Bungie To Reveal Grittier Halo At E3??? News

With around eight hours until Microsoft kicks off the E3 Media & Business Summit 2008 with the opening keynote, rumours and speculation continue to appear across the web, including several surrounding one of the corporation's former studios, Bungie.

One, originating from Gamespot and an 'anonymous' source, revolves around the apparent impending announcement of a gritty squad-based shooter set in the Halo universe. Pitching the UNSC against the Covenant in a "cross between Ghost Recon and Gears of War", the rumoured title would also be a much grittier affair than the 'cartoony' action of the original trilogy.

Speculation that a squad-based shooter was in the works first appeared last summer, when former Ghost Recon creative director, Christian Allen, joined the outfit. Whilst Bungie's departure from the bosom of Microsoft no doubt gave them a little creative breathing space, the studio is already working in tandem with Peter Jackson's Weta Interactive on Halo: Chronicles, so perhaps a second Halo project isn't impossible. Officially, the studio is yet to confirm their new projects.

Bungie's name has also cropped up in a second rumour, specifically that the studio will be revealing a new XBLA title based on 'The Superintendent' character that's been cropping up on their website in recent weeks. Eagle-eyed bloggers at Joystiq have also picked up on a Wal-Mart database entry for Halo 'Blue', which is apparently scheduled for release at the end of September. Whilst this too remains speculative, 'Blue' could be a platinum edition (or a new edition entirely) of Halo 3, which launched in September 2007.

The waiting game continues, but not for much longer.