Well, outside of a 100% Bungie defection (and subsequent new studio creation), that just might be the only way it could happen for Bungie to "Leave Microsoft". Could it happen? Sure would, but barring any idiocy of Microsofts part (one of those "You will only make Halo games for sure *cracks whip*), I don't see any reason why Bungie shouldn't be able to make whatever they want, whenever they want, as long as it's something that's a "financially viable" venture for everyone involved. We'll see though. What does bother me, is that there's not been any real "No, this isn't happening....." responses from either side (Bungie or Microsoft), so that is troubling and ends up being the real truth of 'What isn't being said....'