Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer reportedly worked on a Halo multiplayer prototype before it got canned

A Halo game developed by an Activision studio is not entirely inconceivable, as per a recent report. Sledgehammer Games, the studio responsible for several Call of Duty titles like WWII, Vanguard, and Modern Warfare 3, reportedly was approached to create a Halo multiplayer game. However, this project never progressed beyond its prototype stage.

This information comes from Rebs Gaming, a YouTuber who corroborated speculation from Windows Central's Jez Corden about Xbox's interest in having Activision develop Halo games. Rebs Gaming received details from a source who had accurate information about Campaign Evolved, a Call of Duty game developed by Sledgehammer. The prototype, which was in the early blockout phase with basic gameplay mechanics, was tested in June but was subsequently discontinued a month later by Xbox.

Despite this cancellation, Xbox is still considering the proposition, but nothing has been officially green-lit yet. The video also highlights the role of outsourcing in the development of Halo: Campaign Evolved and the possibility of a similar approach for future titles. It's worth noting that Xbox, which owns Activision Blizzard following its acquisition in 2023, has maintained separate development duties for both companies since the takeover.

As Microsoft reassesses its Xbox gaming strategy, potential collaborations between studios may become more frequent, especially considering Microsoft's recent workforce reduction of 3,200 employees across its division.