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Daniel Golding
06 Oct, 2007

Bungie confirms split with Microsoft

360 News | It's official.
Bungie, developers of recent mega-hit Halo 3 have confirmed recent rumours and announced that they will split from Microsoft. As of now, (October 1 if you are being technical) Bungie will be known as Bungie LLC, an entirely independent entity from Microsoft.

Bungie were at pains, however, to stress that they will retain a long-term publishing agreement with Microsoft for the Halo titles, and will continue to "develop with our primary focus on Microsoft’s platforms." However, Bungie has expressed an intent to create "new IP created and owned by Bungie." Company founder, Jason Jones commented, "Bungie is like a shark. We have to keep moving to survive. We have to continually test ourselves, or we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees."

"Our collaboration with Bungie has resulted in Halo becoming an enduring mainstream hit," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. "While we are supporting Bungie's desire to return to its independent roots, we will continue to invest in our Halo entertainment property with Bungie and other partners, such as Peter Jackson, on a new interactive series set in the Halo universe. We look forward to great success with Bungie as our long-term relationship continues to evolve through Halo-related titles and new IP created by Bungie."

"This exciting evolution of our relationship with Microsoft will enable us to expand both creatively and organisationally in our mission to create world-class games," said Harold Ryan, studio head for Bungie. "We will continue to develop with our primary focus on Microsoft platforms; we greatly value our mutually prosperous relationship with our publisher, Microsoft Game Studios; and we look forward to continuing that affiliation through Halo and beyond."

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23 Comments
4 years ago
Bungie LLC wrote
Bungie is like a shark...we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees."
Worst. Analogy. Ever.

But all the best the them all the same, should be interesting to wee shat kind of IP they turn out.
4 years ago
It's not a bad move, at least Halo will be Halo still, and if Halo is anything to go by Bungie LLC's new titles should be good.
4 years ago
Its a bit hard to tell with that statement, but it doesn't immediately sound like the split was one that involved a lot of good will. If Microsoft really did force Bungies hand in this it'd then they're more foolish than I'd have thought. A happy developer of Bungies caliber will net much better results for you than one you've pissed off and driven away...
4 years ago
So the rumours were true. Does this mean we may see Halo on other home consoles in the future? Imagine what Sony would pay for that.

I wonder why they weren't happy. Was it the years of working with one franchise? Microsoft constantly on their backs?
4 years ago
Well this is good news. Maybe they can now make a game thats actually good. icon_wink.gif
4 years ago
Jim Dash wrote
So the rumours were true. Does this mean we may see Halo on other home consoles in the future? Imagine what Sony would pay for that.
Same chances of Killzone 2 being on other home consoles. Halo is owned by Microsoft, just like how Donkey Kong Country # didn't appear on Xbox after Microsoft bought Rare.

The people who should be excited about this the most shouldn't be Sony or Nintendo fans; it should be Mac owner. 80-90% of the computers in-house at Bungie are Macs (and they were never afraid of showing it). icon_wink.gif
4 years ago
I don't see why the mac owner should be happy. Since Microsoft will still get first dibs to publish pretty much anything Bungie puts out. It will kind of be like they never split with the exception that if microsoft doesn't have to plop the cash for a title that they don't deem worthy or some such nonsense.
4 years ago
Juggaloking wrote
I don't see why the mac owner should be happy. Since Microsoft will still get first dibs to publish pretty much anything Bungie puts out. It will kind of be like they never split with the exception that if microsoft doesn't have to plop the cash for a title that they don't deem worthy or some such nonsense.
Bungie's games were on macs before being bought out by Microsoft and now they (Microsoft) have a minority equity interest, Bungie pretty much free reigns on what they do, where they do it and how they do it.
4 years ago
i think it just means that mac owners will actually have a good selection of games available to them, most gamers dont have macs though
4 years ago
I use a Mac and I don't give a rats brown eye about Mac/PC games. Not my thing.

The first Halo was also on Mac. I didn't care.
4 years ago
Good move by Bungie. Now they can act as one of those preferential third party publishers, such as Squeenix, who have always been associated with Sony but make bucketloads of cash on the DS as well, for example. Bungie will always have a big relationship with Microsoft, this will just enable them to expand their IP and platform base. Money, money, moneyyyyyy.
4 years ago
Oni 2 for the PS3 incoming.
4 years ago
Capoeira wrote
Oni 2 for the PS3 incoming.
I'm going to hold you personally responsible if it doesn't happen...
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy an assortment of sharp knives.

icon_razz.gif

<3 Oni 4EVAR!
4 years ago
Jim Dash wrote
Does this mean we may see Halo on other home consoles in the future? Imagine what Sony would pay for that.
This just in: Halo 4 on PS3! Sony announce their new partner, Bungie.

...

Seriously though, I'm surprised to hear about this, I didn't believe the rumors at all since they were so close to MS. Should be very interesting to see what the future will bring. I can definitely see them releasing a game on Wii or PS3, I bet they'd like to explore new territories.
4 years ago
I could see that happening too ads...
If I was an annoying fanboi
4 years ago
Meh, they shot themselves in the foot, just like rare did when they split nintendo.They were the toast of the industry on the 64, and then they jumped to ms and put out........what........kameo?Mediocre, at best.

Brave move, a stupid one, but brave nonetheless.
4 years ago
Does this mean there is a possibility of HaloDS if HaloDS was real and in development and not some homebrew app? or is Halo owned by MS and we will never see it?
4 years ago
we will never see it
4 years ago
http://kotaku.com/gaming/rumor-smash/halo-ds-was-an-unsolicited-pitch-307822.php



So yeah Halo DS was real, but was just an experiment.
4 years ago
It was "Elaborate digital fan mail"
so yeah the Goldeneye RA:DS thing MAY be correct still
4 years ago
Microsoft would actually have alot to gain if they made halo ds, and made it a good game. Since MS currently doesn't have a handheld, it wouldn't do nothing but make money for MS. There is no way Halo ds could cut into the console games profit since the two brands would be vastly different. Simply stating, It's not impossible, unlikely, but not impossible, example: Rare has made several DS and GBA games while owned by microsft, infact I believe MS published them hence it wouldn't be all that unlikely to but halo on the ds as well, their doing it with viva pinata. and besides, the more DS's that sell the crappier it makes the PSP look, thus furthering the DS's lead yadayadayada...
Seriously though it looks better that GE:RA. that game sucked.
4 years ago
Ok people, Microsoft own Halo still, so no, you won't see Halo 4 on the PS3 (unless Microsoft have rocks in their heads). You will, however, see new Bungie licenses showing up on anything and everything. Halo will only be a Microsoft product. Man, do people just not read the articles before commenting?
4 years ago
This probably has heaps to do with all the PR issues after Halo 3 started red-ringing 360's. Bungie would've been like "WTF, why are consoles dying after playing our game?!" And Microsoft would've at this point just started slinking away into the background whistling.

Honestly Microsoft has made a piece of crap, it's the devs keeping it alive. I do hope Bungie make something for Ps3 and I hope it's awesome because the 360/Microsoft really doesn't deserve these awesome games.....well atleast not untill they clean up their act.
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    PALGN recommends: www.Play-Asia.com

Australian Release Date:
  25/09/2007 (Confirmed)
Standard Retail Price:
  $99.95 AU
Publisher:
  Microsoft
Genre:
  Shooter
Year Made:
  2007
Players:
  8

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