Last week, Bungie bid a final farewell to the series that they turned into a household name over the past 10 years: Halo. Bungie posted the following letter to their fans on their website to bid farewell:
“Thank you for making our 20th Anniversary, and this year's Bungie Day, kick so much ass. As we prepare to become fans of the universe our studio began creating more than ten years ago, it's nice to know that we'll be counted among such esteemed company. Some might consider the upcoming transition a bittersweet occasion punctuated by a sense of loss and sadness. We feel otherwise. Halo is in great hands…yours.
Halo is yours now. In many ways, it always has been. Its new caretakers will strive, just as we did, to be worthy stewards but you have the package. Hold these characters and stories and worlds to the same unflinching standards you did while we were at the helm, but allow them all to blossom and change and grow in the ways that they must.
We'll be undergoing a metamorphosis of our own. Very soon Bungie.net will change, culminating with the launch of our next universe at some unknown time in the future. The first small steps will be taken soon, with Halo playlist management changing hands on August 2nd, the very same day we plan to deploy our parting thoughts on the last twenty years through a ViDoc titled, "O Brave New Worlds."
Afterwards, we'll be going dark on our studio’s next major endeavor – the creation of a brand new universe. You'll still have a home here should you choose to stay, but our next project demands an unwavering focus. We owe it to ourselves to make something better than we ever have before. We owe it to you, as well.
So, this isn't a goodbye. It isn't The End. Instead, it's the very beginning of a new journey that will stretch the limits of what we are capable of. Ancient engines are now rumbling deep within the heart of our studio, and their energy will power us through the upcoming darkness. Like all dark times ours will be broken first by a single strand of light – a tether reaching out to bind us all together again. One day, we will awaken in a wondrous new place and we will remember just what it was that drew us together at the beginning of it all. We will look up to the heavens, and find hope.
Thank you for everything.
See you starside.”
343 Studios definitely has some big shoes to fill as Bungie has gone above and beyond with each entry into the Halo series that they have produced. The bar has been set extremely high and hopefully fans will not be let down. The group definitely seems up to the task though as they are moving full steam ahead on both Halo 4 and this year’s Halo Anniversary Edition. 343 has released what I hope will only be one of many developer diaries showing players the process behind bringing the original Halo back for this year’s special release.
