A lone US blogger claims inside information from Bungie, spelling the end of a beautiful relationship… but not before Halo 4. The internet explodes.

The self-proclaimed “E-zine for nerds” 8Bitjoystick.com has set the web alight this morning by reporting that Bungie Studios is to end its contract with Microsoft. According to 8Bitjoystick blogger Jake, Bungie is free of its contract with Microsoft as of today, so is free to act as an independent studio. However Bungie will make one last Halo for Microsoft who retains the Intellectual Property rights.

“I really can't go into it since they are a confidential source from companies involved, says Jake, “But I have the absolutely highest confidence in my source and I know my rights and responsibilities as a journalist. I assure you that my source came from inside Bungie but I can never say who or the details.”

The official line from Microsoft this morning is that “there has been no such announcement.” However responses to the original post on 8Bitjoystick.com from folks working in the same area as Bungie in Kirkland (Washington) say that the locks are already being changed on the Bungie Studios office doors.

Possibly somebody lost their key. Probably this will all be true and we’re just waiting for an official announcement from Xbox. Definitely it doesn’t change a whole lot from our perspective as games punters.

Whatever, we’ll keep you posted.