Bungie and Activision sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g
Bungie and Activision sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes loves, then comes marriage…and here comes Bungie with Call of Duty: Halo Warfare?
Okay mark this down as the biggest “WTF” moment in gaming (at least this year). Bungie has entered a publishing agreement with the kings of milking, Activision. So what this means is that the next big thing from Bungie will be coming from Activision. No one knows what their next title or project will be but I find it hard to believe it would be anything Halo related. Bungie has been fighting tooth and nail to get away from doing Halo only so perhaps this is that opportunity.
I would normally put my own spin on the announcement but I think it’ll serve it best if I simply did the lazy copy/paste routine.
Press Release:
10-Year Alliance Expands Global Reach for Leading Game Developer Across Multiple Platforms
Kirkland, WA and Santa Monica, CA – April 29, 2010 — Bungie, the developer of blockbuster game franchises including Halo, Myth and Marathon, and Activision, a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, the #1 online games publisher (Nasdaq: ATVI), announced today that they have entered into an exclusive 10-year partnership to bring Bungie’s next big action game universe to market. Under the terms of the agreement, Activision will have exclusive, worldwide rights to publish and distribute all future Bungie games based on the new intellectual property on multiple platforms and devices. Bungie remains an independent company and will continue to own their intellectual property. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The groundbreaking alliance will provide Bungie its first such partnership since splitting off from Microsoft in 2007, significantly broadening its global reach by providing the resources and support to develop, distribute and release games worldwide on multiple platforms and devices.
Activision will broaden its portfolio with a new franchise from one of the industry’s most creative, successful and proven studios, whose games have sold more than 25 million units worldwide. To date, Bungie’s Halo games have generated approximately $1.5 billion in revenues, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and GfK. Activision expects this agreement to be accretive to its operating margins as of the release of the first game.
“We chose to partner with Activision on our next IP because of their global reach, multi-platform experience and marketing expertise,” said Harold Ryan, President of Bungie. “From working together over the past nine months on this agreement, it is clear that Activision supports our commitment to giving our fans the best possible gaming experiences.”
“Bungie is one of the premier studios in our industry and we are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with their talented team over the next decade,” stated Thomas Tippl, Chief Operating Officer of Activision Blizzard. “Bungie has developed some of the most compelling and successful games, multiplayer experiences and thriving fan communities, and this alliance underscores our long-standing commitment to foster the industry’s best creative talent. Our unprecedented partnership with Bungie will enable us to broaden our pipeline of exciting new games as we continue to strengthen our industry position and pursue long-term growth opportunities.”
What say you?
April 29th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
i say no matter how much people bitch and moan about these 2 companies they make quality games. im excited/worried to see what will come from this
April 29th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
I hope Bungie reads the fine print or they could get screwed ala Infinity Ward.
April 29th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Didn’t Bungie leave Microsoft so they could do there own thing? I guess they just wanted to be apart of the worst publishing bitch out there!
Bungie is Activision’s bitch now. = DUMB!!!
April 29th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
WTF is going on. I need to see all the fine print.
April 29th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Hmm, sounds like this could work. This definitely means games other than things Halo-related which is also interesting. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.
April 29th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I hope it’ll work out, but this probably won’t end good.
April 29th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Think logically here guys.
This is Bungie. They’re not retarded.
I’m quite sure they’re aware of Infinity Ward and the developers’ legal troubles with Activision.
I hope Bungie doesn’t screw themselves over. There are much better publishers out there.
Hell they could have been their own publisher even.
April 29th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Who says Bungie can make a successful/quality IP outside of HALO?
lol, Activision & Bobby Kotick getting Bungie games… How fascinating.
Glad I stopped supporting Activision/Booby a long time ago. I look forward to see what they do together in the next 10 years, I bet it’s nothing special. Bungie really is a SINGLE IP hit wonder, while Activision has almost ZERO fresh ideas that goes into each new installment of their games… So yeah, I don’t see anything special coming from them. = They both suck ass!
April 29th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
mike, i hate to be the bearer of bad news.. but Bungie has had a lot of other games… Myth, for one was epic, so idk where you were going with that thought…
April 29th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Myth was only EPIC to those who love to point at objects & click a mouse button… It was no where near the hit wonder (LIke I said) That Halo is… Next time get a clue pH.
April 30th, 2010 at 12:43 am
“Awards
The first of the Myth series, The Fallen Lords was very acclaimed for its time, Myth II followed with larger sale success and popularity.
Myth: The Fallen Lords, 1997
PC Gamer Best Real Time Strategy Game of the Year
Computer Gaming World Strategy Game of the Year
Computer Games Strategy Plus Game of the Year
Macworld Magazine Game of the Year
GameSpot have included the Myth series in the “Greatest Games of All Time” hall of fame.
Myth I was listed in the Best of 1997 and Myth II in 98 at Games Revolution.com”
p.s.- obviously it isn’t better than Halo.. are you drunk? lol. besides that was only one game series they did.
April 30th, 2010 at 4:04 am
Awards don’t mean jack when I am talking success in sales pH, you dimwit! lol
April 30th, 2010 at 7:39 am
After reading the IGN/Bungie interview, http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/108/1086870p1.html , I’m left thinking that Bungie is in a great situation to create the games they want to create and not have to worry about initial funding. According to the interview, Bungie is still an independent developer with full ownership of its IP. Activision will of course earn a percentage of profits from sales of the new IP, but it doesn’t sound like they have much say in what Bungie does. If all of this is accurate, Bungie has the best of both worlds, deep pockets and freedom. Time will tell (2011) if this is all worth a crap.
April 30th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Sounds all good & groovy shoedog, but I doubt very much that in reality it will turn out that way… IN life, the person/company who shells out the cashola, are the ones who are in the drivers seat.