Posted by 8bitjoystick at 10/3/07 12:06 p.m.

My source has a position that puts them in a reliable chain of information directly out of the inner working at Bungie and has no reason or motive to be pulling my leg. I can't publicly talk about my sources inside Bungie/Microsoft because I don't want to compromise their relationship with their employer and the companies that they love. The more I say the easier it would be to point fingers so I am shutting up for their sake.

I am willing to look like a liar, rumor monger and crazy blogger to protect my source but I'll am sticking to what my source told me.

I know that Bungie is owned by Microsoft but they have kept a unique culture and were not directly assimilated back in 2000. Bungie employees are not typical "Blue Badges" and that is another reason why the idea of them wanting to separate from Microsoft is a realistic possibility.

I don't think that Microsoft wants Bungie to leave and I honestly think that the ink is not dry on what ever documents detail their future arrangement between the two groups. Also this week was the roll out of the new Zunes and people that would normally be dealing with stories like this were working on the Zune rollouts… (It still does not work on Mac OSX).

Either way Microsoft will either officially state their future relationship with Bungie… We just don't officially know what that is going to be but unofficial channels are saying some interesting things.

Jake Metcalf

Posted by unregistered user at 10/3/07 2:29 p.m.

Hi Jake,

I am curious because typically Bungie is adamant when refuting rumours and hearsay. However, I have noticed that Microsoft and Bungie have yet to repudiate this story (essentially spewing vague statements and/or going dark)so there might be some validity to your story but then again, there are many skeptical gamers including myself that can't fathom Microsoft ditching or even allowing Bungie to be able to create games on non-MS platforms since FASA is now closed and Blizzard which was responsible for the Forza series going to Activision.

One more thing. 2 friends of mine have confirmed that the Bungie team is still listed in the global address book at Microsoft. They are FTEs and one of them had lunch with a member of Bungie.
Maybe, you should verify some of your source's statements first through 3rd parties. This is probably why many people are very skeptical.

Posted by 8bitjoystick at 10/3/07 3:18 p.m.

I think their silence is speaking volumes. The entire story might not be about other Bungie publishing for other platforms. They might just not want to report to Microsoft Game Studios directly. Their motivation might have more to do with micromanagement of their projects than them working on a PS3 or Wii game.

Well there are three possibilities about the address book.
1. My source could have been wrong about that detail.
2. It might have been Bungie's email lists that took out Microsoft's listings.
3. They might have put the email list back to how it was originally once the story broke so every person in Redmond campuses could not check it out.

It's the British studio Bizarre Creations that is going to Activision. Bizarre created Project Gotham Racing 1-4 for Xbox one and 360. Blizzard is the Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft and World of Warcraft folks in California. And Forza was made by Microsoft Game Studios, not Bizarre or Blizzard.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/3/07 3:19 p.m.

The rumor is true. I know someone at Bungie. They are unhappy with the profit sharing which did not materialize they way they thought it was agreed to. And they have other projects in the work they want to do.

The official announcement should be very soon.

Anon, but true.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/3/07 3:19 p.m.

Blizzard makes Warcraft, not Forza. And they have never been affiliated with Microsoft.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/3/07 8:38 p.m.

I also know someone at Bungie. They no longer can buy goods as Microsoft employees at the Microsoft store as of October 1st. Take that for what it's worth.