Bungie: E3 game announcement pulled by publisher [Updated!]

by Christopher Grant { Jul 15th 2008 at 10:15PM }

After weeks of speculation regarding their new project, Bungie just updated their site with the sobering news that plans to announce the game at E3 "were just changed by [its] publisher." We can only assume that that publisher is none other than Microsoft Game Studios; if so, it's certainly not a promising sign for the newly freed Bungie's publishing relationship with former parent company Microsoft.

We've put requests into Bungie and Microsoft. Read Bungie pres Harold Ryan's message after the break. (Note there's no mention of the publisher; looks like they want to keep it clean).

[Update: We just heard back from Bungie's Luke "Luke Smith" Smith who tells us, "We still have an exclusive publishing agreement with Microsoft, as we confirmed when we announced the split last year. That arrangement has not changed." So, there you have it. No word back from the Big M. Update 2: Luke's keeping busy. He left two comments on NeoGAF (here and here) not only assuring skeptics that this was in fact not a part of the game's marketing plan ("not our style") and that Bungie's publisher is, indeed, Microsoft.

Update 3: Those sleuths at X3F have noticed a sort of reversal in Bungie's teasing: references to the superintendent in Halo 3 have been removed. Update 4: We interviewed Microsoft Game Studio's Phil Spencer earlier this afternoon, just before this news broke, but conveniently we had already asked him about the absence of Bungie's game at the Microsoft press conference. Read his comments here.

Update 5: Xboss Don Mattrick has confirmed that Bungie is in fact working on a new Halo title. Whether or not this unannounced project is that title is unclear. Update 6 (17 July): Mattrick tells the L.A. Times the Bungie announcements was cut to -- get this -- save time. After all, they had an "embarrassment of riches" as it was.]

From: Harold Ryan
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:00 PM
Subject: E3 Announce

For the last several months, we've been building toward a reveal of something exciting that Bungie is working on. We were looking forward to sharing that with our fan community during the week of E3. However, those plans were just changed by our publisher.

We realize that many of our fans are disappointed by this turn of events; members of the Bungie team share that disappointment.

When the right time comes, we look forward to sharing this exciting announcement with you. Until then, we appreciate your continued support and patience.

Harold Ryan
President
Bungie LLC

Tags: BreakingNews, Bungie, E3-2008, Microsoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Banstyle @ Jul 15th 2008 10:17PM

Making games without Microsoft is hard.

SI 777 Statistical Processing Continues @ Jul 15th 2008 10:30PM

Co @ Jul 15th 2008 10:37PM

However, gaming without Microsoft is pure heaven.

Envoy X @ Jul 15th 2008 10:49PM

WTF? This E3 has got to be one of the worst one ever...

BananaBoat @ Jul 15th 2008 11:03PM

Now they almost have to announce it, or it's bad for PR. Good job Bungie, for putting out a hype campaign before asking for permission -_-

waves @ Jul 17th 2008 8:41PM

Well... Considering that Microsoft is the publisher, it seem like making games with Microsoft is a bitch. They call the shots for their own interests, clumsily stepping all over the hype/ARG that Bungie was working on.

It seems like after the all the big news at the MS event, and the lack of anything groundbreaking at the Sony and Nintendo events, they decided that they had already 'won' E3 (so to speak) and they could save the Bungie announcement for a later date, spreading their megatons around. It makes sense from a tactical standpoint, but it's still a dick move on their part.

Bryan @ Jul 15th 2008 10:18PM

I'm bummed, but I can wait. They'll probably announce it at PAX, and that is only a month away.

Exo @ Jul 15th 2008 10:21PM

i dont know, this could just be part of their gag, in fact i wouldnt be suprised if it is.

Xoviet chiK @ Jul 15th 2008 10:29PM

I hope so. I don't see why they wouldn't return their site to normal, taking away the splash page and announcing this as news if it weren't.

My fingers are crossed.

giantenemycrab @ Jul 15th 2008 11:09PM

It does seem like they would update their website if it truly was canceled, but then again, if it really was a spur of the moment thing the website might have got lost in the details. I hope this is a gag, I was really looking forward to Bungie's announcement..

FLY PRO @ Jul 15th 2008 10:23PM

ARGHHHHHHH they are obviously not the bunana king like we thought they were, big disappointment:( :( :(

arrrgh @ Jul 15th 2008 10:33PM

FFLLYY PPRRROOO that's what i was thinkin too:(:(:(

aMac @ Jul 15th 2008 10:22PM

Damnit! No!

This E3 couldn't get any worse

NukeAssault @ Jul 15th 2008 10:23PM

Yeah i just read this on the Bungie site. I was so excited to hear what it was too! I don't see why they wouldn't show it though. I mean come on its E3. Whats a better time then now to reveal the new game? *sadface*

Reuben @ Jul 15th 2008 10:54PM

I TOTALLY agree with you, stranger that I've never met before.

Bucfann @ Jul 15th 2008 10:24PM

This was scripted to happen. I believe Bungie had this set up from the beginning, for this message to appear.

SovietSpartan @ Jul 15th 2008 10:31PM

you are correct the timer was set to expire today... even though some interpreted to be tomorrow. 2008 was a leap year, if you remove the extra date it means the timer was set to expire today.

^Im sorry I just bullshotting.

Mr.ESC @ Jul 15th 2008 10:26PM

O-0? So Ms told them to not announce teh haloz? or it is a new project?

