Bungie announces Destiny release date, delays beta

Bungie's first post-Halo project, the shared-world shooter Destiny, will launch worldwide on September 9, 2014, the developer announced today. The game's official release will be preceded by a beta period that will begin in summer 2014 first on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, before coming to Xbox One and Xbox 360 sometime later.

That's a bit of a delay from the beta's previously announced "early 2014" start date. Bungie is treating the game's beta period, in some ways, like a full product launch. The only way to secure a spot in the Destiny beta is by preordering the game.

"Destiny has always represented a new beginning for our team," Bungie said. "It was born from brave possibilities. We dreamed of a renewed and independent Bungie. We found partners willing to bet big on some crazy new ideas with us."

"Every new build brings us closer to our original vision," the studio went on. "With those goals in sight, we intend to use every moment from now until the release of the game to ensure that Destiny lives up to your expectations, and our own."

Destiny is Bungie's first game with Activision from its ten-year exclusive publishing deal with the Call of Duty company. Three additional titles in the series are rumored to be in development for release every second year after Destiny's debut in 2014. For the years in between, downloadable content is believed to be in the pipeline.

Bungie COO Pete Parsons said in August that the game has the potential to surpass the impact of Halo and sit on people's shelves next to franchises like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings.