After Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, one of the first things people theorized was that the company would have one of Activision’s numerous Call of Duty studios work on Halo. That already happened, according to a new report, and though it hasn’t led to anything yet, that could change down the road.
According to Rebs Gaming, who has accurately reported on unannounced Halo news before, Microsoft enlisted Sledgehammer Games to help develop a Halo multiplayer game.
Sledgehammer reportedly began work on a prototype in June of this year, but whatever this was ended up getting canceled in July–only basic gameplay elements like player movement were said to have been tested.
That doesn’t mean the idea of a Call of Duty studio working on a Halo game is gone forever, however. The report said, “Microsoft is still exploring the proposition, but they have not greenlit anything yet.”
In July, Windows Central reporter Jez Corden said he heard a “crazy rumor” that Microsoft “might put Halo under Activision.” He said this wasn’t a sure thing, but it could be part of a larger restructuring to help Halo “start delivering on the level of potential that it actually has.”
The Halo series has fallen from its heights, with many fans saying the series, under Halo Studios, has been unable to achieve the same critical and commercial success as it did under Bungie. The latest game in the main series, Halo Infinite, was a disappointment to many.
The latest remaster of the original Halo game, this July’s Halo: Campaign Evolved, didn’t resonate with everyone, either, and the lack of multiplayer support cofounded many, including the franchise’s co-creator. Campaign Evolved didn’t get off to the best sales start, either, it appears.
No new Halo games have been announced, but Halo Studios is said to be working on a new Halo multiplayer game that is “like Fortnite” in terms of its live-service approach.