UPDATE: Microsoft just contacted MTV Multiplayer with an official statement, confirming the prospective hires will work on Peter Jackson’s “Halo” project.
“A Peter Jackson-helmed Halo project was announced at X06 in Barcelona,” said a Microsoft spokesperson. “Since then, Microsoft Game Studios has been hard at work collaborating with Peter Jackson and Bungie on the development of that project. At this time, it’s necessary to grow the internal team to keep pace with development. Bungie will continue to remain involved in multiple aspects of the Halo Universe with MGS.”
[END OF UPDATE]
A few days ago, Microsoft quietly added several job listings to its careers website.
The company is looking for a Creative Director, Producer, Game Engineers and more to “help develop a new experience in the Halo universe.”
It appears Microsoft Game Studios is looking for folks to become a new “Halo” development team within their Redmond, Washington offices. And they’re not part of Bungie Studios. There’s no mention made of working with Bungie anywhere in the job postings.
Bungie continues churning out map packs and managing the “Halo” community, but have repeatedly suggested they’re working on a new game not set in the “Halo” world.
There are other “Halo” games coming. “Halo Wars” is well into production at Ensemble Studios and slated for a 2008 release.
There’s also a Peter Jackson project coming called “Halo: Chronicles.” We haven’t heard much about that one since it was announced in late 2005.
Cleverly disguised language in the job postings point us in Mr. Jackson’s direction.
According to the job listings, Microsoft wants a Creative Director for this new “Halo.” But it doesn’t seem a completely new endeavor; one of the bragging rights for the Creative Director is to “partner with key Hollywood talent to collaboratively craft a masterful game experience” and [emphasis added] “collaborate with game play designers, story writers, game writers, and said external luminary to deliver on a unique game in the Halo universe.”
Hmm, who could that be?
Microsoft has kept their collaboration with Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson very quiet. Bungie has mentioned their involvement with the supposedly episodic project — codenamed “Halo: Chronicles” — but never said they were developing it. The job postings’ omission of the word Bungie could indicate the studio isn’t involved in whatever this new project is.
For reference, here are links to all of the available jobs on the allegedly new Halo team: Build/Automation Engineer, Producer, Game Engineer, Senior Game Engineer, and Creative Director.
Readers, how do you feel about a non-Bungie “Halo” game?
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I’ve been wondering what was to come of this project since Bungie and MSFT parted ways. Bungie, before announcing their independence, teased exciting new info about this project to be released around the end of 2007. After splitting from MS, they haven’t mentioned it anywhere that I’ve seen. As the movie has fallen apart, WETA has since sold off most of the Halo assets they developed. Jackson, additionally, has a pretty full plate over the next several years.
This job posting could turn out to be the revival of the Halo-Jackson partnership, but somehow I imagine Jackson’s involvement in the Halo universe will eventually be forgotten.
What is certain, is that Halo 4 will be made, and Bungie will not be the ones to make it. Who will is anybody’s guess, but it’s certain to be very, very close to Microsoft. My bets are on Gearbox.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
LK ZOmG ThS Lk SooOOo UbER I Cnt W8!!1!11!!!1!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Haha, well I guess I was wrong. In this case, I’m glad I was. It’d be nice to get some solid information about this project however.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Bungie Angers me sometimes but I Have almost every Halo thing imaginable and I say this.
If there is going to be a Halo 4 and Bungie does not make it,
I refuse to buy it and I know many of my friends will say the same.
I cannot see it without Bungie.
We all know that if bungie does not create this game it will be garb.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:10 am
I don’t think Weta has sold off “most of” the Halo props (or indeed any) - they’re not known for doing that at all. I live here in Wellington NZ, and went to last weekend’s fantasy convention, Armageddon’08, where I briefly spoke to Richard Taylor about Halo (it seemed a natural subject, given that I had just sat in the (fullsize, ultra realistic, actual vehicle) Warthog.
The word is that there are quite a few warehouses full of (among other things) Halo props still here in NZ, and Weta lives in perpetual hope of something still happening in the future. Nothing solid was on the immediate horizon though, but that was last weekend - maybe things have changed since then…?
