Bungie’s secret non-Halo game still needs a publisher

I take it they would have signed an agreement with Microsoft to never go Nintendo/Sony?

Wait, wait isn’t Bungie owned by M$. I tought M$ bought them in early 2000 or 2001.

I thought Bungie left M$ so they could be free to do their own thing meaning Nintendo, Sony, or anyone, no?

I imagine they’re finding it difficult to find anybody given the exorbitant amounts of dollars they’re probably asking for.

“Wait, wait isn’t Bungie owned by M$. I tought M$ bought them in early 2000 or 2001.”

Bungie bought themselves out of Microsoft nearly 2 years ago.

They were let go in late 2007.

This is odd though, I did think Bungie had an agreement with MS that they would publish all their stuff, or was that just limited to the Halo franchise? Come to think of it, if MS aren’t picking up the publishing rights, then there’s a more than good chance that this is a multiplatform project, which would be pretty huge news.

I’ll bet there’s a juicy inside story on the break up of Bungie from Microsoft. From the outside looking in, it was a real jaw dropper to hear Bungie were going independent, and MS clearly lost the jewel in their development crown.

I know that Bungie were pretty pissed with the handling of Halo:ODST’s unveiling a few E3′s back, so I’m guessing it all started to go downhill from there.

Still, Bungie’s new one appearing on PS3 would be quite a thing, be interesting to see how this pans out!

Would also explain the Halo franchise handled by a different company and studio

I know that Bungie were pretty pissed with the handling of Halo:ODST’s unveiling a few E3’s back, so I’m guessing it all started to go downhill from there.

A few E3′s back? Halo ODST was unvieled last October.

Bungie went independent in 2007, long before this, and nearly a full year before ODST was even announced. Hell, they went independent 6 months before ODST was even conceived.

Yeah but it was supposed to be unveiled a lot earlier, but Microsoft cancelled their showing, and Bungie were pretty vocal about how displeased they were about that.

Microsoft have first refusal rights on whatever Bungie is putting out next, I believe, so Mr. Bakken’s comments would suggest they’re either passing on this one or there’s a disagreement regarding terms; for instance, you can be damned sure Bungie want to hold onto their IP this time.

Yeah but it was supposed to be unveiled a lot earlier, but Microsoft cancelled their showing, and Bungie were pretty vocal about how displeased they were about that.

Yes, they were supposed to show it in July 2008, Microsoft cancelled it and they ended up showing it in October 2008.

Bungie went independent in October 2007.

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/49312

Says nothing about an early revealing of ODST. They just wanted to get to their roots with the money they earned from Halo 3…

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/49312

Says nothing about an early revealing of ODST. They just wanted to get to their roots with the money they earned from Halo 3…

The article date is October 2007, Halo ODST didn’t even exist at that point.

Robo_1 is right in that Microsoft pulled the announcement of the game, but it occurred long after Bungie had split from Microsoft.

What happened was Bungie ran a countdown on their website, and had a load of virals on their forum hinting at the game. The countdown was due to expire around the time of Microsoft’s 2008 E3 conference, but the night before, the countdown changed to an error message, saying the announcement had been scrapped and issuing an apology.

This was a decision taken by Microsoft and not Bungie. Microsoft felt their E3 lineup was strong enough and decided to give ODST an event of its own. Bungie weren’t too happy about it since they felt they were letting their loyal community down. The game was eventually announced in September 2008.

I’m not sure why Robo_1 thinks this all happened “a few E3′s back” when it was actually only a year ago.

I’m pretty sure all the terms of the arrangement between MS and Bungie are just guesses, MS are usually tight lipped about their deals.

lol at all the noobs in here. come on EA, publish it. we want to see you rise (again) and take activision down!!!!!

I am completely with Hunam. We can’t know at all.

I would never have suspected another Bungie Halo… And Perhaps thats in exchange for first refusals, or perhaps first refusals never existed.

Either way I think they left for a reason, to become independent.

The cold hard truth is, these days you’re fucked if you’re independent. So I hope they get bought up by someone, so they’re safe.

“They were let go in late 2007.”

They were never “let go” They bought themselves out and departed from Microsoft’s leash on good terms.

“I’m pretty sure all the terms of the arrangement between MS and Bungie are just guesses, MS are usually tight lipped about their deals.”

The arrangements between the two companies following their departure has been public knowledge since their departure from Microsoft was made public knowledge: http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12834

You have to consider that these projects were likely already in pre-production even before the choose to go independent (the development of a game can take anywhere up to four years), so they’re contractually obliged to develop them.

Maybe Zenimax should swoop in

“Maybe Zenimax should swoop in ”

I think the last thing Bungie wants is to be bought up by yet another company. That would completely defeat their whole purpose of going independent in the first place.

They likely just want a publishing deal, but a new franchise is always going to be hard to sell, even with a trusted company like Bungie.

I meant to publish their next game not buy them!

Those guys have enough on their plate right now as it is right now, to be honest.

And anyway, we don’t even know what genre it is, what the visual style is like… nothing.

If it’s not an action game I’d be surprised frankly. Bungie are clever people, they went out of their way to make Halo fans Bungie fans, most people into Halo will talk about Bungie on an almost personal level, to throw and RPG or RTS at them would be insanity.

EDIT: Obviously Halo Wars is doing fine but I’m just saying, most Halo fans want to shoot stuff.

Im glad Bungie is independant again.
I would to see a Marathon reboot, or a new Myth.

Even better would be something completely new and fresh. It would be nice for the naysayers to be proven wrong that all bungie is good for is Halo.

The problem is, who is going to take the reins to produce the next adventures of Master Chief?
Gearbox was rumored to and they havent exactly set the world on fire since Brothers in Arms xbox games.

The stuff that is known publicly is always half the story. ‘Good terms’ is really up to every individual at Bungie. And there have been contradictory interviews regarding the departure.

And saying again, it might go against the point of leaving Microsoft, but studios like that NEED to have stability, so it’s bullshit to think they won’t be bought again. It’s just a matter of letting the publishers do the courting.

The problem is, who is going to take the reins to produce the next adventures of Master Chief?

Bungie will, on the next Xbox.

Just like Kojima said MGS2 would be the last one he makes, yet here he is making what’s effectively MGS5 on the PSP, I don’t think Bungie will let the Chief get too far away. I’m looking forward to the next Xbox being unveiled with an amazing looking video of Halo 4, that continues direct from the legendary ending of Halo 3.