It's official.
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There's a good chance it will happen. Here, I'll explain everything.
This whole thing started with this, a blog post from 8Bit Joystick who's source is a friend of a friend who works at Bungie.
Then, 1UP and Kotaku asked for a PR statement on this, and then received suspicious responces.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3163310
While this is all happening, there's a huge thread raging at NeoGAF, and both Luke Smith and Frank O'Connor (both Bungie employees involved with the community), who've been actively posting at GAF when this exploded, never posted in that thread (which is suspicious).
Then, TeamXbox jumps into the fray, claiming their sources told them this, which falls in line with the original rumor:
And after that, Matt Casamassina at IGN, who originally claimed there was a Halo DS and that he played it, finally shows screenshots and videos of the canned game today. It's obvious he showed it now instead of months ago (when everyone was doubting him) because of NDAs of some sort – he could've easily showed it to the world a long time ago.
And finally, GameInformer drops a bomb.
Microsoft officially shuts down FASA Studios a few weeks ago (though that was known for a while), they let Bizarre Creations go to Activision, and now Bungie could split with MS, although they'd be more like David Jaffe's new "Eat Sleep Play" studios or Insomniac Games. They probably won't become a full-fledged 3rd party developing PS3 and Wii games, but they'll be able to get away from the Halo series and develop new, different games – whether it's a new Marathon or a new IP – for the 360, PC, Mac, and DS as well.
REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 5, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a plan for Bungie Studios, the developers of the “Halo®” franchise, to embark on a path to become an independent company. Microsoft will retain an equity interest in Bungie, at the same time continuing its long-standing publishing agreement between Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie for the Microsoft-owned “Halo” intellectual property as well as other future properties developed by Bungie.
The critically acclaimed Xbox 360®-exclusive “Halo 3” achieved $300 million in global sales in its first week. Released on Tuesday, Sept. 25, “Halo 3” is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history.
“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 organizationally 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.”
Bungie Studios will remain in its current location in Kirkland, Wash.
About Bungie Studios
Bungie Studios was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and then sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination. Over the past 10 years it has produced games such as the “Marathon” trilogy and the first two “Myth” games, hailed as classics by critics and gamers around the world. Bungie’s “Halo” franchise is an international award-winning action title that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.8 million units worldwide, logging nearly 1 billion hours of multiplayer action on Xbox LIVE®, and spawning action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel and more. Bungie released “Halo 3” on Sept. 25, 2007 to universal critical acclaim, and first day US sales of over $170 million, making it the biggest opening day in entertainment history. More information on Bungie can be found at http://www.bungie.net.
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows® operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as “Age of Empires®,” “Flight Simulator” and “Zoo Tycoon®”; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as “Gears of War” and franchises such as “Halo,” “Fable®,” “Project Gotham Racing®” and “Forza Motorsport®”; and MSN® Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as “Bejeweled” and “Hexic®
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”
is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
The critically acclaimed Xbox 360®-exclusive “Halo 3” achieved $300 million in global sales in its first week. Released on Tuesday, Sept. 25, “Halo 3” is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history.
“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 organizationally 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.”
Bungie Studios will remain in its current location in Kirkland, Wash.
About Bungie Studios
Bungie Studios was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and then sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination. Over the past 10 years it has produced games such as the “Marathon” trilogy and the first two “Myth” games, hailed as classics by critics and gamers around the world. Bungie’s “Halo” franchise is an international award-winning action title that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.8 million units worldwide, logging nearly 1 billion hours of multiplayer action on Xbox LIVE®, and spawning action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel and more. Bungie released “Halo 3” on Sept. 25, 2007 to universal critical acclaim, and first day US sales of over $170 million, making it the biggest opening day in entertainment history. More information on Bungie can be found at http://www.bungie.net.
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows® operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as “Age of Empires®,” “Flight Simulator” and “Zoo Tycoon®”; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as “Gears of War” and franchises such as “Halo,” “Fable®,” “Project Gotham Racing®” and “Forza Motorsport®”; and MSN® Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as “Bejeweled” and “Hexic®
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”
is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
---
There's a good chance it will happen. Here, I'll explain everything.
This whole thing started with this, a blog post from 8Bit Joystick who's source is a friend of a friend who works at Bungie.
8Bit Joystick
Then, 1UP and Kotaku asked for a PR statement on this, and then received suspicious responces.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3163310
1UP
While this is all happening, there's a huge thread raging at NeoGAF, and both Luke Smith and Frank O'Connor (both Bungie employees involved with the community), who've been actively posting at GAF when this exploded, never posted in that thread (which is suspicious).
Then, TeamXbox jumps into the fray, claiming their sources told them this, which falls in line with the original rumor:
TeamXbox
And after that, Matt Casamassina at IGN, who originally claimed there was a Halo DS and that he played it, finally shows screenshots and videos of the canned game today. It's obvious he showed it now instead of months ago (when everyone was doubting him) because of NDAs of some sort – he could've easily showed it to the world a long time ago.
And finally, GameInformer drops a bomb.
GameInformer
Microsoft officially shuts down FASA Studios a few weeks ago (though that was known for a while), they let Bizarre Creations go to Activision, and now Bungie could split with MS, although they'd be more like David Jaffe's new "Eat Sleep Play" studios or Insomniac Games. They probably won't become a full-fledged 3rd party developing PS3 and Wii games, but they'll be able to get away from the Halo series and develop new, different games – whether it's a new Marathon or a new IP – for the 360, PC, Mac, and DS as well.
