Bungie committed to Halo: Reach support beyond release

Dropping a bomb on the industry today, Activision and Bungie announced a ten year partnership that would have the mega-publisher working with the Seattle-based developer on an exciting new IP. With Bungie moving on to what Design Director Joseph Staten calls its “next big thing,” where does that leave the future of the Halo universe?

In a phone conversation I had with him earlier today, Staten reiterates what we already know — Microsoft owns the Halo IP, and will continue to work on future Halo titles with or without Bungie. And it most definitely will be the latter, as Staten tells me that after nine years, Reach will be the studio’s last Halo game.

But right now, the focus at Bungie is making Halo: Reach the best product possible, with only a small team of folks currently working on the new IP. But Bungie won’t release Reach and run; the developer plans to support the Xbox 360 title after its in on store shelves.

“We are totally committed to supporting Reach [for release] and beyond,” he tells me. “But after Reach, that’s the last Halo game for Bungie.”