‘Destiny’ is the most preordered video game IP in history

“Destiny”, the ambitious “shared-world” first-person shooter from the same folks who gave us Halo, is now the “most preordered new video game IP in history,” according to publisher Activision.

Eric Hirshberg, the CEO of Activision Publishing, is confident that “Destiny” will meet the same kind of success that Halo continues to enjoy to this day.

“Destiny has been a labor of love and a remarkable creative journey for everyone at Activision and Bungie,” said Hirshberg in a statement.

“We feel that we have the opportunity to launch something huge—not just into the gaming landscape, but the pop cultural landscape. Arriving at our launch day with this much support and enthusiasm from fans and retailers is downright exciting. Moments like this just don't come around very often.”

“Destiny is the game we’ve always wanted to make,” said Harold Ryan, the president of “Destiny” developer, Bungie. “We’ve dreamt of this universe for years, so we couldn’t be more thrilled to swing open the doors and let fans shape this experience as they tell their unique stories in the game. For us, the next generation of games is all about allowing players to collide and interact with each other as they take on epic, action-packed adventures all their own.”

Guardians of Humanity

“Destiny” is a sci-fi epic set seven hundred years in the future, (http://bit.ly/1wcyUav) after a catastrophic event known as “the Collapse” put an abrupt and devastating end to Humanity’s Golden Age of peace, space exploration, and unprecedented technological growth. Now on the brink of extinction, the few surviving Humans on Earth find themselves on the receiving end of massive alien attacks.

The player enters the game as one of the “Guardians” – warriors able to wield the mysterious energy of “the Traveler”, the celestial construct whose arrival in the Solar System centuries ago ignited the Golden Age. Guardians are now given an impossible set of tasks, including defending our home planet and the last remnants of Humanity; investigating the nature of the extraterrestrial threat hell-bent on Humanity’s annihilation; reclaiming our colonies throughout space; and reviving the once powerful but now dormant Traveler.

Players get to choose from three playable races: the militaristic Humans; the exotic, bluish-gray-skinned Awoken; and the self-aware machines known as the Exo. During their travels, Guardians will be accompanied by “Ghost”, a robot artificial intelligence voiced by Peter Dinklage of “Game of Thrones” fame.

Destined for greatness

According to Activision, “Destiny” has received 180 awards and nominations prior to its release. July’s “Destiny” beta saw 4.6 million people playing the game. On its official launch date, which is this September 9, the full game is expected to draw in “millions” of players.

The game will also be receiving two major expansions this December. Both will come complete with new story missions, additional gear including weapons and armor, extra multiplayer maps, and cooperative activities.

“Destiny” will be available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. — TJD, GMA News