Bungie signs 10 year exclusive publishing agreement with Activision

[TheValeyard]

US, April 29, 2010 - This morning, Bungie announced it signed a 10-year publishing agreement with Activision, a deal which gives the studio complete control over its new franchise.

 

IGN spoke with Bungie writer Joseph Staten and community manager Brian Jarrard this morning to discuss the developer's new publishing deal with Activision. Staten says the deal had been in the works for several years, dating back to 2007, when the studio first separated from Microsoft.

 

"The deal that we ended up signing began in 2007 when we became independent from Microsoft and we really looked at where we wanted to be in the future in the kind of deal that we wanted to sign," he said. "And Bungie from the outset wanted to sign a deal where we remained independent, where we owned our own creation and maintain control of it, and where we could reach as many people as possible."

 

 

"As we spent the next couple years really forming this idea and trying to develop this big new universe, we got to the point about a year ago where we were able to show publishers like Activision what our vision was for the next 10 years of Bungie games," he added.

 

Staten said Bungie received offers from just about every company looking to publish the next big franchise from the studio, including Microsoft, but in the end Activision's deal felt the most comfortable for the group.

 

"Of all the deals we looked at, and we certainly had a lot of deals we could have done, Activision's deal was amazing," he said. "Not just because it set us up financially and supported us for the next ten years, but also because they cared about the same things we cared about. They cared about Bungie being independent, owning its own creation, guiding that creation, and for us that was an amazing deal."

 

"We haven't settled for other deals over the last two or three years. We waited to sign the deal that was right for us, and this is absolutely the right deal for us," Staten added.

 

Brian Jarrard added that the deal allows Bungie to have full control over its franchise, something the studio wasn't able to do under Microsoft with Halo.

 

"We will own what we create and through this partnership, Bungie will have complete ownership of this new IP," Jarrad said. "Right out of the gate that eliminated discussions with many potential partners because it's an unprecedented deal in this day and age to let the developer own the IP."

 

"We want to remain independent, we definitely aren't being acquired by Activision, and they're not buying a stake in the studio. We're still very much an independent company."

 

Jarrard wouldn't discuss whether or not Sony or Nintendo fans could see a game on their consoles, but said the studio is looking at every available platform.

 

"We are looking at a multi-platform release, whatever that ends up being," he said.

 

Staten added that the team is looking forward to working on many different platforms, but only where it makes sense for Bungie's new universe.

 

"We're excited to look at any platforms that make sense for the games that we're going to create. Any console platform, any device. Our eyes are wide open and looking at all possibilities," Staten said. "That's something Bungie hasn't been able to do over the last ten years. It was exciting to for us to look at all the offers on the table that we could sign with, having the freedom to tell our stories to as many people as possible. That was a big deal for us."

 

It appears Bungie won't be developing for any other publisher for the next decade. Staten said he doesn't see the studio focusing on other projects that were not under the Activision deal once Halo: Reach is completed and shipped.

 

"This deal is for this brand new universe. I think Bungie works best when everybody at the studio is working on one creative task," he said. "Once Halo: Reach is done, we'll look to get everyone back under the same umbrella to focus on making this new universe really great."

 

As for Bungie's next project, Staten said development began as far back as 2007 when the team began to gather and focus ideas. Since then, their project has become clearer.

 

"The last nine months with shopping our ideas to potential publishers, our ideas have become a lot more specific. We've really been able to present people with a plan for ten years of gaming experiences," he said, "We're in pre-production more right now, but our pre-production is a lot more specific and forward looking than we've ever been. We've taken some stabs in the dark, and we know maybe the kind of stories we want to tell five or ten years from now. We never did that with Halo way back when. We didn't have the opportunity to be that forward-looking."

 

So Bungie is making another first-person shooter, right? Well, maybe not. Staten said the studio is excited about being able to create whatever type of game they want.

