Bungie Split from MS: Official

Caustic

Caustic

Caustic

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Bungie to become independent

Bungie Forums: http://www.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12834
GI Biz: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=29318
Official Line: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/2007/1005-bungie.htm

The rumours were all over the place, and it looks like they were true. However, it isn't as big of a deal as some say and I think it is great news for all, including MS in many ways.

Put it this way, it means Bungie can still be Bungie, they can focus on doing things they want and the company stays together. MS are surely going to have a little say but more importantly, they are bound to be very keen to help Bungie.

The alternative is that Bungie fragments into several new start ups, most of which would fail to achieve all that much.

I think a close working relationship between a publisher and a developer is good, but when one owns the other, it is too much of a one way thing.
 
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Caustic said:
Exactly the opposite. I bet MS wanted a Halo 4, but Bungie didn't want to make one. Hence the split.
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Yup, pretty much my reading of the situation.

Edit: I bet that as part of the agreement to split, Bungie will still have to make their games 360 exclusives at first.
 
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Interesting that Bungie would want to split, they have single handily saved M$ in the console market and because of that I would think M$ would fund any sort of new project that Bungie would want to do, not to mention the M$ hype machine that would make any game a success, from this all I can assume that there has been a big fallen out behind the scenes that would make Bungie want to give all that up.
 
Then how come it has already been confirmed that Halo 4 is in development and even Frankie Oc'onner says on the bungie website that they will continue to support the xbox through Halo?
 
slambo69 said:
Then how come it has already been confirmed that Halo 4 is in development and even Frankie Oc'onner says on the bungie website that they will continue to support the xbox through Halo?
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Where is it confirmed? I was always under the impression these Halo games would stay as a trilogy. There will be other games in the Halo Universe but as far as this series goes, it's done so I doubt there will be a 4.
 
As I just said, a fourth one is in the works, wether its a sequal or a prequal or whatever I dont know but expect more Halo games.
 
Oh Bungie will still be making 360 games, they would be silly not to, given their experience with the 360. As for Halo 4, nah, I can't see it. More like spin-offs ala Halo Wars. Considering Bungie's previous games, I bet a few at Bungie would have rather done that.

EDIT: Where did you read about Halo 4? I haven't seen anything about.
 
Reading some interpretations on neogaf etc I see this as nothing but a win/win. Microsoft will retain 25 to 45% (not sure yet) shares in Bungie and will get first dibs at all future new IPS. Microsoft retain all rights to Halo and will still act as publisher for future releases. It opens the doors for Bungie to expand and manage themselves.

Ultimately it's down to money. Microsofts shares are pretty flat and Bungies are expected to do very well. MS could actually make more money from their shares in Bungie than owning them outright and they'll also make some cash from the spit (selling 60%+ shares). Bungie win as they'll be paid like kings (look at Epic post Gears) and will get to expand and make money off other platforms (Wii, DS). I think it will be a long long time until we see anything on a Sony Platform though.
 
I agree 100%. I think the key here is that it could be great for both sides. Lets face it, Bungie have done their job, and to keep owning them now would not prove as useful as it did (if nothing else, it will be a while until their next game). If they keep making games for the 360 and MS still get the option to publish them, it is as if nothing has changed, except Bungie get to decide on what they do next!

I bet it will lighten the mood at Bungie, as I bet MS were putting so much pressure on them, and probably getting in the way a lot.
 
We will see Master Chief in another Halo game it may be number 4 it may be a prequel - MS aren't about to retire the character that's just netted them $300,000,000 in 7 days.
 
Good stuff, it doesn't sound as horrible as it could have.

It's hard to understand MS' rationale for 'letting them go' as such, but I wonder if the alternative was a mass resignation and the founding of a new company, which would both be a PR disaster and leave only the Bungie name, not the talent.
 
Scratchy said:
We will see Master Chief in another Halo game it may be number 4 it may be a prequel - MS aren't about to retire the character that's just netted them $300,000,000 in 7 days.
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I am fairly sure it is a gross figure they are stating, not net. HUGE difference.

People are saying Halo 3 money made by Microsoft should be enough to push them (FINALLY) into profit for the 360 division at year end. Seems weird to seperate from Bungie based on that, but can't complain if it leads to multi platform games (preferably something new, not tired Halo series).


rp2000
 
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