(He also said that Evangelion was still a fervent and realistic hope)
- Jack M, Wellington NZ.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Yeah, I’d play it. I’m curious what others will do with the Halo universe. Doesn’t have to be top-notch Bungie quality…just a solid game with an interesting take on the IP would do.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
halo with out bungie is like pizza with out the Souse
April 24th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
If there is a halo 4, if not bungie, plz atleast have unreal gaming make it, i mean look how good the graphics were for gears of war! So hope bungie makes it but not looking to good, although bungie has lied ppl. Ill keep my fingers crossed
April 25th, 2008 at 6:43 am
To be fair Bungie will most definatly be involved in some way, look at Halo wars, Ensemble are constantly seeking Bungie input on story and character development.
Also if todays story on CVG is to be believed Bungie is in fact teaming WITH WETA studios to do a prequel game to the original Halo.
More Halo can only be a good thing guys
April 25th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I hope Bungie realizes that some gamers “really” like the Halo world “they” created. Their next creation will be a direct competitor to Halo games of any vintage. I may not be willing to give their new game the time of day because I will be gaming somewhere in the Halo Universe. For example, COD 4 is a great game that I’ve chosen not to use my precious gaming time on. You can derive from that what you want but the important thing is that I represent a percentage of the gaming population, just like each of you do.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
i hope none of you actually follow this blog…
I came here from the bungie website. marks the first and last time i shall gaze upon it.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:32 am
If you want the low down with the info try some of the community web sites, HBO for example and heck the weekly updates at B.net are more than most gaming studios do for thier fans. My bet is that bungie is working on a few things outside the halo universe and colaborating with microsoft on halo universe projects since MSG still has the rights to the Halo IP.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
GAMERTAG …VEHICON
April 26th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
From Bungie’s weekly update from 04/25/08:
So what does this all mean? In a nutshell, Microsoft is building a development team to work on future Halo game titles - the first one being collaboration with Peter Jackson. Just like the upcoming Halo Wars from Ensemble, this isn’t “our” game. However, having worked with him already, we are possibly more excited than you are to see what someone of Peter Jackson’s imagination, talent and resources can bring to a Halo game experience. Bungie will, however, continue to remain very much involved in multiple aspects the Halo Universe as part of our ongoing relationship with Microsoft.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I think that any “Halo” not from bungie is a ripoff, microsoft may own the name but bungie’s got the game. I think any game bungie makes will exceed Halo 3. after all, halo 1 was better than marathon (Technologically), halo 2 knocked halo 1 out of the country, and halo 3 ate halo 1 and halo 2 like donuts. The best way i can phrase it this, “Microsoft’s got the name, but Bungie’s got the game.” any REAL Halo fan will just ignore whatever -BLAM- microsoft comes out with.
April 26th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I think all commets are wrong microsoft joined 3 to make some more money in live im a major grade 3
April 26th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
gamertag is MRGRANDE300
April 27th, 2008 at 10:58 am
im gunna put a twist on one of the old comments:
halo without bungie is like pizza without a base. it falls apart. unless the pplz making halo 4 are serious halo fans its gunna be hard to make it right. who know what’ll hapen, they cud make cheif look way diferent, they could stuff up the elites, and brutes cud become weak as p..s again….
April 27th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I’m willing to see what exactly other game developers see Halo being, like think of it like this, Guitar Hero 3 wasn’t even made by Harmonix yet Activision still found a way to make it be the biggest competitor for Rock band. Yes I know that a music/rythm game is different then a FPS and especially the Halo franchise which is nearly directed at its community with hidden things and such. also I wonder if Bungie would still be managing the online experience because to go from Halo 3 with Bungie favs, file share, screenshots, films, clips, and maps to Halo 4 with none would cause unessesary hype. but still im willing to give the new developers a chance to show how they see the Halo universe and see if they way they see it will cause as much of an uproar as the way Bungie did.
- Zytrox -
April 28th, 2008 at 1:50 am
I’m Not going to buy it it is going to be junk without Bungie
April 28th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Ya,Im not going to buy it either,for one look at Peters track record with video games, none of them were real big hits,Just because your a good movie director doesnt make you Number one on the totum pole in the video game industry. I think he should stay with the movies,like another lord of the rings or something. And even though Bungie will over see ops on this game their words have no bareing. “MICROSOFT DOES WHAT MICROSOFT WANTS” and thats my final answer Regis.
April 28th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Halo 4 would and will not be as “Halo’ish” as Bungie (bless their souls) made the games.. if Gearbox or Activision or whatever made an upcoming Halo 4, it would probably suck because then they would have to begin on scratch… Bungie would just improve the Halo 3 and build their story and gameplay based on their totally-awesome Halo 1, 2 and 3. Based on the ending of Halo 3, i’m GOD DAMN sure that Halo 4 will arrive in the future and that it will say BUNGIE!! down on the bottom of the cover… Anyone agree with me?