 

 

"I think you can expect it to be an action game. That's the kind of games we like to make and play. We're excited to make the best action game ever. Bungie has a long history of making all kinds of games for almost 20 years," he said. "This isn't an announcement of just one game; this is an announcement of ten years of experiences on as many platforms as it makes sense. This is an opportunity for Bungie to flex its creative muscle however it wants."

 

The Halo franchise grew so large that Microsoft had to create its own separate company, 343 Industries, to control how and where the series expands to beyond just gaming. Master Chief has shown up on Mountain Dew drinks, board games, and even pajamas. This time around, however, Bungie will get the final say.

 

"New IP boxer shorts jokes aside, Bungie is in this wonderful position where if we wanted to make movies, cartoons, books, or comics, Bungie gets to decide to do that now. We'll get to decide what makes sense," said Staten. "How many games do we want to make? What kind of comics do we want to do? Whatever makes sense for this new universe and stories we're going to tell, that's now in partnership with Activision. It's Bungie's call. As great as our partnership with Microsoft has been, that really wasn't our call."

 

This new deal allows Bungie to share work and development ideas with Activision's other developers, including Blizzard, creators of the popular World of Warcraft series.

 

"We're excited in working with Blizzard, one of the studios that we've respected for a long time. We love playing their games. They have a really big, talented team with a lot of experience. We're looking forward to working more closely with those guys and everybody else on the Activsion side."

 

Despite Activision's current legal battle with Infinity Ward over ownership rights of the Call of Duty franchise, Bungie said fans shouldn't worry, and that this new deal with Activision remains completely separate from that dispute.

 

"We're not concerned. It doesn't really affect us. We dive down into the details of the deal and understand the differences between the two situations; we really hope it won't worry our fans either," Staten said. "It's a little disappointing that we had to announce this really exciting news for Bungie this week. But we knew in this industry that secrets don't stay secret for a very long time."

 

So when will fans be able to get a look at Bungie's new game? Staten said you probably won't hear anything new until at least 2011.

 

"The rest of 2010 is all Halo: Reach for us. So I wouldn't expect to hear anything else about this new universe until after that."

 

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/108/1086870p1.html

 

Personally I don't care as I don't care about Halo, but maybe they will make something new that will actually be good.

[Zilla]

Bungie games will be Multi-platform at least now, but I believe Activision is one of the worse choices they could have chosen, EA would be been better.

Let's hope they do not sell out... I could just imagine another Harmonix/IW incident happening again...

[DUELMASTER30]

Bungie games will be Multi-platform at least now, but I believe Activision is one of the worse choices they could have chosen, EA would be been better.

Let's hope they do not sell out... I could just imagine another Harmonix/IW incident happening again...

EA has been so annoying lately, especially with those codes that come with games for "free" dlc, yet nearly half the time the cards don't even work. Activision is a good publishing company, they've just had their image drop a little because of the whole IW thing.

[H2PM]

Only a matter of time till they get screwed over just like Infinity Ward.

Or like the others.

[Riku3220]

EA, Activ$ion, and everyone else who isn't actually making the game seems to really like screwing over the customers and the producers...

[Nadril]

Bungie games will be Multi-platform at least now, but I believe Activision is one of the worse choices they could have chosen, EA would be been better.

Let's hope they do not sell out... I could just imagine another Harmonix/IW incident happening again...

EA has been so annoying lately, especially with those codes that come with games for "free" dlc, yet nearly half the time the cards don't even work. Activision is a good publishing company, they've just had their image drop a little because of the whole IW thing.

 

Or the fact that they force sequels out year after year? Acitvision is a terrible publisher.

 

Also the $10 plan ("Free" DLC included in games) from EA is done to combat the used game market which does end up hurting them. Just buy games new and you'll have no problem with it.

[stevepole]

I saw this earlier on Variety. I'm more curious to see what Bungie makes next more then anything.

[Michael]

It's only a publishing deal, IW was owned by Activision so had ultimate control over them, Bungie is owned by Bungie.

[Dizzle229]

Bungie is a great developer, I consider them the Valve of my Xbox <3

 

Can't wait to see what rabbit they pull out of their hat after Reach.