So, the internet is abuzz again with rumors that Gearbox Software are lined up to make the next instalment in the Halo franchise (not the Peter Jackson mystery meat game or the rumored Bungie UNSC tactical squad shooter).
So why are we hoping to be able to say “TOLD YOU SO!” in a nerdy voice? Because we posted exclusively in February (beating all the big fish in the games journalism world) that a super-secret contact of ours at Microsoft was able to confirm this, pretty much. Now more details have come to light, that seem to back up our source. More details after the jump.
Way back in b, Randy Pitchford made an interesting post on the Gearbox forums:
“I’ve started a new project. It’s big. It’s, like, look-at-our-line-up-and-imagine-something-even-bigger kind of big. I’m Directing it myself. I can’t mention it publicly yet. When you find out what this is, you’ll likely agree that I can’t oversell this one.”
At the time we instantly thought Halo, and spoke to our contact at Microsoft, who indirectly suggested that Gearbox was in fact tagged to create the next game in the Halo franchise, and we posted this on dogsounds.com:
“My mind suddenly started ticking over a little. Something big. Something you can’t oversell. Half Life is out of the picture; Valve will do that themselves I would suspect. That wouldn’t make sense. Then I thought…Halo? Nah, MS has that now, they would just do it themseleves through MGS.
Wouldn’t they?
My gut feeling is, no, they wouldn’t. MGS are not really up to speed enough to pull of something that big all by themselves. But you can bet your absolute last bottom-dollar Microsoft will want to milk the Halo cash-cow. No doubt about that. So it would make sense to farm it out. And who better than the studio that already worked on Halo before?
I put out a few feelers, to see what I could find out. My little friend at Microsoft (who, for fucking blatantly obvious reasons, is remaining anonymous here) couldn’t confirm or deny anything, specifically, as very little information is generally available. But of my suspicions, she did say this:
‘…not that there is a lot to tell at the moment, and not that I want to stick my neck out too far, but what you think isn’t…beyond the realms of possibility. There has been a buzz here since the Bungie split that we want to go somewhere with the franchise, obviously. Once the other two are out the door, it would be prudent to have a break for a while before the next instalment. We don’t want to do a Final Fantasy on this franchise; it’s too important for that kind of crap. Too much, and folks get bored. And these games, you know, they take a few years to make. Take from all this what you will.’
The emphasis is hers. And “the other two” are Halo Wars and Peter Jackson’s mysterious project.My little secret mole, bless her, has not always been on the money, but is good more often than not. And it makes so much sense…”
Now Kotaku and many other gaming sites are re-lighting the fire under this story. Rumors now suggest that Gearbox is set to make Halo 4 for the next-gen Xbox launch, whenever that may be. After this story on Kotaku.com earlier in the week, they have now “received” an internal mail from Corrinne Yu, Director of Technology over at Gearbox:
Hello, friends.
I am Corrinne Yu, Director of Technology of Gearbox Software.
I was offered and recruited to the position of Principle (Lead) Engine Architect of Halo Franchise Team at Microsoft. I accepted the offer to lead the team to build the engines and games for future Halo’s on Xbox’es and PC’s at Microsoft.
I am staying to simu-ship Brothers In Arms all versions. I will start Halo after BiA starts manufacturing. Aliens: Colonial Marines and Borderlands are more than mostly completed. I assure you I will continue to help Gearbox. I am starting on Halo Team at Microsoft after 09/15/2008. My email after that day will be XXXX@microsoft.com.
I would be glad to introduce my friendly helpful Corrinne replacements at Gearbox to you. I am stoked to program and design and build some awesome Halo’s.
Let’s stay in touch!
after 09/15/2008
Corrinne Yu
Principle Engine Architect
Halo Franchise Team
Microsoftafter 09/15/2008:
XXXX@microsoft.com
XXXX@XXXX.com
XXXX@XXXX.netbefore 09/15/2008
Corrinne Yu
XXXX@XXXX.combefore 09/15/2008:
XXXX@gearboxsoftware.com
XXXX@XXXX.net
Director of Technology
Gearbox SoftwareAs they rightly point out, the mail doesn’t directly confirm anything about Halo 4 or a Gearbox link. We know Microsoft Game Studios have the IP rights and intend to milk the Halo cash cow. But it does make it seem more plausible that Gearbox may have some special involvement. We wait to see what comes out in due course, but for now, dogsounds can take comfort in the fact that should it all pan out to be true, we got the official first bit of a concrete scoop before all the Kotakus, Gamespots, IGNs and everyone else
And, of course, we can say:
TOLD YOU SO!!
