Bungie and Microsoft officially split

Halo 3-maker set to "return to its independent roots" with MS retaining a minority financial stake in the company.

Rumours have been bubbling over the Internet cauldron all week that Bungie would be jumping ship from its corporate masters at Microsoft. The rumours seemed unlikely to be true, as Bungie has been wholly owned by the Microsoft machine since 2000.

Today, though, the unlikely became reality. This morning, Bungie announced it was officially splitting away from Microsoft to become an independent, privately held developer, Bungie LLC. Microsoft will continue to retain a minority stake in Bungie and continue its long-standing publishing agreement with the company.

"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," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios.

Bungie will remain in its current location in Kirkland, Washington, and will retain its primary focus on Microsoft platforms. Harold Ryan, Bungie's studio head, commented, "This...will enable us to expand both creatively and organizationally." Ryan also stated that the studio would continue to work on Halo and "beyond."

"Bungie is like a shark," said Bungie founder Jason Jones. "We have to keep moving to survive. We have to continually test ourselves, or we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees." (Emphasis in the original.)

Bungie's latest release, Halo 3, has nabbed $300 million in sales in its first week, becoming the fastest-selling video game in history and is even topping charts in Japan.

1662 Comments

  • SunDestroyeur

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 5:35 pm PT

    MS still own the Halo franchise, but anyway, since MS owned Bungie, Bungie weren't the same great developer as they were before. i'm happy that they could use now more free creativity with the ps3 too

  • kiramasaki

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 3:40 pm PT

    @oneportal, a halo game without chief will be terrible, i m fine with something like odst but thats a spinoff, but if they made a numbered game without the chief that would suck

  • kiramasaki

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 3:38 pm PT

    if they are only going to make xbox games anyway whats the point of this

  • Meritocrat

    Posted Dec 31, 2008 12:51 pm PT

    Superchink:


    "Microsoft being a greedy control freak company meddle too much in their studios affairs after they acquired them."


    Stop drinking the Kool-Aid, you're talking rubbish. Microsoft's marketing budget for Halo turned it from a nice FPS that would (probably) have done well, into a critical and commercial success for the most powerful console available on the market at the time.


    The proof for Bungies' success with Microsoft is self evident; so if you want to argue about "breathing space" get some proof or expect to be laughed off as just another "default setting: OMG OMG Microsoft is always evil!!!1" talking head.

  • Meritocrat

    Posted Dec 31, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    I'm glad to hear that Bungie are going independent. During their time as part of Microsoft their releases all seemed "more of the same" to me.

    T_Covenant:

    try clicking your heels 3 times and saying out loud "The PSP shouldn't exist!" and then maybe it'll disappear. You might have had a stronger argument if you focused on Nintendo for brazenly releasing a new Gameboy every year, as it is you're living in a fantasy land...

  • superchink

    Posted Dec 21, 2008 7:25 pm PT

    Microsoft being a greedy control freak company meddle too much in their studios affairs after they acquired them.

    Microsoft did not give enough autonomy and breathing-space to Bungie (which used to be a free independent studio), and as result they can't take this kind of treatment anymore!

  • T_Covenant

    Posted Jul 27, 2008 5:35 pm PT

    Dangerous. I think the problem with so many third party games, is that it splinters the industry, since each console has less exclusives. I think it is a disturbing treand consumers are allowing, by supporting multiple consoles. We need less consoles, not more. Case in point, there shouldn't be a "PSP". Video game consoles need to be more like media formats, there should be a decisive winner.

    People think now that all three are as relevant, but the value a console retains after it is "obsolete" really is the best baramoter of the consoles success. IE, no second hand videogame store takes in many original Xbox or Xbox games anymore, because Sony were the undisputed winner.

  • siLVURcross

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 5:10 am PT

    I never liked Halo anyways. Overrated to the point of it being plain stupid.

  • oneportal

    Posted Mar 13, 2008 8:19 pm PT

    I know this is old news, but I'm an old gamer. From the dawn of Pen and paper to my Elite. If Bungie is done with Halo, and it seems that they are, then I say you have no cajones. If your current creative talent wants to move on from the Chief, then there are thousands of quality ideas in thousands of intelligent creative types out there can can keep Halo going. If it's popular and somewhat original, than they can create more content. For those that at Bungie tired of it, well, I guess you have no idea how to Finish The Fight. There's a reason we still worship Ali and like-minded lifers. Remember that.

  • anacardo

    Posted Dec 26, 2007 7:44 am PT

    Bungie created some awesome games well before Halo and honestly I can't wait them to get over the Halo stuff and get back to their roots. Probably all that Microsoft wanted were "Halo 4 the premise", "Halo short stories", "Halo racing" and a new Sims2 clone named "The Halos". I believe the guys at bungie have had enough of it already. Now I really wish they bring some Mythesque fantasy game game back, the original was outstanding.

  • mole666

    Posted Dec 24, 2007 2:37 pm PT

    Fantastic, it's about time the Video Game Industry grew up and realised it's potential as a much bigger part of the entertainment industry.

  • POWERFUL-TNT

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 5:42 am PT

    If they are split, this may mean that Halo 3 or next game (Halo Wars) may not be as good as the previous titles. This is the same as UT2004 and UT3.

  • mikewalsh69

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 6:39 am PT

    i'm a ps3 gamer and i really couldn't care if it comes to it or not. art the end of the day its a game. i wud like to seee bioshock come though. people its not coming to ps3 but does that really matter?

  • lostangelz

    Posted Oct 31, 2007 10:15 am PT

    everyone is still on this fanboy sh!t. give it a rest.

    if MS still has a publishing deal with them then they more than likely won't be able to license the games to other consoles without permission. that and who ends up owning the majority rights of the games in question.

    really though, if they did, how many MS fanboys would turn on them? unless you're a prominent shareholder in MS, Nintendo or Sony, who gives a f#*K who 'wins'? this 'war' has limited the type of games being made so far.

  • m1lkshakes

    Posted Oct 20, 2007 9:11 am PT

    Halo 4 on Wii and PS3??? It could happen, but I'm not sure I want it to. I never imagined a halo game that is not on the xbox.

  • gamerTag-shank

    Posted Oct 19, 2007 11:21 pm PT

    im going to laugh at all of you when halo comes out for wii lol. but the only way halo is going anywhere is if bungie buys MS share of halo and i seriously doubt bill will sell. also to those who are saying "in your face xbox" you just over exited because you got a glimmer of hope for your over hyped ps3.

    -----------------------------------------

    There is NO WAY Microsoft allowed Bungie to take the rights to Halo with them. In fact, if you read the article, you will realize that MS plans on continuing to work on projects in the Halo Universe with Bungie and others.

  • ebookerd1

    Posted Oct 15, 2007 7:58 am PT

    Wow I thought this was about Bungie's split not eveyone being a fan boy oh well. Bungie thank you for another good game.

  • BrunoBRS

    Posted Oct 14, 2007 6:24 pm PT

    interesting, so halo DS has a veryveryveryveryveryveryX1000000000000000000000000000000000 small chance of existing, but they would only start the development after some 2, 3 years...

  • osleyee

    Posted Oct 14, 2007 2:19 pm PT

    i am extremely impress with Bungie's latest release, Halo 3, has nabbed $300 million in sales in its first week, becoming the fastest-selling video game in history and is even topping charts in Japan. That history right there. APPLOUS FOR BUNGIE

  • theGman911

    Posted Oct 14, 2007 1:47 pm PT

    Take that Microsoft?? Microsoft and X-Box going down???!?!? LMAO! You people crack me up.. Why? Because now you can possibly play SHI**Y HALO on your system? (which will never happen by the way). HALO blows anyway and it sooooooo not the reason the x-box is superior. The same games that are released on both the PS3 and the x-box, the framerate had to be DROPPED for the PS3 version.. Tell you anything? Cya Bungie, Hated halo 3 by the way.. Thanks for no contribution at all. GO COD4!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Nolan16

    Posted Oct 13, 2007 2:42 pm PT

    Over hyped PS3 you mean under hyped? lol what has PS3 done to be over hyped they've been the underdog since the begining and yes we have a bigger glimmer of hope honestly the future of PS3 looks quite Swell.

  • LinkDragon90

    Posted Oct 13, 2007 4:51 am PT

    im going to laugh at all of you when halo comes out for wii lol. but the only way halo is going anywhere is if bungie buys MS share of halo and i seriously doubt bill will sell. also to those who are saying "in your face xbox" you just over exited because you got a glimmer of hope for your over hyped ps3.

  • Nolan16

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 11:36 pm PT

    lol guys I’d chill the possibilities of Halo ever coming to PS3 is about 1% Bungie made there jump into the world and video game making, I’m a Sony fan boy threw and threw but bungie is going to keep a good thing a good thing and there not going to make unnecessary mistakes like bringing the halo trilogy to Sony. Although I’m happy for one thing bungie can make games for PS3 now =) it wont be halo but it could turn into a sick game. so I’m happy as a PS3 owner knowing bungie will probably be making games multi-plat first before siding with one system because they are on there own and they want to make a profit, but bungie is a good game company and I respect there work so right on bungie! Show PS3 something good.

  • 09231991

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 9:10 pm PT

    agreed surpriseguy, seriously to all the people who think of MS as this monstrous company, seriously get ur ****ing facts right. seriously the only companies here that suck are Nintendo and possibly Sony. think about it, MS has only been into making a console for like 7 or 8 years and Nintendo been in this business for like 20 years and Sony has been in this business for like 12 or 13 years ok and MS has already done more than enough to prove themselves worthy and being better than the other systems. ok wtf was Nintendo thinking spending almost all their time and that stupid ****ing controller, seriously. all their hardware is barely updated and stuff and at least MS and Sony are actually trying to improve their system's aspects than the stupida** controller they came up with. So to all u ****ing Nintendo fanboys and Sony fanboys that are all like hahahahahaha, go **** yourself!

  • laverdegamer

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 2:10 pm PT

    no sony obviously does not diserve all of the money that bungie can make with the halo series because it would just be using. you know a lot of people got the xbox 360 cause of halo 3 so then if they continue the halo franchise on the playstation 3 then so many people would then start to purchase PS3 so that they can continue thier adventure of halo. i really think it was a mistake that they split up with MS. if they do do something on the Ps3 then they wont make as much money casue people will only like it on the xbox 360.

  • xXrebel666Xx

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 7:57 am PT

    Even though I voted Halo 4 for PS3, it really won't happen and I really don't want it to, it was more for the giggles and to rub it in the fanboys face.
    Halo belongs on xbox.

    That said I have both consoles so I really would like bungie to explore new grounds and develop a new title for release on playstation 3 as they are talented devolopers with much potential. PS- I really wish I could see a xbox only owner fanboys face right now =P

  • surpriseguy

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 7:52 am PT

    Halo is a really great game with a fantastic storyline and dynamic multiplayer. This split will be good for Bungie b/c they'll get to stretch their legs and work on other projects without corporate breathing down their necks. From what they've made, I think we will see great things from these guys. As to all of the comments regarding MS's EVIL CORPORATION. Get a life! Don't you have other things to worry about like world hunger, poverty, and a job(?) You're probably very reliant on Microsoft's software within your daily routine, so check yourself. Even if you're an Apple user (as am I), you're still using another monopoly's product.

  • Fists1

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 4:53 am PT

    looks like the 360 is going down, take that microsoft console ventures

  • kahoony

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 2:22 am PT

    I'm kind of annoyed that Bungie and Microsoft have split, but this will let them drift away from the idea of a Halo-4, and will let them focus on other things, hopefully enabling them to make yet another multi-million dollar game! (fingers crossed+touch-wood)

  • lachdaman

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 1:17 am PT

    meh, bungie made one game and released it three times. Microsoft could just buy valve or something, and everything will be a-ok.

