Bungie’s Farewell to Halo

Master Chief

It had to happen at some point, folks. As somber as it is, Bungie is finally saying their official goodbye to the Halo series as of August 2nd, they’ll be handing control of Halo: Reach’s matchmaking, etc. over to 343 as they send their legendary franchise off to sea. Or the stars, as it were.

Here’s a bit from their farewell post:

Halo is yours now. In many ways, it always has been. Its new caretakers will strive, just as we did, to be worthy stewards but you have the package. Hold these characters and stories and worlds to the same unflinching standards you did while we were at the helm, but allow them all to blossom and change and grow in the ways that they must.

As such, Bungie says they’ll be running dark after August 2nd, as they continue work on their newest endeavor, a brand new universe that they’re building for publisher Activision. Their final words? “See you starside.”

So how do you guys feel about Halo passing hands? I know some of you don’t care very much about it, and I know we also have some fanboys, myself included. Love it or loathe it, it’s hard to deny such a monumental series and its power, and I’ll be curious to see what happens to it in the future. Thoughts, friends?

Source – Bungie

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I write about samurai girls and space marines. Writer for Smooth Few Films. Rooster Teeth Freelancer. Author of Red vs. Blue, The Ultimate Fan Guide, out NOW!

9 thoughts on “Bungie’s Farewell to Halo”

  1. I actually feel sort of….sad when reading their latest post. The Halo universe, specifically Halo 2, has been a huge part of my gaming life. It also forged friendships for me that will last for a long time. Im here on this site because I know Eddy, and we were brought together through the greatness of Halo 2. Its so strange to see such an amazing game series actually….die peacefully in a way. I dont think 343 will ever do what Bungie did. I dont even think Halo 4 is really the best of ideas, honestly I dont think another 3 games will even be good. So for me, Bungie is actually letting a majestic beast die peacefully. They dont want to keep beating a dead horse, they are moving on. And its so strange to see that. I hope Bungie can continue to make great titles, and hopefully Aerospace will be something amazing too. As for Halo…Honestly it has earned the right to be called an Epic. It is a game that will always be known and I feel it defined and entire generation.

  2. I was never a huge fan or hater of the series but I’m really glad to see that Bungie is moving on. I’d like to see the same thing with Call of Duty as well. It’s time that the most successful game companies move away from safe franchises and begin to build new games.

    With what Bungie did for first person shooters (mostly the multiplayer, at least for me), I would like to see them create a game that is more than that. As far as I’m concerned, every Halo game (with the RTS being the exception), was the same first person shooter. Little seemed to change from game to game in terms of actual gameplay. I’d like to see Bungie make something new, original, and truly unique.

  3. I wish Bungie was still the people to develop the Halo games, but they are moving on with their own projects that I look forward to seeing, and I want to see what 343 Industries does with the Halo franchise.

    343 Industries won’t “kill the franchise”, that’s just those gamers that try to find things to complain about. If 343 doesn’t make huge changes, people will say that they aren’t doing anything for the franchise, if they do make many big changes, people will say they are killing Halo, its how people are. 343 Industries knows this, I don’t think they’ll make big changes, because that probably won’t bother as many people. It will be a Halo game, but many fans will be peeved that Bungie isn’t making it, so they will find their own reasons to hate the game and 343 Industries. Even those people who always complain know that “because it isn’t Bungie” wouldn’t be a good enough reason to hate 343, and the future Halo games.

    Halo: Combat Evolved introduced recharging health, and a limited weapon inventory, things that are now common in Shooters nowadays. Halo 2 was a massive multiplayer juggernaut, that changed what multiplayer was for many people. There are probably many people at Bungie who probably hate seeing another company continue their franchise. There will also be people who will make a lot of noise about Bungie working with Activision, which already owns a certain franchise that many Halo fans hate, not all Halo fans, but many of them.

    343 Industries will get flack for doing its job, future Halo games will sell fairly well, but many will complain because it isn’t Bungie.

    As for me, I look forward to what Bungie does next, and I want to see what happens to Halo in the future.

  4. When I read this Friday, I was nearly tearing up. It felt like the end of an era, a bittersweet farewell but also a new beginning. I love Halo, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come from the franchise. But a lot of my love for it comes from my love for Bungie and how great of a developer they are, and it is sad to see them move on, although I think they made the right decision, and I can’t wait to see what comes from them in the future.

  5. You know, I actually have extremely fond memories of the first game. Playing it with my cousin when he first moved back to my city in his crappy apartment, to playing it with my 3 best friends from junior high / high school who I’m still close friends with. So many good times. It was really the last console game I played I think.

  6. Even though this is just the beginning of something all new.
    It still saddens my heart. Bungie made the first video game
    I played. Now its leaving its usual playing field.

    They went on a whole new tangent now, and I can’t say if it is right or wrong.
    I wish them Luck on their journey so far beyond.

  7. As GamerSushi’s biggest Halo nerd, I feel kind of sad that Bungie is handing their baby off to 343i, even if Microsoft owns the IP. Halo, in my mind, was always Bungie’s game even if it was shackled to MS.

    I’m not sure what 343i will do with Halo going forward, but I really hope they can keep this franchise alive. I know that Microsoft can hire a bunch of really talented people to make a technically sound game, but Bungie always put their heart and soul into each title, and it really showed.

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