For the first time in the company’s history, Microsoft is getting into the fragrance business. Well, not really.
The Redmond software giant today debuted a new website called www.destinyfragrance.com. But the company isn’t actually selling a new product. And the only perfume here is the scent of frustration.
Here’s the back story: Destiny is the much-anticipated shooter that’s hitting store shelves next week for both Sony and Microsoft consoles.
However, all the advertisements touting the game focus on the PlaysStation 4 version. According to Microsoft, this is because Activision, the game’s publisher, has teamed up with Sony to market Destiny on the PS4 and offer extra content exclusive to the console.
So, in response, Microsoft created the fragrance website and spread it on social media as a way to advertise the Xbox version of Destiny — and to also take a dig at Activision.
“Destiny is actually an epic new first-person shooter, available on Xbox,” reads the website. “Thing is, we didn’t have permission to run adverts for the game. So we didn’t.”
“Thanks for smelling that something was up,” Microsoft added. “Now get the game and become a legend.”
While it’s disappointing that no Destiny-scented cologne is coming out anytime soon, this is certainly a creative and off-the-wall marketing strategy from Microsoft.
Destiny developer Bungie — which previously made Microsoft’s blockbuster Halo series as part of the Redmond company — doesn’t seem to be taking sides. The Bellevue-based company, which developed Destiny, said in July that it loves both Xbox and PlayStation fans equally.
In related news, Microsoft announced on Thursday that people who pick up a new Xbox One next week will be eligible to pick up a free full-priced game for their new system — that includes Destiny. which debuts on Sept. 9.