– Halo is… Love –
April 28th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Honestly, if some other company made Halo4 i’d buy it because you never know it might turn out to be as good if not better than any of the bungie made halo series. I’m looking forward to the “Halo:Chronicles” and Halo Wars, needless to say both games will be interesting. I’m also gonna send my resume to the new MS add, i highly doubt i’ll be picked but you never know =)
April 29th, 2008 at 11:33 am
halo is awsome because of bungie and without it it will suck who would want a ripoff no one so get bungie or get lost.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
i used to watch mtv when it was actually music television. this site should not even exist, let alone talk about bungie.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Nobody can match bungies quality and attention to detail. Not to mention its ridiculously awesome support for its community. I will buy whatever game bungie makes from this point on.. and probably buy halo anyway just to see, but once i realize its the bust its destined to be, say good bye to the wonderful series of halo.
Just look at the original halo port to PC, garbage in my opinion.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:28 am
You know what would be a great game, and i hope Bungie makes it, or maybe this is or something similar to the game that Microsoft has mentioned, but i’d like to be able to play a story that explains how and why Master Chief is the last spartan. Hopefully this is what “Halo: Chronicles” is all about, when the covenant army and the humans first made contact, when the spartans went to war. I want to know what made John 117 so special, and what happened to the rest of them. Oh sure there are books and comics and all that may have the explanation i seek, but nothing quite feels like cannon to a franchise like the original media it was on. For example, Star Wars, i will never find a Star Wars book cannon to the storyline, as anyone could have written it and submitted it to the right publisher, so i won’t waste my time on it. Maybe if George Lucas were the author, i’d read it. A Halo movie i think would be a hard thing to do, i might still consider that cannon if bungie says so, because it still falls under visual media, it’s just not interactive like a game.
Overall on the speculation, Bungie has been very adamant that they have made their last Halo, but they have said they are involved in this and other halo projects. While i don’t think Microsoft will cut them out of the loop, i don’t think that Bungie wants to put the time in it, with other projects on the horizon. You have to respect that. Plus Infinty Ward, got their start on Medal of Honor, and made it so well they want on to start Call of Duty, sometimes it’s just time to pass the torch and give someone else a chance.
April 30th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Please correct me if i am wrong: In bungie’s first fps game Marathon, the main character was searching for a LOST CYBORG. The Master Chief is LOST in space and he is a CYBORG (for those who couldn’t see the connection).I’m thinking that the halo series is the prequel to the marathon series. That means that the only thing bungie needs to do is remake the Marathon series. This would explain the “other game” they are working on.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
i hope they put alot of work into it halo 3 was there best game and with the xbox live it was one of the best games ever invented hopefully there will be a similar acheivment to halo wars i wish they would announce when it could possibly come out i hope i dont have to wait as far as christmas
May 1st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
OMG LYK THIS IS SOOOOOO KEWL!11111 HALO IZ MAH LIFE AN IF U DONT LIKE HALO ILL PWN U BAD!1111 HALO IS PERFEKT AN AWESUM!11 W0O0O0O0O0O!!!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I would actually be kinda relieved if Bungie wasn’t involved in Halo 4.
All the games were great but as a complete game nothing tops Halo.The other 2 felt more like mods to the original.
Some fresh blood will do Halo good,no one wants Halo 2.5-2.
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Marcus, considering all the Marathon logos in every game in the Halo trilogy, you’d expect them to put out a Marathon game, yeah? But, as we all know, Bungie isn’t exactly famous for being straightforward. It would be too obvious. But hey, I could be wrong, and with all the heavy speculation on a new Marathon game, I wouldn’t exactly be surprised.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:51 am
All you guys are so ridiculous. LOL
May 21st, 2008 at 1:28 pm
well i bet ensemble studios is going to make it the same as bungie even by a different company it will be still halo and halo is the best game for Xbox360 (well i say) ad still its halo and its worth it and you never know it might even been better than bungie can make of halo
May 31st, 2008 at 1:56 pm
in halo 1 i created the dieing sounds
July 20th, 2008 at 6:36 am
well,well,well, we all know there will always be more halo in this decade, were gaming has hit its highest point of its time. the big titels and the money makers win out so more will come. halo is the best of its kind, and one after another the are ground breaking leaving all other developers wondering what can they do or produce to get the edge.