It’s Official: Bungie Breaks Away From Xbox Exclusivity
By Sean P. Aune
While the rumors had been stirring for a while now, no one seemed to believe them. However, it is now official: Bungie can develop for other platforms.
It is not a complete break as Microsoft will retain an equity interest in the mega-popular gaming studio, and the software company retains the rights to the Halo franchise. Microsoft says they plan to continue with Halo as an entertainment property, and have plans with Lord of the Rings trilogy director, Peter Jackson, for an interactive series set in the gaming universe.
Bungie will continue with their primary focus on Microsoft gaming platforms, but they do now have the freedom to do other work, and grow as an independent company.
The interesting things gleaned from this beyond the actual announcement is that Peter Jackson is still involved with Halo, though the movie has had many false starts. It is also an interesting look in to the future of Halo, which supposedly had come to a conclusion with the third installment.
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October 5th, 2007
Actually, Microsoft retains the publishing right to all future Bungie IPs…. so unless Microsoft says yes, future Bungie titles will not appear on PS3 or Wii.
October 5th, 2007
Which means.. your report that “Bungie can develop for other platforms” is wrong, dishonest and deceptive.
October 5th, 2007
[...] Original post by Sean P. Aune [...]
October 5th, 2007
While I appreciate your commentary “whatever”, the reporting is not dishonest or deceptive. There is nothing saying Microsoft won’t allow them to develop for other platforms, and the actual press release says that Microsoft platforms will be a “priority”, not their exclusive focus, implying that they can develop for other platforms.
October 6th, 2007
Somehow you think Microsoft would let Bungie go free without signing a contract with the compulsory “non-competing clause.” Now that’s just naive.
October 8th, 2007
Whatever - We just report the news as we get it. The press release states that Microsoft has first refusal on future IPs, it does not say it any other way.
October 9th, 2007
Just so you know, 8BitJoystick aka Jake Metcalf, has just posted a new blog entry. 8BitJoystick is the same guy who started the rumor and broke the news of Bungie-Microsoft breaking up a week ago.
In his new blog entry, he mentions Microsoft has so-called “publishing rights of refusal,” which he is “sure” allows Microsoft to veto any Bungie’s new game on another system… like, let say, the PS3 or any Sony system.
Sure, that’ll expired… maybe by the time PS4 comes out.
You must be very disappointed.
February 20th, 2008
Bungie can make PS3 games or PSP now Microsoft has no power over Bungie what so ever not even publishing.