If everything goes in Microsoft's favor then it will soon own the Call of Duty franchise, and it will be able to cement itself as the biggest name in the FPS genre. While Call of Duty will likely remain on PlayStation for the foreseeable future, Xbox will have a significant edge in the FPS market going forward. If Sony wants to compete in that space, then it may want to tap the newly acquired Bungie to kickstart a brand-new first-party FPS franchise.
Besides Activision and DICE, Bungie may be the biggest name in the FPS genre. The studio created two major sci-fi FPS franchises, and it has amassed a large fanbase over the years. The studio has shown that it knows how to make a fun FPS title, and it has recently become an independent subsidiary of Sony. While the studio's focus is currently on Destiny 2 content, it could be the key to giving Sony a fighting chance in the FPS genre.
Bungie is a Major Player Within the FPS Genre
Bungie's main focus has been the FPS genre ever since it started the Halo franchise in 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved. The gameplay and world that Bungie created was beloved, and proved to be a great system seller for the original Xbox. The studio's first foray into the genre is often considered one of the greatest video games ever made, and it would go on to spawn one of the biggest multimedia franchises around.
Many people have argued that Xbox would not be where it is today without Halo, and that is largely because of Bungie. The Halo franchise was a major part of the original Xbox and Xbox 360 eras, and each entry proved to be more successful than the last. The original trilogy is widely regarded as one of the best FPS trilogies on the market. Not content with just making Halo games for the rest of its lifespan, Bungie would end up releasing the acclaimed Halo: Reach before going independent to kickstart another FPS series.
Alongside Activision Blizzard, Bungie created the Destiny franchise which brought players on a brand-new sci-fi adventure. While it was far from perfect, Destiny's core gameplay was just as much fun as the original Halo trilogy was. It was also a commercial success, and Bungie would go on to release the sequel in 2017. Destiny 2 improved upon many of the flaws of the first game, and the studio has continued churning out content ever since it hit store shelves. It may not reach the heights of the original Halo trilogy, but both games have further cemented Bungie as a powerhouse within the FPS market.
PlayStation Needs a Call of Duty Competitor
After ending its publishing deal with Activision in 2019, Bungie had a brief indie stint before it was officially acquired by Sony in 2022. The studio remains independent underneath Sony, and its titles remain multi-platform. This has allowed Sony to carve out a part of the FPS genre for itself, and will likely lead to even more Destiny adventures in the future. However, it could mean much more than that.
It seems like the perfect time for an acquisition like this as Microsoft attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard and gain ownership of the Call of Duty franchise. The franchise is going to remain multi-platform, but it will still give Microsoft a large share of the FPS market. If Sony wants to compete against that then it needs a Call of Duty of its own. While Destiny may Bungie's focus for the foreseeable future, a brand-new FPS franchise may be the best way to compete against Microsoft.
Bungie has created two iconic FPS franchises, and there is nothing stopping it from doing that a third time. A new sci-fi FPS series could be strong competition against Call of Duty, but the studio could also branch out to a more modern setting like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, or it could go further back in time to explore a part of history. This would be uncharted territory for Bungie, but its FPS skills would likely translate well to a game like this.
If done well, a new Bungie FPS franchise would be a force to be reckoned with. It could do for Sony what Halo did for Microsoft and help carve out a significant slice of the FPS genre. It may be able to give Sony a fighting chance within the genre, and could shake up the FPS landscape. It is sitting on a goldmine with Bungie, and now is the time to tap into that potential.