Bungie’s Destiny franchise is expanding to a new platform with Destiny: Rising, a fresh entry designed specifically for mobile devices.
This free-to-play sci-fi RPG shooter will be a “brand-new adventure set in an alternate Destiny timeline,” according to a news release from developer and publisher NetEase, and will go through a narrative set in the franchise’s post-Dark Age era.
Unlike the blank-slate Hunters, Titans, and Warlocks of Destiny 2, Destiny: Rising will introduce playable heroes known as Lightbearers—“a diverse roster of characters, each with unique abilities and stories,” NetEase explained.
The mobile spinoff will feature a shared world similar to Bungie’s Destiny setting, offering single-player, cooperative, and competitive multiplayer experiences.
This includes six-player Strikes, as well as PvE and PvP modes inspired by past Destiny games.
NetEase also promises new game modes and innovative ways to play in Destiny: Rising.
The mobile adaptation will offer both first-person and third-person perspectives, and players can choose between touchscreen controls or dedicated controllers for gameplay.
The story of Destiny: Rising will take place in an “unseen era” following the collapse of civilization and the Dark Age.
“With the help of legendary Iron Lords, humanity has broken free from the shackles of tyranny and begun to rally together against alien forces intent on its extinction,” NetEase shared in a synopsis.
“Amidst the chaos of this early age for The City, a new generation of Lightbearers, resurrected by mysterious entities known as Ghosts, sets out to restore humanity’s prominence and secure its future.”
Each Lightbearer will have a distinct combat style, and players won’t be limited to the specific classes found in Destiny 2. They will also wield “countless powerful exotic weapons,” ranging from guns and swords to crossbows and more.
NetEase emphasized that Destiny: Rising is being licensed and overseen by Bungie.
“For over a decade, we have built this universe to contain many unique and wonderful stories, and we are excited to see mobile gamers be able to experience this new take on the Destiny universe from the creative team at NetEase,” said Terry Redfield, creative lead at Bungie, in a statement.
While no release date has been announced for Destiny: Rising, a “limited access closed alpha test” is scheduled for November. Interested players can sign up for the test on the Destiny: Rising website.
NetEase is known for developing and publishing a range of spinoffs of established franchises, including Diablo Immortal with Blizzard Entertainment, Eve Echoes with CCP, and Dead by Daylight Mobile with Behaviour Interactive.
The company also publishes original free-to-play hits like Naraka: Bladepoint and Once Human.
In 2018, NetEase invested more than $100 million in Bungie to “accelerate Bungie’s vision of becoming a global, multi-franchise entertainment company.”
