Sony Interactive Entertainment's (SIE) agreement to acquire Bungie has closed, the Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation announced Friday.

After initially being reported in January, the $3.6 billion merger deal's completion now makes Bungie an official subsidiary of Sony.

"We believe games have limitless potential," Bungie's statement reads, "and that to do anything worthwhile in entertainment, we must bet big on our vision, on our studio, and on our incredible team of trusted creators who build unforgettable worlds that truly matter to people.​

"In SIE, we have found a partner who unconditionally supports us in all we are and who wants to accelerate our vision to create generation-spanning entertainment, all while preserving the creative independence that beats in Bungie’s heart. Like us, SIE believes that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IPs can become. Together, we share a dream of creating and fostering iconic franchises that unite friends around the world, families across generations, and fans across multiple platforms and entertainment mediums.​"

Based in Bellevue, Washington, Bungie was established in 1991 and has most notably been credited for developing Destiny and the original Halo games.

In its statement, Bungie also seemingly reaffirmed that although its support for players across various platforms will be business as usual, Sony's presence will have a significant impact on the studio's ability to grow its team.

"We remain in charge of our destiny," Bungie's statement reads. "We will continue to independently publish and creatively develop our games. We will continue to drive one, unified Bungie community. Our games will continue to be where our community is, wherever they choose to play.​

"With SIE's support, the most immediate change you will see is an acceleration in hiring talent across the entire studio to support our ambitious vision. If this speaks to you, and you want to help us put a dent in the universe, we are hiring across all disciplines for Destiny 2 and for all new worlds beyond."

In February, it was reported that Sony plans to help Bungie expand its intellectual property into TV and film, as well as perhaps aim for a "flourishing" live-service game.

In July, another report seemingly revealed that Bungie has teamed up with Chinese tech giant NetEase to develop a first-person shooter Destiny mobile game.

This article was originally published on dbltap as Sony Deal to Acquire Bungie Officially Finalizes.