Destiny mobile game is reportedly in development despite Bungie layoffs

Bungie reportedly canceled multiple incubation projects in the Destiny franchise, but one of them seems to still be in the works—and it’s a mobile Destiny game.

As reported by The Game Post on Sept. 2, the insider Kurakasis claimed an unannounced Destiny mobile game is still in development by Bungie and NetEase, titled Destiny Rising. “It has not been canceled,” Kurakasis wrote.

NetEase is a Chinese tech giant that has released a range of mobile games, including Dead by Daylight Mobile, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, and The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War. NetEase also developed and released the multiplayer survival game Once Human. The company invested $100 million in Bungie back in 2018 and has reportedly been working with Bungie on an unannounced Destiny game.

This July, Bungie was hit by another round of layoffs, terminating 220 roles and absorbing 155 employees into Sony Interactive Entertainment. As reported by Jason Schreier, Bungie has been working on “myriad incubation projects” after Sony’s acquisition, including mobile versions of Destiny, remakes, and new franchises.

In light of the cuts, Bungie canceled several of these projects, including a Destiny spinoff codenamed Payback. The spinoff was reportedly meant to be a third-person shooter inspired by Warframe and Genshin Impact with bosses and puzzles.

There were speculations the rest of the projects had been shelved as well, but the mobile Destiny game seems to still be in development. “Based on what I’ve read, none of them have confirmed with absolute certainty that NetEase’s mobile game has been canceled,” Kurakasis wrote. “I can assure you that it is still in development.”