Source: GameSpot, GameSpot & GameSpot

Even with all the new studios being founded, companies being merged, taken over or outright liquidated; the last place anyone expected change from was Microsoft’s Bungie development team. You all remember Bungie right? They made that semi-popular Halo series. Ahhhh…now you remember. It’s ok, I had to look up “Halo” on google because I had never heard of it either.

*PMPB- the king of sarcasm*

Creators of some of the best selling games of all time, and a prime reason for the success of the Xbox consoles, who would have guessed that Bungie would want out from under Microsoft’s ample shadow? On October 5th this year, Bungie officially announced that they were leaving Microsoft (their owner since 2000) to form, the now independent, Bungie LLC.

Find out what is going to change after the jump!

What is going to change now that Bungie is free from Microsoft? Very little it seems. Bungie lead writer Frank O’Connor said “We have no plans to work on any other platforms beyond 360 at this time…” Microsoft is still a minority shareholder who will continue to publish Bungie’s Halo titles; including the upcoming Halo Wars and the unnamed Peter Jackson game set in the same universe. Microsoft remains poised to support and publish Bungie’s other IP’s in the future as well. Another full blown Halo FPS title is also more than likely to appear in the coming years.

Bungie studio head, Harold Ryan, explained in a statement, “Obviously there are guys that have shipped Halo games for 10 years, and they are definitely ready to work on new IP’s, or create new things.”

This is totally understandable. Playing Halo for ten years will strain even the strongest relationship. Surprisingly, they have many of their brain cells intact and ready for the next project. Not that Bungie has any intention of giving up on their Halo cash-cow. Ryan explained that the separation “will enable us to expand both creatively and organizationally.” In other words “we need some space.”

This really this isn’t a split, more like a half-assed romantic break-up. “We’re not going out anymore, but I still want to do all the same stuff with you…i.e. use your car, stay at your house, have you pay my bills, but WE ARE NOT together anymore.” Sheesh, why am I flashing back to my college days?

Anyway, I’ll leave you all with this gem of a statement from Microsoft’s former GF:

“Bungie is like a shark,” said Bungie founder Jason Jones. “We have to keep moving to survive. We have to continually test ourselves, or we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees.”

That’s why Bungie breaking up with long time Bo, Microsoft, checks in at number 9 on Sarcastic Gamer’s top 100 Gaming moments of 2007!

Click here for the rest of Sarcastic Gamer’s Top 100 Gaming Moments from 2007 all in one place!

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