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Earlier today, 8Bit Joystick caused a simultaneous WTF across the Internet when they claimed to have a source with information on the latest rumblings between Bungie Studios and Microsoft. The source -- who doesn't work at Bungie, but "knows" someone that does -- alleges Microsoft has agreed to allow Bungie become an independent studio again. Expectedly, Microsoft would retain the rights to the Halo IP, not unlike what happened with Bizarre Creations and the Project Gotham Racing IP. In that case, however, Microsoft didn't own Bizarre.

The source goes onto claim the split stems from increased friction between the developer and publisher as they both raced to get Halo 3 out the door. While shocking that Microsoft would knowingly release another company producing high-profile first-party games, the reaction by Microsoft and Bungie today leads credence to the idea there may be some truth to what's going on behind the scenes.

Given the source also claimed NDAs expired today, everyone should be ready to talk, right? Well, not so much.

1UP first got in touch with Bungie, who pointed us in the direction of Edelman, Microsoft's (and thus Bungie's, as they are currently a Microsoft-owned studio) PR outlet. We ended up contacting several Microsoft representatives at Edelman for comment, receiving two slightly differing responses.

"To your question, there's been no such announcement. We can't comment further." -- Microsoft representative #1

"There's been no such announcement. We continue to celebrate the tremendous success of the global phenomenon that is Halo 3." -- Microsoft representative #2

Canned PR responses differ company to company. Representative #1's "we can't comment further" is telling, considering the responses share some identical phrasing, making the official PR line within Microsoft "there's been no such announcement." When a PR company expects requests for comment from a number of outlets about the same piece of news, there is usually a canned response -- "there's been no such announcement" is Microsoft's canned response for today. "We can't comment further" suggests there actually is something more they simply can't talk about yet.

Elsewhere is activity on the Bungie.net and NeoGAF forums, popular hangouts for notable Bungie public figures Frank O'Connor and Luke Smith. Both are usually quick on the posting gun -- snarky or otherwise -- yet while both are actively online (as can be evidenced by NeoGAF's "currently active users" section at the bottom of the board), neither are responding to the quickly exploding thread of virtual shock and awe.

Hmm.

If wheels are churning, it would make sense Bungie's keeping their mouths shut until official word hits, supposedly expired NDAs or not. No reason to spoil the current love fest, especially when they're all continuing "to celebrate the tremendous success of the global phenomenon that is Halo 3." Right?

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Very interesting if i may say. I have no idea why MS would do something like that though.

It sounds like there's been a lot of issues between the employees at Bungie and those who are basically overseeing them and paying their salaries at Microsoft. This isn't a new trend, because it happens all the time, it's just odd that this news come out right after the release of Halo 3.

Weird.

Letting them go again wouldnt seem like the best decision but halo is over and if they ever choose to carry on halo it will be a RTS game, which ensemble has got that area covered with halo wars. Bungie is supposed to be working close with them on that but if bungie goes then surely if there are sequels to halo wars ensemble will just be left by themselves to work 'in the dark'...

I think that any halo spinoff that MS tries without the help of Bungee will not turn out as well.

Well you never know, they already have one spin off being handled by ensemble.

If ensemble pulls this off right they might be able to work on future Halo RTS games by them selves without Bungie influencing that much.

I'm sure any future Halo game will be tied up by Microsoft, so there's no real worry about that. I just can't think of any other games made by Bungie that would appeal to other consoles...I'm not saying that to be a jerk, but the only game I can think of is Halo.

Yeah doesn't surprise me that ms kept the rights to halo either, they need more money!!! But i'm sure with enough effort Bungee could come up with another great game.

They will be working on something currently, we just need to wait and see what Bungie shoots at us next xD

MS owns bungie. so bungie will never leave MS. what can happen is the people who work at bungie could move on and start up another independent company. kinda like how clover left capcom to create seeds.

We are talking about microsoft, right?

Haha yup, i was being a tad bit sarcastic. Kinda sad how i can't stand MS yet i use so much of their stuff.

man bungie is awsome ever since marathon i loved them i say they make a new marathon for 360 =)