It's official: Bungie splits from Microsoft. Press Release.
Submitted by rapture on Fri, 10/05/2007 - 9:56am.
Press Release:
For Release 8 a.m. PDT
Oct. 5, 2007
Bungie Studios Becomes Privately Held Independent Company
Bungie and Microsoft forge new long-term relationship.
KIRKLAND, Wash. — Oct. 5, 2007 — Bungie and Microsoft Corp. today announced a plan for Bungie Studios, the developers of Microsoft’s “Halo” franchise, to become a privately held independent company, Bungie, LLC, in which Microsoft will hold a minority equity interest. As part of this transaction, Bungie and Microsoft have forged a deep and long-term development and publishing relationship focused on the continued success of the “Halo” franchise. It is also the intent of both parties to expand their partnership to include new IP created and owned by Bungie.
Bungie’s critically acclaimed Xbox 360® exclusive “Halo 3” achieved $300 million in global sales in its first week. Released on Tuesday, Sept. 25, “Halo 3” is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history.
“This exciting evolution of our relationship with Microsoft will enable us to expand both creatively and organizationally in our mission to create world-class games,” said Harold Ryan, studio head for Bungie. “We will continue to develop with our primary focus on Microsoft’s platforms; we greatly value our mutually prosperous relationship with our publisher, Microsoft Game Studios, and we look forward to continuing that affiliation through ‘Halo’ and beyond.”
“Working with Microsoft was great for us, it allowed us to grow as a team and make the ambitious, blockbuster games we all wanted to work on. And they will continue to be a great partner. But Bungie is like a shark. We have to keep moving to survive. We have to continually test ourselves, or we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees,” said Jason Jones, Bungie founder and partner.
Bungie’s management retained the services of Don Leeds, senior managing director of B-Hive Global, LLC, to assist in the structuring of the deal and negotiating on their behalf. Bungie will remain in Kirkland, Washington, and is always looking to hire excellent talent.
About Bungie
Bungie was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and to sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination. Over the past 10 years it has produced games such as the “Marathon” trilogy and the first two “Myth” games, hailed as classics by critics and gamers around the world. Bungie’s “Halo” franchise is an international award-winning action title that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 18 million units worldwide, logging billions of hours of multiplayer action on Xbox LIVE®, and spawning action figures, books, graphic novels, soundtracks, apparel and more. The critically acclaimed “Halo 3”, released on Tuesday, Sept. 25th 2007, is the fastest-selling video game ever, achieving $300 million in global sales its first week, making it one of the most successful entertainment properties in history. More information on Bungie can be found at http://www.bungie.net.
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For more information, business only:
Bungie Global Media: Brian Jarrard, (425) 739-4900 ext.1, media@bungie.com
Bungie European Media: Cathy Campos, Panache PR, +44 1483 401099 / Cell: +44 7768 535451 ccampos@bungie.com
Bungie Online: www.bungie.net
B-Hive Global: Don Leeds, donleeds@optonline.net, www.b-hiveglobal.com
source: http://www.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=news&cid=12835
Can't wait until the real story leaks on what caused the split.
I wonder how this will effect the making of a movie. I bet we will learn something big about that soon. As well as PJ's secret project.
You can forget the movie. PJ will continue making his secret project. Bungie/MS will still be working together just as they have been, except Bungie now owns the rights to their own name. I'm sure this means they'll be able to start work on a game that MS wouldn't have wanted them to work on. Probably an XBLA game.
I'm happy for bungie. I think this will allow their creative gaming interests to go in a direction MS might not have wanted aka not halo 4. plus halo wars and the PJ halo game will keep the franchise alive for MS. Good luck bungie, I'll be watching.
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