Bungie next franchise after Destiny 2: Matter leaks, more

Although Destiny 2 will be supported for a long time, Bungie is already working on its next big series, which may return the studio to its roots. Here's everything we know about the game, from early gameplay information to a possible release date.

With the Destiny universe being in its seventh year on the market, many people are wondering what Bungie will do next. While the renowned creators have no plans to ditch their ongoing FPS anytime soon, that doesn't mean they aren't working on other projects.

In reality, as Destiny 2 prepares for its most anticipated update yet, The Witch Queen, Bungie has been secretly recruiting for a new brand. We already have a solid notion of what to expect based on these early job advertisements. So here's a quick synopsis of what we know so far regarding Bungie's upcoming franchise.

What is Bungie’s next franchise?

A new trademark called 'Matter' was discovered online shortly after announcing a $100 million collaboration with NetEase. While this could merely be an internal codename for the time being, all indications point to Bungie's future series. Early job postings for Matter billed the project as a "multiplayer action game" in the vein of Overwatch and Valorant.

Bungie wants to "create incredible teamplay moments" in its upcoming game by focusing on "character-based" gameplay.

Bungie is also looking for developers who have worked on "live operation games, games as a service, MMOs, free-to-play games, and mobile games."

While it's still early days, the studio certainly has its sights set on another game that, like Destiny, will expand over time with new content and upgrades.

However, if you're looking for further parallels, the buck appears to stop there. According to other job advertisements, the new game's tone will be nothing like Destiny or Halo, focusing instead on a more comedic and colourful design.

Bungie's esports ambitions are being furthered with a new project

Bungie's next project appears to have great esports ambitions as well. With many of its creators coming from a competitive FPS background, the firm appears to be returning to that genre with its new IP.

Bungie appears to be interested in "competitive esports and gaming landscapes," according to various job postings.

In addition, the team is looking for programmers that have a "deep understanding of map design." There's no way of knowing how these goals will pan out, but it's apparent Bungie is thinking about esports while it develops its next game.

When will the next game in the Bungie franchise be released?

Bungie's new franchise does not yet have a firm release date etched in stone. After all, the following initiative is still in its infancy. Bungie does, however, have a rough timeline in mind: it hopes to have its next game "to market" by 2025.

While it's possible that things could be quiet for the next few months or even years, we're sure to hear a lot about Bungie's next IP soon. We'll be sure to keep you up to date with any fresh information right here.