On Launch Day, Activision Says Destiny Will Be Around for an "Awful Long Time"

Destiny, Bungie's much-anticipated "shared-world" shooter, has finally arrived, and it's here to stay, according to publisher Activision. Speaking with CVG, Activision UK & Ireland general manager Roy Stackhouse said Bungie has designed the Destiny IP in such a way that it will endure for what could be as long as ten years.

"I think if you look at what we're trying to achieve with Destiny, we're basically putting out an IP that we believe is going to be around for an awful long time," Stackhouse said. "We've focused on making it very immersive--both in the campaign and in the multiplayer--and we've already announced the first expansion pack that's on it's way this year. We view this as an IP we want in the market for a very long time."

Destiny's first expansion pack, The Dark Below, will launch in December. Another piece of add-on content, currently referred to as Expansion II, will follow sometime later. Both expansions are included with the $35 Destiny Expansion Pass, or can be purchased individually for $20 each.

Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said last week that Bungie is thinking about a Lord of the Rings-sized story for Destiny that will unfold over the period of a decade. In 2010, Bungie signed a 10-year, exclusive publishing deal with Activision for a new franchise that we now know is Destiny.

Also in the interview, Stackhouse addressed the report that Activision had invested $500 million in Destiny. He pointed out that this figure covers development, manufacturing, and other areas, so, "it sounds like a big amount, but it doesn't just fuel one aspect." Stackhouse also said that this level of investment, half a billion dollars, "shows the confidence that we have in Destiny." He's also optimistic that Destiny will be well-received. "There's every indication that the launch will be something everyone will enjoy," he said.

Destiny launches today for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. It could sell as many as 15 million copies this year alone, according to one analyst. For more on the title, check out a replay of GameSpot's Destiny livestream marathon (above), and our review-in-progress.

Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch