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This topic has moved here: Subject: Did Bungie decide to leave Halo or did Microsoft force them?
  • Subject: Did Bungie decide to leave Halo or did Microsoft force them?
Subject: Did Bungie decide to leave Halo or did Microsoft force them?

mwhahahahahahahaha

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  • 05.01.2012 10:15 AM PDT
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The nitty gritty details aren't really out there for everyone as in often the case with contracts, but when MS purchased Bungie back before Halo 1 MS became owner of them and thereby their properties like Halo. When Bungie decided to negotiate for independence, Halo was probably their biggest bargaining chip. Bungie got to keep Marathon (since that's not really a money maker anymore anyway) and some of their other stuff like Myth was sold off to Take2 long before the MS buyout anyway, so those weren't a factor. It actually seems like a pretty generous offer as far as MS goes, letting it's biggest internal developer go independent, but if they hadn't let them they may have just had the major talent walk out anyway. As it stands, as far as the public knows, part of the deal for Bungie to be independent was that they had to develop 2 more Halo games for Microsoft (those being ODST, and Reach) and then the rights to the Halo property were retained by Microsoft.

Bungie has kinda hinted, and maybe even outright said that they were pretty much done with Halo and have said what they wanted to say on that anyway and were ready to move on to new franchises, so even if Bungie had retained the rights it would probably be like Marathon where they keep it on their site as part of their history and support a lot of fan dealings with the franchise. It wouldn't have been something they would've probably had the interest or man power in continuing, so by leaving it with MS, Halo was more valuable as the thing that helped give them their independence as opposed to just languishing as a part of their history, and they got to leave it with someone who was interested in continuing the story and further exploring the franchise that Bungie was pretty much done with anyway.

  • 05.01.2012 10:32 AM PDT

Bungie had the integrity to (want to) walk away from Halo, since they thought they had told as much of the story as they wanted to. Microsoft cares only about the money, and it's going to lead to the destruction of Halo as a unique franchise. Luckily, I won't ever consider anything 343 does part of the Halo canon, so my opinions of the series spreads from Halo 1 to Reach.

  • 05.01.2012 10:51 AM PDT
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Posted by: dirtmcgirt2004
Bungie had the integrity to (want to) walk away from Halo, since they thought they had told as much of the story as they wanted to. Microsoft cares only about the money, and it's going to lead to the destruction of Halo as a unique franchise. Luckily, I won't ever consider anything 343 does part of the Halo canon, so my opinions of the series spreads from Halo 1 to Reach.


Although past experience with Microsoft has made it seem likely that Halo will simply become the latest gaming series to squeeze every last penny they can out of the fans, without caring so much about taking enough time over quality development with storyline, gameplay and so on, I'm willing to at least give 343 a chance before judging the games. I do hope they don't let Halo lose its roots and become another generic game that pops another one on the shelves each year no matter what, but I'm not particularly optimistic, to be honest...

  • 05.01.2012 11:54 AM PDT

When I joined the core we didn't have any fancy shmancy tanks. We had sticks, two sticks and a rock for a whole platoon. And we had to share the rock. Buck up boy. You're one vary lucky marine.

I believe Bungie as a company desired to depart from Microsoft and Bungie just happened to be making their last halo game. When finished, Bungie handed the halo franchise to the young (Bungie based) 343 Industries who formed a contract with Microsoft. Maybe 343 needed the support of a large corporation, maybe the choice has nothing to do with Halo.
On a side note: Microsoft does not deserve any rights to Halo after they bombed the movie deal. Damn i could imagine Samuel L Jackson as Sargent Johnson.

  • 05.01.2012 12:10 PM PDT

Vengeance only leads to an ongoing cycle of hatred.

Bungie decided to leave. It was clear they needed to step down, anyway.

  • 05.01.2012 12:57 PM PDT

Bungie was done with halo after halo 3. the only reason ODST and Reach were made was because Bungie was under contract with Microsoft for 2 more games. I think if Microsoft had their way, Bungie would be making Halo games forever. But as it's been said in this thread, Bungie had the integrity to walk away. I respect them so much more as a game developer for that reason. So many people give Bungie a bad rap because they feel like they've been abandoned. But Bungie didn't want the franchise to define them.

