'Destiny' Game Release Date This Fall: Pre-order The Game On Amazon, Gain Access To Beta

Amazon is sending out invites to pre-order “Destiny.” If you pre-order the game now, you will gain access to the title's beta.

In February, Activision confirmed that the “Destiny” beta would launch sometime this summer. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based publisher made the announcement during an Activision Blizzard earnings call on Feb. 6.

“We believe Destiny could be Activision Publishing's third billion-dollar franchise, and we're working hard to make it the biggest new IP launch in video game history,” CEO Eric Hirshberg said. “Together, we are bringing gamers an ambitious and innovative game which combines the intensity of great first-person action, with the character investment and social connections of an RPG in an immense connected universe. We believe the game is on track to deliver record pre-orders for a new franchise, a public beta is planned for summer and we expect to launch the game on September 9.” The game was originally planned for an early 2014 spring release on Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360 and PS3.

Gamers got their first peek at the highly anticipated game when Bungie revealed several screenshots from the action RPG first-person shooter on Jan. 14. Sony posted several images of the title to PlayStation’s Tumblr page -- including stills showing characters fighting with alien enemies in desolate, futuristic landscapes while using advanced weapons.

Hirshberg also seemed optimistic about continuing the franchise -- could “Destiny” be the next “Call of Duty”? “We look forward to expanding this universe for years to come and you'll see much more in the months ahead,” he stated.

“Destiny” takes place 700 years in the future in a postapocalyptic setting following a lucrative and successful period of exploration and peace called the Golden Age. The game is set in a universe where humans have colonized a number of livable planets in the solar system. However, a disastrous event known as “the Collapse” saw the mysterious destruction of these colonies, leaving mankind nearly extinct. When humans attempt to repopulate and recover after the Collapse, aggressive and dangerous alien races are discovered in various towns and cities. Players will have the task of investigating and destroying the aliens before the human race is entirely wiped out.

“Destiny” will launch on Sept. 9 this year for the PS3, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox 360. The title was referenced in 2009’s “Halo 3: ODST,” where a sign in the game read “Destiny Awaits” alongside a picture of Earth with an unknown orb floating nearby. Game features were accidentally leaked in November 2012, revealing plot ideas and concept art. Bungie followed up with the delivery of further details about “Destiny,” while expressing regret that game details were made public before expected. The title was confirmed to be released on the PS4 and PS3 at the PS4 reveal event in February last year. Bungie also stated that both PlayStation versions would feature exclusive content. The release date of Sept. 9, 2014, was confirmed last December.

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