  • mickie826

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 5:30 pm PT

    Considering all tha xbox fans (I'm not one), I exageratly hate all the microsoft company and that thing called "bill gates", "windowsw" and another stupid things; so I always said that HALO was't from Microsoft (They don't even have the capacity of the brain to create that), It obviously was from Bungie, and now I think that this can be the bestest decision since the making of halo 3, good luck Bungie, and microsoft please.... DIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

  • Infinite-Zr0

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 4:46 pm PT

    Considering I'm not a Halo fan, this isn't very important to me. But i'll check out which game they release that isn't a Halo brand

  • ivanfred

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 3:05 pm PT

    This is exciting. An excellent developer is now free to make great games for Playstation 3. However, I must agree with the other readers who stated that Halo will never be released on Playstation 3.

  • madmartindale

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 1:58 pm PT

    Gl Bungie ^^
    @MavHZero, wtf man? Take a step into the big world? Bungie have created a fair few great games, Marathon as one series, way before Microsoft came along.
    @Flashn00b, Bungie will not milk Halo. You'll be lucky to get Halo 4 ^^.
    @Snosk8r00, Let me guess, you were crap at it?

  • king_halo_king

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 12:00 pm PT

    Halo is the greatest thing ever created, end of story !

  • MavHZero

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 9:51 am PT

    Its a brave step by Bungie into a big big world. Now they've all "grown up" and daddy Microsoft is no longer holding their hand. Lets see what they can do. I'm looking forward to their future and will support them for at least a while, since I had fun with the Halo Trilogy and want to see more games by them.

  • tweak619

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 9:10 am PT

    Best of luck to Bungie, it may be good by for now but not forever.

  • flashn00b

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 8:27 am PT

    I think that Bungie owns the Halo series, not Microsoft, so i guess those photoshopped "Halo DS" things would become a reality.

  • snosk8r00

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 6:33 am PT

    Im glad bungie split from microsoft... now the only thing that needs to be done is have both companies shutdown and stop making games all together cuz halo was the worst, uninspired, and unoriginal game and series in all gaming history. leave it to microsoft to make the biggest marketing wh0re in gaming history.

  • makryu

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 5:01 am PT

    Great!!!! And please don't take long to drop M$ entirely!

  • FenixWolf

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 4:36 am PT

    Here's to hoping that Marathon makes a return... and that 'mainly focus on the Xbox' means that we might see one or two multiplatform games.

  • Tim57282

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 1:07 am PT

    wow. looks like the rumours where actually true....

  • ppau08223

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 12:30 am PT

    well this might cut down the time of the halo port from 3 years to 2 years!!

  • Ztoky

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 11:04 pm PT

    Well they did a great work good luck Bungie I say!

  • SEEDman_X

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 9:54 pm PT

    wow! I wonder how Xbox will be like w/o Bungie

  • tuner1369

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 8:16 pm PT

    We might not see HALO on the playstation because of the technicallity of microsoft owning the name but since the geniueses at bungie helped out with the idea i think that we will see a similiar game just kinda like gears of war with a twist and i think that it will be a good change of pace for sony or nintendo finally if all companys were smart they wouldnt just hold back for one system they have there games on all instead of halo just for xbox or zelda just for nintendo etc...

  • Deathwing13

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 8:12 pm PT

    Good luck, Bungie, though I'm pretty sure they'll manage quite nicely.

  • berkner_ram77

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 8:11 pm PT

    So the only difference is that bungie will make games without Microsoft breathing down theiir neck 24/7? Is that right? Anyway, Microsoft will still make tons of money off their games, also Bungie wants to mainly support Microsoft consoles. So their really isn't much of a difference is there?

  • ElmoKajaky

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 5:50 pm PT

    Gimme Myth 4!

  • ensk_a

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 3:52 pm PT

    My first post ever OMG i HATE YOU chris102188.whats next from bungie outside halo?

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