MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Average review scores of Destiny could cost the developer bonuses of $2.5m due to a deal signed with publisher Activision in April 2010.
According to that contract, some of the terms of which may have changed, the studio was set to receive $2.5m if it achieved a score above 90 on gamerankings..com.
At the time of writing, average scores for the game are at 75.97 per cent, some 14 per cent off target.
Other stipulations of the deal included a $7.5m bonus if the first Destiny project remained on-budget and on-target for a 2013 release. The game was eventually launched earlier this month on September 9th, 2014.
Bungie could still receive $25m in bonuses if Activision makes $750m in associated operating income during a 12-month period, and the a further $25m if that hits $1bn.
It should be noted that the original maximum budget for the Destiny game, originally announced for Xbox 360, stood at $140m. Activision has since claimed it is investing some $500m into the game, a cost that includes both production and marketing.
Activision is said to have the right to terminate its ten-year deal with Bungie and Destiny if sales of the first game do not reach five million units after six months.
Further details on the Bungie-Activision deal can be found here.
