Bungie announce partnership with Activision
The story of Bungie is wild, winding, and full of majestic wonder. Weve treaded many pathways over these last nineteen years. But for all the twists and turns weve taken, were still doing what we set out to do from the beginning, back when the whole of Bungie Software Products Corporation consisted of two friends operating out of a basement in Chicago:

Making kick ass games that we want to play.

And as Bungie has grown, the industrys best and brightest have been totally accretive to our own creative margins. Its no secret that while the full might of our studio has focused on making Halo: Reach, another core team, led by our co-founder and Studio Creative Director, Jason Jones, has already begun laying the groundwork to bring our newest universe, stories, and characters to life.

Today, were poised to open a new chapter in Bungies historyone that begins with a partnership between Bungie and Activision and ends where we always knew it would, with World Domination. Our Next Big Thing now has a concrete path, leading from our studio to the platforms of our choosing. The business formalities are behind us. Our Constitution remains unchanged. We are still Bungie, still independent, and now we are free to bring our stories to an ever bigger audience.

Next up, the most ambitious game weve ever made, Halo: Reach. Built upon ten years of experience developing the Halo franchise, weve assembled the best team, the best technology, and the best talent to ensure that Reach is the game our fans deserve. Strap in and buckle up tight, were sending our baby out with a bang.

Once the smoke clears, all the pieces will finally be in place for Step 7. Dont worry, though. We wont let World Domination go to our heads. Were gonna keep making kick ass games on our own terms, and since youve been so supportive throughout the years, wed love to bring you along for the ride.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BUNGIE AND ACTIVISION ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE PARTNERSHIP

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 Bungies 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 industrys most creative, successful and proven studios, whose games have sold more than 25 million units worldwide. To date, Bungies 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 industrys 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.
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Looks like those rumours circulating around 2008 were on the money. Bungie are going to partner with Activision for all new titles developed in the next ten years. Bungie will still retain the rights to their intellectual property, thank god.


Tell me what you guys think about this