It's official: Bungie is no longer owned by Microsoft.

[Legend11]

naznatips said:

makingmusic476 said:
I never understood why Nintendo let Rare wander off and be bought by MS. I'm sure the GC would've been a tad bit more successful if Rare had stayed with Nintendo and Kameo wasn't delayed for years.

Probably because Microsft paid Nintendo some $3 billion for Rare.  Obviously a good move considering Rare hasn't managed to make a successful game since then.  

Umm Microsoft didn't pay Nintendo $3 billion for Rare.  Microsoft paid $375 million for Rare, they even had a press release for it on their website at the time:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/Sep02/09-24ProjectRPR.mspx

"REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 24, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today announced it has purchased U.K.-based Rare Ltd., one of the world's leading video game developers, further demonstrating Microsoft's commitment to providing the most innovative interactive experiences available on its Xbox (TM) video game system. Rare has been the mastermind behind some of the most popular video games in history, including such global multimillion sellers as "GoldenEye 007," "Perfect Dark," "Banjo-Kazooie" and "Donkey Kong 64." Under terms of the $375 million cash transaction, Rare will today begin creating exclusive console gaming blockbusters for Xbox. "