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Videogame enthusiasts are freaking out over rumors that Halo's proud papa, Bungie, is disentangling itself from Microsoft. But would it matter? Losing a franchise that put the Xbox console on the map and recently sold $170 million its first day would be devastating for a Microsoft division still fighting to operate in the black. But if the two seperate, Bungie would walk away with its independence while Microsoft would walk off arm and arm with Master Chief, since it owns the rights to the Halo franchise. It could find another studio to pump out sequels. As with movie studios, the videogame-playing public pays attention to individual games, not the developers who make them.