Activision Plans to Reboot Halo and Make “The Greatest Game in the Series Ever”

Yesterday’s news about the latest phase of Xbox’s restructuring, as expected, caused quite a stir. One of the most unexpected announcements is that the Halo franchise now belongs to Activision, and the next game in the series will be developed by one of the company’s divisions. And judging by the initial comments, the publisher’s ambitions are greater than ever.

As previously reported, Activision has already begun work on a new Halo game, which will be a full-fledged new installment in the franchise. Furthermore, according to Rob Kostich, President of Activision, the company intends to make “the greatest Halo game ever.” You can check out his comments below:

“For Halo, our goal is clear: make the greatest Halo game ever, worthy of its universe and legacy, while staying true to what made players love it in the first place. It is a bold ambition, one that this franchise deserves. We have already begun assembling a purpose-built team, unique in capability and talent, ready and excited to deliver this next chapter with the community.”

It’s still unclear exactly which studio will develop the new Halo title, but it’s been noted that it won’t be the team responsible for Call of Duty. Apparently, previous rumors it might be Sledgehammer Games can now be considered outdated. What’s also interesting, according to TechnicalHalo, a well-known franchise insider, is that the new game from Activision will be a full-fledged reboot and a new main chapter, adding that “the lore is not going to be continued.” This is a very intriguing statement, and it will be fascinating to see how the company plans to present its vision for the franchise.

As for Halo Studios, which released Halo: Campaign Evolved this summer, it has undergone another round of layoffs as part of the Xbox restructuring but continues to handle work related to the franchise’s community. According to the latest figures, only 20 people remain at the studio.

Referring to Halo: Campaign Evolved, the game reportedly had disappointing sales, and it appears the rumored plans for remakes of Halo 2 and Halo 3 are unlikely to come to fruition anytime soon. This is not only due to the original game’s financial struggles but also because of the aforementioned plans for the series, revealed by Activision.