'Halo' developer parts with Microsoft

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Oct 5, 2007 1:40 PM EDT

Article Source: MacNN | The Macintosh News Network

business, microsoft, video-games, xbox, xbox-360, halo, bungie-studios

Confirming long-standing rumors in the gaming industry, Microsoft has announced that Bungie Studios, developers of the popular "Halo" game series, will officially be returning to independent status.

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{"commentId":1076023,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

Michael Sautter

Any idea what games Bungie plans on developing as an independent?

{"commentId":1076023,"threadId":"158289","contentId":"1005109","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

3 votes

#1 - Fri Oct 5, 2007 1:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":1076058,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}

gecko85

Hopefully a return to their roots (before they were bought by Microsoft) when they were a Mac-only shop. Only this time they could be cross-platform. Bungie had created some of the best games to ever grace the Mac platform: Pathways to Darkness, Marathon, and Myth.

{"commentId":1076058,"threadId":"158289","contentId":"1005109","authorDomain":"tcervo"}

4 votes

#2 - Fri Oct 5, 2007 1:59 PM EDT

{"commentId":1076453,"authorDomain":"onlineapps"}

Andy Min

And now that they're out from under the Evil Empire, they'll start developing Linux games as well...

{"commentId":1076453,"threadId":"158289","contentId":"1005109","authorDomain":"onlineapps"}

3 votes

#2.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2007 4:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":1081426,"authorDomain":"aeschere"}

aeschere

they'll start developing Linux games as well..

That would be great!!!

{"commentId":1081426,"threadId":"158289","contentId":"1005109","authorDomain":"aeschere"}

3 votes

#2.2 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 2:25 AM EDT

{"commentId":1082030,"authorDomain":"whyren"}

Whyren

Hopefully a return to their roots (before they were bought by Microsoft) when they were a Mac-only shop. Only this time they could be cross-platform. Bungie had created some of the best games to ever grace the Mac platform: Pathways to Darkness, Marathon, and Myth.

As much as I'd love to see that, I sincerely doubt it. A lot of the people that made the 'original' Bungie left prior to acquisition and some formed a new company similar to how Bungie started (Wideload Games), much like the 'original' Rareware people left and some formed Free Radical.

Bungie could still have some value, but considering Microsoft pretty much did NOTHING with them except siphon Halo for their risky venture into console gaming, only to cut them loose after the fantastic success of the series, it makes me wonder.

Mac development is perhaps more possible with less MS influence--considering Halo was originally developed on and for the Mac, only to be heavily delayed and unlike what preliminary demos were (not to mention no PC porting of 2 or 3)--but it doesn't strike me as likely.

Don't get me wrong...Bungie was and mostly has been a great company, and they could still do great things. I just don't find it likely to return the 'good old days.'

{"commentId":1082030,"threadId":"158289","contentId":"1005109","authorDomain":"whyren"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 10:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":1077712,"authorDomain":"softfacts"}

M. Remmers

So which developer is best suited to milk the Halo cash cow from here on?

{"commentId":1077712,"threadId":"158289","contentId":"1005109","authorDomain":"softfacts"}

2 votes

#3 - Sat Oct 6, 2007 8:21 AM EDT

{"commentId":1077867,"authorDomain":"russrenshaw"}

Russ R.

I say we let Squeenix take a crack at it. An effeminate hero and a convoluted story line is exactly what the franchise needs.

{"commentId":1077867,"threadId":"158289","contentId":"1005109","authorDomain":"russrenshaw"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Sat Oct 6, 2007 10:11 AM EDT

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Microsoft, 'Halo' Creators Split	Associated Press	Fri Oct 5	0
Bungie Leaves Microsoft!	bungie.net	Fri Oct 5	0
Halo 3 Makes $300 Million, Console Sales Double	Kotaku	Fri Oct 5	0
'Halo 3' Rings Up $300M in First Week	Associated Press	Thu Oct 4	3
Halo A Movie	juergenfrey.de	Sat Oct 6	0

MICHAEL SAUTTER

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'Halo' developer parts with Microsoft

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