Halo's Former Franchise Creative Director Sees 3 Possible Paths for Activision's Halo

Frank O'Connor, who served as Halo's Franchise Creative Director for nearly two decades at 343 Industries/Halo Studios, has shared three potential paths for the franchise's future under Activision. Former Xbox Social Media Manager Genevieve Harrison initially proposed these ideas after commenting on Activision's approach to the series. O'Connor, who left 343 Industries in 2023, elaborated on the possibilities:

1. Develop a classic Halo movement/sandbox/shooter experience tailored to a core audience with ambitions to expand its appeal. He noted that Halo's multiplayer aspect would inherently grow as more players engage.

2. Create an innovative, modern take on the Halo universe, fundamentally reinventing the game and its narrative. This new approach might involve an action/sandbox game or an action RPG, drawing interest through a compelling story and strong IP utilization.

3. Reimagine Halo using the proven player progression and business models of Activision. This path would involve crafting a big, annual or semi-annual spectacle with constant content updates, while maintaining the sandbox elements.

O'Connor stressed that none of these paths were guaranteed or easy to implement. He also recommended hiring former Bungie, Halo Studios, and other laid-off employees who possess untapped talent and ideas. Halo Studios recently underwent a rebranding effort, a leadership shakeup, and a shift to Unreal Engine technology. They have already released a multiplayer-less remake of the original Halo, titled "Halo: Campaign Evolved." However, they are still years away from their next mainline Halo project.