14 DAY TRIAL // Former Halo developer Bungie has revealed that their upcoming online first-person shooter Destiny will not offer split-screen multiplayer co-op action, like their previous titles did.
The persistent world of Destiny will have a ton of missions suited for co-op play, but the game won't support same-couch action, unfortunately. The decision to not implement split-screen in the multiplayer-only title is Bungie's to make, and we hope it`ll work out for the best.
Players will be able to influence the in-game events with their collective actions, making for a very dynamic experience, both for them and for the developers, who will be shepherding the direction that the shooter evolves in, but sadly, the universe-shaping events will have to be done from different consoles.
"We're actually not supporting split-screen in Destiny. We love split-screen. Obviously we have a legacy of supporting it. We know a lot of players love it. We love it."
"But we really wanted to untether guardians. Even if you're in a fireteam, you can go wherever you want. That level of freedom was really important for us. We know some players really like split-screen. Ultimately, you can't build a game to suit every single player out there," Bungie Community Manager Eric Osborne explains in an interview with Gamespot.
His assessment seems somewhat fair, although there have also been games such as Borderlands, that offer their players enough freedom as not to dilute the core experience, while also providing the option for split-screen play on the same console.
Even though Bungie has decided against split-screen, Osborne says that the developer is always listening to feedback, adding that the company is open to suggestions as far as Destiny's future is concerned.
"The good news for us is with a new IP you get an opportunity to set a foundation in place. You get to see what players do; see what the community loves about it. You get to be reactive. And the reality is we have no idea what people are going to do, what they're going to fall in love with in this world," Osborne continues.
Destiny is scheduled for launch on September 9, for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlaySation 4 platforms.
We've managed to sneak a peek at the game's alpha on the PlayStation 4 home entertainment system from Sony, and you can go check it out if you're interested in a Destiny preview.
The game's open beta starts on July 17 and will initially debut on the PS3 and PS4 consoles, before coming to their Microsoft equivalent, the Xbox 360 and Xbox One computer entertainment systems.