Destiny is a $500 million gamble

Activision’s full start-up tab for Destiny is $500 million. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick revealed the full price for Bungie’s next blockbuster video game during a conference in Los Angeles. The record-breaking game budget was mentioned when Kotick was explaining why he signed a ten-year exclusive contract with Bungie for Destiny that gave Activision worldwide distribution rights and a significant say over the franchise’s course of development.

“If you’re making a $500 million bet you can’t take that chance with someone else’s IP. The stakes for us are getting bigger.”

Activision acknowledged the figure was correct to Reuters, but clarified that the humongous price tag included marketing, royalties, and other associated costs. Activision expects to recoup the cost over the course of the series.