Bungie’s alien blaster Destiny is being treated as a first-party title by format holder Sony, despite the fact it’s also out on Xbox.
Sony is partnering with publisher Activision to run a series of PlayStation-branded adverts for the science-fiction shoot-’em-up, and has already secured a 12-month exclusivity deal for Destiny DLC.
Speaking during an interview with Eurogamer, PlayStation U.K. chief, Fergal Gara, commented, "We’re treating it, for all intents and purposes internally, as if it’s a first-party release. We’re wrapping our arms around it on all levels of the organisation. It’s a special project and an important project and it has the power to launch Christmas. It’s hugely important."
"I think a lot of people are going to decide now is the time to go and buy a PlayStation 4 because this very ambitious project has come along that looks exciting," said Gara.
"Yes, it’s fantastic to have the exclusive content and the co-marketing, but it’s more than that. It’s a parallel track we’ve ridden together to get to this point. It’s a lovely synergy that we’re also going to have big milestones and set records next week."
"I see it as the launch pad for the whole festive season," he continued. "It comes nice and early in the season. People will go out and get a new console and then they’ll want more games to play on it. It really does kickstart the market for ourselves, retailers and publishers alike."
Destiny is available now for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. Following the game’s launch at midnight, it was confirmed that PS4 had surpassed the one million sales mark in the U.K. Coincidence? Probably not.