Bungie, a studio renowned for its links to theHaloandDestinyfranchises, looks like it will be taking a step away from its established series and creating a new IP with a very different focus. So far, there are still plenty of questions surrounding the mysteriousMatterand what it might entail, but with rumors and speculation encircling the work-in-progress for years,Bungie’s next big project has started to take shape.
Even the whisper of a new game from a big studio is going to get fans riled up, and it’s inevitable that there will be a deluge of theorizing to accompany any rumors or leaks, however unsubstantiated. Players will try and guess what the new game could be, from its style to its scope but usually, there isn’t much behind this type of guesswork. Although sometimes new information can come from some fairly trustworthy sources or be patched together by eagle-eyed gamers, and it can help to shine a light ongames likeMatterbefore a studio makes its own official announcements.
RELATED:Bungie’s Marathon Franchise Explained
Bungie’s Departure From Destiny
Bungie has been around for several decades, creating games like the FPSMarathonand the RTSMyth: The Fallen Lordsin the late nineties before moving on to the belovedHalofranchise. But its main moneymaker in recent years has undoubtedly beenDestiny, the FPS multiplayer that helped Bungie carve a sizable space for itself in the online gaming marketplace. However, since the release ofDestiny 2in 2017, it seems like Bungie has been looking for other avenues to explore, and it announced in 2018 that it would bepartnering with NetEase to create a brand-new intellectual property.
Players were instantly speculating about what this new IP could be, and a few months later they were potentially able to put a name to it whenBungie filed a trademark for “Matter”. With Bungie’s stated intention to continue work on the world ofDestiny, but to also expand “new worlds to come”, fans were left with plenty of questions about what this could mean.Destinyhas been incredibly successful for Bungie, but moving away from that formula in some ways could be beneficial for the developer, and a chance to bring a brand-new experience to gamers as well.
WhileMatterstill hasn’t completely revealed itself yet, even the first look at its logo got fans talking. The explosion of color behind the text was seen by some as an indication that Bungie was taking its next game in a more light-hearted, whimsical direction. WhileDestinydoes have some humor, it still embraces its gritty sci-fi roots in many respects, butMattercould be a signal that Bungie is ready to move away from that aesthetic for its next title.
Matter’s RPG Focus
Players haven’t had too much official information to go on, but early job listings that they managed to find forMattersuggested that the game was set to be another multiplayer action game. This was good news forDestinyfans, as it seemed like Bungie was taking what it learned from the release of that series and crafting something new and perhaps a little different with the solid foundation of the sci-fi franchise.Matterwould apparently have more of a character focus, and with Bungie looking to initially hire developers with a background in live-service, F2P games, and MMOs, players were able to get a sense of what the title could be and what kind of post-launch support it might enjoy.
Job listings in 2020 were again another indication of what fans could hope to expect fromMatter. With interesting words like “lighthearted” and “comedic”, it seemed likeMatterhad a very specific point of viewthat would further distinguish it from games likeDestiny. The wording of one job description led some players to believeMattermight even have a fantasy RPG focus thanks to words like “sword” and “dungeon”. It also appeared to hint at a looting dynamic similar to titles likeBorderlands, which presents plenty of interesting opportunities and could makeMattera fun online experience.
With the recent spike in popularity over the past few years inhero shooters likeOverwatchandApex Legends, others speculated thatMattercould follow suit – a rumor strengthened by Bungie’s apparent intention to launch itself further into the Esports arena. While this might jar slightly with the assumption thatMatterwould be more of a character-focused fantasy RPG, it’s still early days in the game’s development, and it’s possible that things are continuing to shift and change shape as the title progresses.
RELATED:Destiny 2 Set a High Bar for Matter or Any Other New Bungie IP
A Look At Matter’s Concept Art
In a recruitment video released earlier this year, two pieces of concept art for an unannounced game were seen briefly as Bungie’s Engineering Director Luke Timmins spoke about the mechanics of creating new worlds. It may not have been confirmed that these wereglimpses ofMatter, but it seems like a safe bet to assume this could be an early look at the game. With a combination of fantastical elements like floating islands and steampunk designs like airships, this appears to fit in with the vibe that initial speculation aroundMatterhinted toward.
With rumors thatMatterwas going to be the third-person action game thatit was confirmed Bungie was working on, other speculation started to surface that it could include a map creator mode similar toHalo’s Forge. Patents filed by Bungie referenced user-generated maps and other elements, suggesting thatMattercould include tools that would allow players to help shape the game themselves and influence the lay of the land. This could be an intriguing addition and would help to further distanceMatterfrom many of Bungie’s previous titles, offering players something completely fresh and new.
AlthoughMatteris reportedly still in early development, Bungie is looking at 2025 as a possible release window for one of its new IPs, which many think could beMatter. Though this could seem far away to some, as 2022 comes to an end it might not be quite as distant as they think. With an exciting release schedule already in place for2023 with titles like theDead Spaceremake,Hogwarts Legacy,Dead Island 2, andForspoken,alongside others with dates yet to be announced, gamers will have lots to keep them occupied in the meantime as they wait for more details onMatter.
Matteris rumored to be in development.
MORE:Bungie’s Marathon Revival Could Ironically Do What No Other Destiny 2 Competitor Can
