http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/334438_bungie06.html

For the "forseeable future" all Bungie games will be on Xbox consoles and PC's, but they will eventually have the freedom of a third party to develop on other consoles if they wish.  They have "no plans to do so" at this time.

Halo is retained in its entirity by Microsoft.

Microsoft has maintained an undisclosed minority equity interest in Bungie. 

Good, I knew Microsoft still has a huge chunk of shares from Bungie.

Why did they let go their best development studio? Letting go of Rare would have been a better choice...

Nah rare still has BK 3 and is developing Viva, Perfect Dark and probably something else. On the other hand with this deal Microsoft appeases Bungie, keeps Halo, makes some immediate short-term cash and guarantees any Bungie title released for the "forseeable future" will be on a Microsoft device.

Bungie isn't really their best development studio so much as it is the studio that is their biggest cash cow.

Looks to me like they did this so they'd have a slightly larger say in what kinds of games they make. After such huge success with Halo 3, I imagine Microsoft would want them to keep pumping out more of the same, but Bungie seems to be more interested in doing something else now. They should be more resistant to such pressure as an independent studio, right?

This is probably the best outcome for us gamers.

This is all false. Other forums have quickly dispelled this. Reason? Microsoft Own Bungie 100%. They have done since 1999. The only way you'd see other games on other consoles is if Bungie were sold. And that wont happen. Any game they are working on will always be for 360 or PC. Sorry Sony fans its all not gonna happen. This is even better than the FF13 coming to 360 rumours. lol

Errr...

http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=news&cid=12835

Bungie has bought itself back from Microsoft and has become an independent entity. For the meantime, they are having an exclusive relationship with Microsoft, but because they are now their own studio, it leaves the doors open to developing for other platforms in the future. 

Microsoft still have money tied into Bungie. And With that any game looking half decent will be seen by Microsoft first at which point they will Buy exclusitivity. So nothing will change.

Sony also has money tied into SquareEnix, but they are all over the spectrum, even publishing an exclusive RPG on the 360 with Tri-Ace.

It's obvious Bungie will work with Microsoft in the future, after all, Microsoft has pushed Bungie into the spotlight, making their Halo series some of the best sold video games. But to think absolutely nothing will change is, perhaps, a mistake.