  • 05.01.2012 12:58 PM PDT


Posted by: Mischief
I believe Bungie as a company desired to depart from Microsoft and Bungie just happened to be making their last halo game. When finished, Bungie handed the halo franchise to the young (Bungie based) 343 Industries who formed a contract with Microsoft. Maybe 343 needed the support of a large corporation, maybe the choice has nothing to do with Halo.
On a side note: Microsoft does not deserve any rights to Halo after they bombed the movie deal. Damn i could imagine Samuel L Jackson as Sargent Johnson.


just so you know, Microsoft didn't tank the Halo movie, Fox did. Microsoft and Peter Jackson were all about it.

  • 05.01.2012 12:59 PM PDT
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  • Fabled Legendary Member

I understand nothing because my life is a conspiracy.

They didn't want to do Halo anymore, but Micro$oft still "insisted" on it, so they left.

  • 05.01.2012 1:20 PM PDT

"I may not be perfect, but always been true."


Posted by: Mischief
I believe Bungie as a company desired to depart from Microsoft and Bungie just happened to be making their last halo game. When finished, Bungie handed the halo franchise to the young (Bungie based) 343 Industries who formed a contract with Microsoft. Maybe 343 needed the support of a large corporation, maybe the choice has nothing to do with Halo.
On a side note: Microsoft does not deserve any rights to Halo after they bombed the movie deal. Damn i could imagine Samuel L Jackson as Sargent Johnson.


343 was actually created by Microsoft.

  • 05.01.2012 1:36 PM PDT


Posted by: dirtmcgirt2004
Bungie had the integrity to (want to) walk away from Halo, since they thought they had told as much of the story as they wanted to. Microsoft cares only about the money, and it's going to lead to the destruction of Halo as a unique franchise. Luckily, I won't ever consider anything 343 does part of the Halo canon, so my opinions of the series spreads from Halo 1 to Reach.


Incorrect. They have openly said they wanted to do Halo 4, but also knew that there would be no way to do it properly in 1 game, so they went with Reach instead, and left H4 (and its sequels) up to 343i.

And in case it matters, one of Bungie's founders has said he fully trusts 343i.

[Edited on 05.01.2012 3:23 PM PDT]

  • 05.01.2012 3:21 PM PDT

I'm sure Bungie would have rather kept Halo in their split, but it couldn't happen. It was probably as amicable a break-off as those things can be.

  • 05.01.2012 5:05 PM PDT

Bungie's price for freedom was Halo. And they chose freedom.

However Bungie like any other company was going to get bored of focusing on one game eventually. While they may have wanted to do Halo 4, the deal was sealed and Bungie could only make one more game.

Bungie choose freedom over Halo in the end. Not that it was a bad thing. We need to think about Bungie rather than ourselves and what we want. They're people as well.

  • 05.01.2012 5:54 PM PDT

I started up the heated debate on whether the SPARTAN-II in the cryo tube near the end of Reach is really Linda.
I created the Moa XING avatar pic.
Also I earned the All Star nameplate with this submission to Week 14 All Stars http://www.bungie.net/images/News/Inline11/bwu_0415/art/likea boss.jpg

While I support Bungie, I still think it was a good idea that they stepped away from Halo. Most people complain about Reach for gameplay but I complain about the storyline. While it is canon, it's just BORING.

  • 05.01.2012 10:11 PM PDT
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Posted by: ROBERTO jh

Posted by: dirtmcgirt2004
Bungie had the integrity to (want to) walk away from Halo, since they thought they had told as much of the story as they wanted to. Microsoft cares only about the money, and it's going to lead to the destruction of Halo as a unique franchise. Luckily, I won't ever consider anything 343 does part of the Halo canon, so my opinions of the series spreads from Halo 1 to Reach.


Incorrect. They have openly said they wanted to do Halo 4, but also knew that there would be no way to do it properly in 1 game, so they went with Reach instead, and left H4 (and its sequels) up to 343i.

And in case it matters, one of Bungie's founders has said he fully trusts 343i.


Where was this? The closest thing I've ever heard saying they want to do Halo 4 was a Reach Vidoc or something where when deciding what to do next they were debating SHOULD they do, Halo 4, should they do a side story, etc. Nothing stating that they specifically WANTED to do a Halo 4 that I remember.

  • 05.02.2012 6:51 AM PDT

Posted by: Fearing
The closest thing I've ever heard saying they want to do Halo 4 was a Reach Vidoc or something where when deciding what to do next they were debating SHOULD they do, Halo 4, should they do a side story, etc. Nothing stating that they specifically WANTED to do a Halo 4 that I remember.

