Ashley Cheng, the production director at Bethesda Game Studios, posted on his personal blog a back-of-the-envelope guess at which publishers might take up Bungie’s next, non-Halo game. Hint, one of the candidates rhymes with “Shmesmesda.”
https://kotaku.com/bungie-says-its-close-to-signing-new-ip-deal-5323133
Based on recent reports, Cheng says, “Bungie only owes Microsoft two more games and they’re done. Halo ODST and Reach and that’s that. No more Halo for Bungie.”
https://kotaku.com/halo-reach-will-probably-be-bungies-last-halo-game-5322354
Following that, any publishing deal – which Bungie’s Lars Bakken implies is close – can be bankrolled by about five entities: “EA (via EA Partners),” writes Cheng, “Activision, Ubisoft, Microsoft, and of course, Bethesda. I can only imagine how much it will cost to snag their next title.”
“Sony,” he says. “That would be interesting. Unlikely.”
For a year, Bethesda reps have said they are not contractually bound to deliver their next IP for a certain platform. But you’re also talking about a relationship with Microsoft going on a decade, so, Sony would stand to be a way outside shot. But who knows.
https://kotaku.com/bungie-coy-over-next-publishing-deal-5065755
Bethesda ‘Can Afford’ Bungie’s New Game [Gamers Reports]
