Call of Duty’s Activision to make next Halo game as Xbox cuts more jobs

Microsoft's Xbox is undergoing significant changes, including the cutting of hundreds of jobs and the transition of its blockbuster Halo franchise to Activision for development. This move, part of a larger company-wide restructuring, aims to address the challenges faced by the gaming division. Xbox's chief executive, Asha Sharma, stated that Halo's current studio, responsible for the latest Halo: Campaign Evolved, will continue to maintain the community and manage existing titles rather than focus on new releases.

Activision, known for the Call of Duty series, will take over the development of future Halo games. Halo, once considered a crown jewel of the Xbox brand, has seen a decline in recent years, with gaming analysts pointing to mismanagement as the primary factor. Activision's president, Rob Kostich, expressed his intention to create the greatest Halo game ever, keeping true to its legacy.

Additionally, Activision's remit will expand to include other Xbox studios such as World's Edge, Rare, and Sea of Thieves. Other affected Xbox entities, including the developer of Ninja Theory games and the creator of the Age of Empires franchise, have either found new management or entered consultation for possible closure.