Bill Buys Bungie

Microsoft is acquiring Bungie Software. Bungie will become an independent studio within the Microsoft Games Division, though the company's Chicago offices will be relocated to Redmond, WA. Microsoft will get Bungie's in-development Halo, but the all rights and technologies for Oni and the Myth series will go to former Bungie distributor Take-Two as part of a deal enabling Microsoft to obtain Take-Two's 19.9 percent stake in Bungie. Though Bungie will continue to make it own decisions in regard to development platforms, including whether or not to continue the company's long-time Mac support, the company is expected to play a key role in the development of Microsoft's Xbox. "Microsoft will provide us with the resources and infrastructure we need to continue to build great games and make them available on a worldwide scale," said Bungie CEO Alexander Seropian, "We are also looking forward to helping define the Xbox platform."