23 Comments
duuuuddeeee
That is wack man!
I am offended by the fact you would depict Jesus with a gun and knife. While Jesus is my own personal Lord and Savior, others still consider him a man of peace and love.
I ask that you would change the image on the cover of your “Holy Combat” game. I will make sure other groups boycott your organization.
umm, ok, first of all, shut the hell up, i get it that you beleve in god and his son, but if you dont like the image, then get the fuck out of the page, and dont ever ask that again on any other article that talks about any other kind of religon, if you have a problume with me saying this, then pray to god that i die and go to hell for all i care
man fuck you and ur stupid bullshit. if ur so damn “holy”, why the fuck are u lookin up pictures of a first person murder-based fuckin game? burn in hell, if “hell” exsists
Dude – it’s a joke. If a religion can’t take a little gentle jibe here and there, then it’s not much of a religion at all. You know, free will and all that?
Besides, I’m pretty sure that the Holy Moly Jebus doesn’t need you to fight his battles for him. If he has a problem with it, I’m sure he’ll let me know. Well, as best as a fictional character can, anyway.
(I could say I’m offended that Lord High Jebulon is always portrayed as a caucasian white guy the world over. But you know, that would be a lie, as this atheist really couldn’t care less).
You gotta be kidding me, I’m sure Jesus will strike back a lot harder than that on Judgement Day!
haha…religious people are always on the brink of getting offended …hahaha. chilax/ its just a joke and a really funny one..i love halo good job guys…
DONT DODAT
Oh, I meant Jesus has his payback planned out… a little bit more… SEVERE.
Anyway, no offense taken. You’re right Jesus portrayed as a caucasian
white guy is just an assumption as well as the belief that he wore a white robe all the time.
heh, nice reply, I appreciate it. You’re OK in my book, kid
HELLO MR CHRIST! JUDAS!
lol i would not wanna mess with him on xbox live
dude if you are so catholic and involved in the faith, why are you buying games that deal with “killing other living things” or blowing peoples faces off with grenades
are you retarded
gearbox studios arnt making halo 4
they are talking about their game borderlands you fucking retard
no one will be making any halo games unless given rights by bungie are provided
only bungie can
even when halo wars was made bungie did most of the work there
dont go around thinkin you can post bullshit and make others think things that are obviously un true
you sir are a fucking fagit
Hmmmm.
So, you think we are retards? Let’s see now, shall we?
1) This article was written in August 2008. That’s, how can I put it? Over a year ago.
2) In it, Randy Pitchford is quoted as stating that he “can’t publicly announce it yet”. Now at this point, either Borderlands hadn’t been announced, or if it had, this statement by Pitchford would suggest that this was not, in fact, anything to do with Borderlands.
3) We quote feedback from someone INSIDE Microsoft who does not out-and-out deny this idea
4) We clearly state that this is not proof postive and that nothing is confirmed, and that it may in fact be an incorrect assumption, inside information aside.
5) You are utterly wrong about Bungie having control of the Halo IP. Microsoft own the Halo IP, and Microsoft say who makes Halo games. Ensemble made Halo Wars, and involvement by Bungie was for the most part advisory.
6) To utilise your logic, are we to assume that if you had this information given to you at the time we did you would have thought “Ah, I see. All this information leads me to conclude, indubitably, that Gearbox is in fact referring to Borderlands, a game which I have never heard of and has not yet been announced.”
So, to sum up, you have missed the entire point of the article, totally missed the context, utterly missed our disclaimer, and have no idea about the Halo IP. You are also unable to write correctly, formulate or postulate a good and intelligent argument, cannot spell “faggot”, and seem to think that sexuality and intelligence are somehow linked inextricably.
Therefore, sir, I posit that you are, in fact, the “retard”, probably about twelve, American, and the kind of brain-dead mouth-breather that I mute instantly on Xbox Live the moment you utter your first high-pitched, pitiful and comedic obscenity.
Now, don’t read my words too hard, you hear? Wouldn’t want you to strain yourself.
this dude is mesed
yes, dogsound, if you read this again, and i know that after the last stupied people that said things they shouldent you statement on younger people in amarica, but i do agree that if someone dosent get that point of the article they should never leave a comment in the first place. oh and yes, this is my real name
Cool name
You are correct, nothing frustrates more than people who either skim through an article, or totally don’t read it properly, and then espouse their opinions in the comments. It just makes them look like an idiot to those who have read it.
Mind you. it does make for some fun, easy target practice.