Update at 4.50pm in the UK: Bungie tried to extinguish reports that it had discussed the acquisition with Microsoft.

Reply on Twitter to the online guide levelBungie Chairman Pete Parsons said it was a “mistake” that Microsoft had been in talks to acquire Bungie multiple times and that each time the talks had failed due to Bungie’s price.

It’s a widespread rejection of a very specific tweet, which summed up the information discussed in the GamesBeat podcast. But it also appears to be Bungie’s response to that story – I received a link to this tweet via a Bungie spokesperson this afternoon instead of an official comment.

As follows, Eurogamer sources reported that Bungie and Microsoft discussed the acquisition. I asked Bungie if she had any further comment on this.

Original story 2.50 PM UK: Microsoft and Bungie have been in acquisition talks, according to a new report that Eurogamer sources can confirm.

Destiny developer and former developer Halo has been completely independent since leaving their previous publishing deal with Activision last year.

Talking on GamesBeat Venturebeat’s Geoff Group said he had heard that Microsoft and Bungie were in discussions – even though the two companies could not agree on a selling price.

I have independently heard these conversations take place, driven by Bungie’s part by a desire to raise new money for the studio, its projects, and its staff.

The studio veteran recently committed to the New three-year development plan for Destiny 2, While Quietly embrace ideas for her future – something he previously reinforced $ 100 million from Chinese publisher NetEase.

But Bungie doesn’t come cheap – something Activision discovered during its own partnership with the maker of Destiny, and one of the reasons the publisher was finally happy to go. I understand that Microsoft has not yet been able to agree to the asking price.

Of course, any potential acquisition by Microsoft marks Bungie’s return home. Before Destiny, Bungie was best known for her work on the Halo series, which quickly became the flagship of Xbox franchise, and has faced mixed fortunes since then.

Microsoft originally bought Bungie back in 2000, while it was about halfway through developing Halo: Combat Evolved for the original Xbox. Four sequels followed, although the two companies had already split up by the time Halo 3: ODST 2009 was released. 2010 Halo: Reach featured Bungie’s swansong for the franchise he helped create, and the beginning of a four-year launch hiatus for the studio, prior to the release of Destiny. The first in 2014.

In November of this year, Destiny 2 will start its fourth year, slightly behind planned, with the arrival of a new Beyond Light expansion on current consoles and the next generation. Since its departure from Activision, Bungie has abandoned its previous ranking as parts of every new Destiny game were released and expanded on PlayStation platforms first – a longstanding concern of Xbox owners.

Then, in July of this year, Bungie and Microsoft announced the next Beyond Light launch live on Xbox Game Pass. It ushered in a new endorsement for the two companies. Destiny 2 and its current expansions Forsaken and Shadowkeep are now also available via Microsoft’s subscription service.

I contacted Microsoft and Bungie for comment.