This. It shows that Bungie didn't want to make more titles in the main series. If they wanted they could have done Halo 4 and Halo 5 instead of ODST and Reach. But they were tired of Halo as you can hear in the Halo 3 making-of videos. And I'm sure that they could have made Halo 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 as well if they just stayed at Microsoft instead of wanting to go independant.

@Mischief:
343i isn't Bungie based. It is a newly founded studio consisting of people who Microsoft engaged to develop Halo 4 like they engaged Nylund, Traviss etc. for writing the books.

[Edited on 05.02.2012 9:12 AM PDT]

  • 05.02.2012 9:04 AM PDT

bungie left microsoft dint force anything

  • 05.02.2012 10:34 AM PDT

"The" Crazier one...

Step 6. Stage bloody coup of parent company...the Crazier one is exalted you forgot!

  • 05.11.2012 9:33 AM PDT

No matter the odds, I will emerge victorious, because I have the willpower to do so.

Stage 7, profit?

  • 05.11.2012 9:58 AM PDT

Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien.
Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar.
tenn' Ambar-metta!


Posted by: PhilWithFear

Posted by: dirtmcgirt2004
Bungie had the integrity to (want to) walk away from Halo, since they thought they had told as much of the story as they wanted to. Microsoft cares only about the money, and it's going to lead to the destruction of Halo as a unique franchise. Luckily, I won't ever consider anything 343 does part of the Halo canon, so my opinions of the series spreads from Halo 1 to Reach.


Although past experience with Microsoft has made it seem likely that Halo will simply become the latest gaming series to squeeze every last penny they can out of the fans, without caring so much about taking enough time over quality development with storyline, gameplay and so on, I'm willing to at least give 343 a chance before judging the games. I do hope they don't let Halo lose its roots and become another generic game that pops another one on the shelves each year no matter what, but I'm not particularly optimistic, to be honest...


True, it's to hasty to judge 343. Still 343 was formed to milk the Halo franchize, they are doing it already, more books, a new trilogy, a brand new Machinima/youtube/series exclusive.

The fact remains, Microsoft it's gonna milk it as long as it cells, whereas Bungie did Halo to be a entertaining and amazing game and universe. 343 is just revamping other game styles and halo itself in H4. I'm not saying it's gonna be bad or not, that's not for me to tell right now, but it's clear, 343 it's gonna do anything in order to keep selling a new trilogy.

  • 05.11.2012 10:03 AM PDT

"I may not be perfect, but always been true."


Posted by: MasterSin

Posted by: PhilWithFear

Posted by: dirtmcgirt2004
Bungie had the integrity to (want to) walk away from Halo, since they thought they had told as much of the story as they wanted to. Microsoft cares only about the money, and it's going to lead to the destruction of Halo as a unique franchise. Luckily, I won't ever consider anything 343 does part of the Halo canon, so my opinions of the series spreads from Halo 1 to Reach.


Although past experience with Microsoft has made it seem likely that Halo will simply become the latest gaming series to squeeze every last penny they can out of the fans, without caring so much about taking enough time over quality development with storyline, gameplay and so on, I'm willing to at least give 343 a chance before judging the games. I do hope they don't let Halo lose its roots and become another generic game that pops another one on the shelves each year no matter what, but I'm not particularly optimistic, to be honest...


True, it's to hasty to judge 343. Still 343 was formed to milk the Halo franchize, they are doing it already, more books, a new trilogy, a brand new Machinima/youtube/series exclusive.

The fact remains, Microsoft it's gonna milk it as long as it cells, whereas Bungie did Halo to be a entertaining and amazing game and universe. 343 is just revamping other game styles and halo itself in H4. I'm not saying it's gonna be bad or not, that's not for me to tell right now, but it's clear, 343 it's gonna do anything in order to keep selling a new trilogy.


Of course they are going to expand the universe, they have so much potential to continue the story and won't stop just because someone used the term milking. Besides, most of us enjoy the Halo universe, and the more we have of it, the better.

  • 05.11.2012 11:14 AM PDT

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
― Albert Einstein

The want to start something new.

  • 05.11.2012 8:25 PM PDT

Do I really need a signature?

Bungie decided. They wanted to quit after Halo 3. That is why the next two games weren't the greatest.

  • 05.12.2012 8:42 PM PDT
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Posted by: Jimmy the Boss
Bungie decided. They wanted to quit after Halo 3. That is why the next two games weren't the greatest.


I disagree. I thought ODST was brilliant, I really enjoyed the new angle it had on things, with a bit of a change in gameplay etc. And Marty's music was once again top notch!

  • 05.14.2012 2:33 AM PDT