Just over a decade ago, a little-known studio called Bungie released a sci-fi shooter and, in doing so, changed the face of gaming forever. The weeks following Halo: Combat Evolved's release in 2001 saw Bungie go from a niche outfit known for Myth and Marathon into a creative colossus within Microsoft's development community, ready to take on all who wished to surpass them. The future looked incredibly bright.
And so it was. Bungie's brilliant game design coupled with Microsoft's marketing magic helped brand the original Xbox as the console of choice for the serious gamer. The years that followed saw the release of Halo 2, which remains the best-selling first generation Xbox game, and then Halo 3 some years later. The fruits of the partnership were plain to see, from the sales figures to the endless stream of awards that tumbled into Bungie's lap. The studio was in an incredibly enviable position, widely respected and working on one of the hottest properties not just in gaming, but in entertainment. Which is why 2010's decision to give it all up and try something new rocked the industry to its core.
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