Speculation mounts on Bungie departure

via Computer and Video Games


What started as a dodgy internet rumour is starting look more and more legit; reports are steaming in from various publications backing what we heard yesterday, that Halo developer Bungie is splitting from its parent company Microsoft Game Studios.

8BitJoystick's original source - who doesn't work at Bungie but "knows" someone who does - said that Microsoft has agreed to allow Bungie to become an independent studio, but MS will keep the rights to its cash cow Halo franchise. The source claimed that the split stems from increased friction during the rush to release Halo 3.

Since then other sources tapped up by Team Xbox ("It is more complex than simply Bungie leaving Microsoft or Microsoft letting Bungie go," it claims) and Game Informer (Bungie is "tired of Making Halo, and didn't want to do future Halo games," says its source) have added to the speculation.

The latter report goes on to claim that as well as keeping the rights to the Halo franchise, Microsoft also has "the right of first refusal on future games", which means MS has the first shot at publishing Bungie's future titles.

Perhaps it isn't just a dodgy rumour then? With all the carnage spreading across the internet, an official announcement either way can't be far off.