Published 2 October 2026
A reported early concept for the next Halo game could take the series back to Master Chief’s beginnings. The project is said to be among several ideas being considered after Xbox moved development of the franchise from Halo Studios to Activision, the publisher behind Call of Duty.
Rebs Gaming reports that one possibility is a hard reboot focused on John-117’s origin. If it retained established elements of the timeline, the story could cover his abduction by the United Nations Space Command and his childhood as a soldier.
That concept has not been approved, however. The report describes it as one option under consideration, alongside a soft reboot that would move away from the plotlines explored in Halo Studios’ latest releases.
“Whatever Activision does, I just hope they learn from Halo Studios’ mistakes. Show, don’t tell. Don’t force anyone to engage with the expanded universe to understand what’s happening. Listen to the fans and developers.”
The comments were attributed to an anonymous former Halo developer. The report also says Activision had proposed two projects before Xbox publicly announced the change in development leadership: a free-to-play multiplayer game and a single-player title.
Two Halo projects were reportedly prototyped
Sledgehammer Games, most recently the lead studio on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, is reported to have prototyped both ideas using Infinity Ward’s internal engine.
The technology would mark a change from recent entries. Halo Infinite was built with Halo Studios’ Slipspace Engine, while Halo: Campaign Evolved used Unreal Engine 5. Readers interested in the broader arcade and gaming news landscape can follow further industry developments through RETROCADE.
Why did Xbox hand Halo development to Activision?
The series has experienced significant changes since creator Bungie separated from Microsoft in 2007. Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians, developed by 343 Industries, which later became Halo Studios, sold 9.75 million and 9.5 million copies respectively.
Halo Studios announced in the previous year that active development on Halo Infinite, released in 2021, was ending. The decision followed player-retention problems and criticism of the studio’s handling of live-service features. This year, Halo: Campaign Evolved reportedly sold slightly more than 1 million copies, based on Alinea Analytics data.
For official updates on the franchise’s recent development plans, readers can review the official Halo announcement.
A cancelled multiplayer project adds to the uncertainty
Before the Activision arrangement, Halo Studios was reportedly working on a multiplayer game that was later cancelled. Rebs Gaming had also reported that the next mainline entry was still years away, while the studio was planning Halo 7, remakes of Halo 2 and Halo 3, and several “spinoff campaigns”.
Those plans, like the reported Master Chief origin concept, should be treated as unconfirmed. Until Activision or Xbox provides details, the direction of the next mainline Halo remains open.
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