EA Talked With Bungie Before Activision

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When news broke that Bungie (the game developers behind the popular Halo series, formerly owned by Microsoft for many years) had partnered with Activision for a 10-year deal that saw Activision publishing their next great video game franchise, it took a lot of people by surprise. But now, it’s come out that EA was also in talks with Bungie regarding the same new IP franchise.

David DeMartini, head of EA’s EA Partners program, chatted with CVG and revealed that EA and Bungie had “extensive” chats to have EA publish the next Bungie IP. DeMartini said:

We had extensive conversations with them, but could never really figure out a deal that made sense for both of us. It just didn’t come to fruition. [...] If you look at Bungie and the profile of the other studios who are part of the EA Partners programme, it would seem that they would have been a great fit into that programme. But at the same time, we have a very specific set of criteria we have in regards to our deals. It’s not good to enter into a partnership that doesn’t make financial sense for both sides.

EA, who was known for gobbling up game developers in the 1990′s, only to have their creative heads leave in a mass exodus, started the EA Partners program to find a happy middle ground where EA offers developers a “menu” of privileges while letting them keep their independence. Some famous examples of EA Partners published games include Half-Life 2, Crysis and Rock Band.

But, even though DeMartini didn’t snag a deal with Bungie for EA Partners, he still wishes them well. “I don’t want to see them fail – I want them to be successful. [...] It’s healthy for the industry to have big independent studios that are making great products.”

DeMartini even hinted to CVG that when Bungie starts a second new game series, EA Partners might be back in the bidding, too.