Much was made this week over the rumors of Bungie seceding from Microsoft; conspiracy theories ranged far and wide, from some message board posters stretching to theorize that this was more “evidence” of Microsoft getting out of the console industry, to others theorizing that Bungie wanted to go multiplatform, to more credible discussions about the future of Microsoft’s flagship game. Steven Totillo of MTV (who has some damn good gaming coverage actually) went so far as to suggest developers who might be fit to carry on the franchise, albeit in possibly new and compelling directions. Like Tycho of Penny-arcade, the suggestion of Irrational (whom I refuse to refer to as 2K Boston, thank you very much) stirs within me dark excitements that are better left to a personal diary of taboo rather than here.
That certain fans and partisans were worried or salivating in excitement is understandable. It’s not exaggeration to say that Microsoft’s recently renamed entertainment and devices division is the House That Halo Built, and any legitimacy they’ve found with gamers rests on the back of a solitary soldier and his AI love(?) interest, and therefore on the hard work of Bungie. For Microsoft to “lose” Bungie would be a devastating blow to the future plans of a console whose lineup is somewhat foggy after the heavily loaded Fall season we find ourselves in. With that the case, how could Microsoft let Bungie go?
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