models and references, with about five or six staff members working on the project.
Destiny Rising Mobile: New Gameplay Details
Sources tell us that Destiny Rising is a third-person shooter and has a variety of gameplay modes that should feel familiar to longtime Destiny fans. The core gameplay includes elements like PvP, strikes, and story missions. The gunplay closely mirrors that of Destiny 2, capturing much of the same look and feel.
Additionally, we’ve heard from a separate source that a new raid was in the works, though it’s unclear if this is still on track for release as this information is a bit old.
One major gameplay change in Destiny Rising is the focus on hero characters, according to multiple sources. Players will play as pre-defined heroes, some of whom will be new to the universe, with others being recognizable figures from the lore.
As for the storyline, we’ve heard that Destiny Rising is a prequel to Destiny’s main story. One source mentioned that the original story was set during the Warlord era. However, it’s unclear if NetEase is still following this direction or if the story has shifted during development.
Despite featuring many elements from Destiny 2, Destiny Rising is a completely separate title, meaning players won’t be able to transfer any progress from Destiny 2. This includes characters, weapons, armor, and other items.
The monetization model for this project remains uncertain, particularly in light of the heavy backlash NetEase faced for the controversial microtransactions in its mobile game, Diablo Immortal. This has raised concerns about whether similar practices will be applied here.
The target audience for the Destiny Rising mobile game isn’t necessarily the core Destiny fanbase. Instead, it’s aimed at tapping into the massive mobile gaming market, particularly in the Asia region, where mobile games dominate the industry.
The Game Post has contacted Bungie and NetEase for a comment and will update this story with any further information.
Zuhaad is a reporter for The Game Post. You can reach him anonymously and securely at [email protected].