Exo @ Jul 15th 2008 10:30PM

who said it was ms? they are they own company now, this most likely is for a different publisher, this would make sense as they decided to go independent

theturtle363 @ Jul 15th 2008 10:31PM

if it was a new IP Microsoft wouldnt have any say over it. Since Bungie is independent Microsoft could only pull the reins in on a halo project

Mr.ESC @ Jul 15th 2008 10:46PM

I thought this was going to be yet another Halo game but then if it's different game I wonder who is the publisher.

Ryan @ Jul 15th 2008 11:22PM

Exo and Turtle, Bungie has a publishing deal with MS. I think MS has the right to first refusal under the terms of bungie being independent. So new IP or something new in the Halo universe this will 98% be an MS published game.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 15th 2008 11:32PM

@Mr.ESC

Guessing its a new project. I doubt Microsoft would have pulled the plug on any announcement at this point. It was more than likely staged to get some attention and get speculation going on the new project. I don't understand why they would want to get freedom and then cling back to Microsoft's nipple for a fresh sip of mama's milk on their first title.

BTW Mr.ESC I did not get a chance to respond to you last night so I will do that now. I think you were just being overly sensitive. The thing about the Tijuana hooker was more of an expression than an attack like you took it. Thats the gist of what I got skimming through your drivel. It was to long and I didn't bother to read most of it even though I wrote it! Like you *ALWAYS* say (type) tl;dr ... I learned an electronic emotion!

Thanks.
Chris.
Hansen.
...
Avatar.

Saving the world 1 predator at a time!
And one fanboy at a time!

::extends branch filled with yummy, juicy, martini soaked olives::

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 15th 2008 11:54PM

Update:

There goes my mama's milk theory

:(

Mr.ESC @ Jul 16th 2008 12:01AM

John Lulz.

Peace.

And that's how the internet learn that the only way to achieve peace is by ignoring things too long to read when instead you could be outside doing something that matters or just playing "Vidjea gaemz".

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 16th 2008 12:02AM

Did you see the tag from Luke Smith's NeoGaf account

"No more sharecropping
On Redmond's plantation
I took the Freedom Road"

OUCH

pinsleric @ Jul 15th 2008 10:29PM

Based on the little clock in the corner, I'm waiting for midnight

FSK405K @ Jul 15th 2008 10:29PM

Oh good, I was worried the Banjo-Kazooey news was the big announcement.

Bucfann @ Jul 15th 2008 10:30PM

Its Bungie up to their tricks..LOOK

Harold Ryan isnt even the President of Bungie, he is a tester..
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Harold_Ryan

Xoviet chiK @ Jul 15th 2008 10:32PM

lol, nice find. This is why Bungie rocks.

SovietSpartan @ Jul 15th 2008 10:32PM

It was edited to make it seem so.

theturtle363 @ Jul 15th 2008 10:33PM

that's a good find

Xoviet chiK @ Jul 15th 2008 10:34PM

http://www.bungie.net/Inside/MeetTheTeam.aspx?person=ryan

pete @ Jul 15th 2008 10:44PM

Wrong, he's the studio manager!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003823248_brier06.html

http://halojunky.com/bungie-podcast-studio-manager-harold-ryan

NukeAssault @ Jul 15th 2008 10:45PM

Huh, i didnt even realize he signed it as President. Nice catch. XD

Sora @ Jul 15th 2008 10:48PM

Maybe the replacement E3 reveal is his promotion? Or maybe Bungie IS up to shens.

giantenemycrab @ Jul 15th 2008 11:11PM

If this is indeed a gag, the people at bungie are geniuses at building hype for a game.

K9Rescue @ Jul 16th 2008 12:33AM

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=3696049

October 2007 - "Bungie will develop games exclusively for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Windows PC platforms "for the foreseeable future," said Harold Ryan, Bungie's PRESIDENT and studio head, in an interview."

DangerMouse @ Jul 15th 2008 10:32PM

It's a trick. I'm sure they'll reveal it tomorrow.

SI 777 Statistical Processing Continues @ Jul 15th 2008 10:34PM

Sora @ Jul 15th 2008 10:34PM

I tipped you on this and got no credit =(

belden @ Jul 15th 2008 10:57PM

I'm pretty sure they were tipped off by the email they got from Bungie just like it says in the article.

Sora @ Jul 15th 2008 10:58PM

It's not an email, it's a message on the bungie.net homepage.

Misfit Toy @ Jul 15th 2008 10:37PM

Who's the publisher so we can punch them?

Churchy @ Jul 15th 2008 10:48PM

I was thinking we could do much worse things to them O_o;

Sledgehammer44mm @ Jul 15th 2008 10:40PM

Hey guys I wouldn't worry it might of been something lame you never know, you know?

I wasn't really looking forward to it really it would of been nice to see but it more a less didn't seem like something as cool as perhaps Halo 4 whatever it was they had to say.

E3 has totally went down hill since they got rid of the booth babes an such. Plus how are companies like the people who are making Faith an a 45. show anything at E3? When e3 just wants money! and those who don't have a ton if they don't pay no show.

Making us the people not able to go an see these things first hand like the past and limited the show to only a handful of stuff we already know mostly about anyway.

It's really a sign of the end to come in my mind.
Plus the net is so much better to get news from then holding one big event that we all wish in some way we could be apart of but can't anymore you know?