Upcoming Halo installment could explore Master Chief’s origins, according to new insights.

On September 22, Xbox dropped a major bombshell by transferring the development of the Halo series from Halo Studios to Activision. This shift has sparked a wave of speculation about the future of the Master Chief, and a recent leak might provide our first glimpse into what’s coming. According to Rebs Gaming, Activision is contemplating a hard reboot that would focus on Master Chief’s origin story.

If the game retains some elements of the established lore, it could delve into John-117’s abduction by the United Nations Space Command and his early experiences as a child soldier. Rebs noted that this project hasn’t been officially approved yet, and it’s just one of several paths Activision is considering. Another possibility is a soft reboot that would steer clear of the narratives explored in the latest titles from Halo Studios. An anonymous former Halo developer shared their thoughts, stating, “Whatever Activision does, I just hope they learn from Halo Studios’ mistakes. Show, don’t tell. Don’t force anyone to engage in the expanded universe to understand what’s happening. Listen to the fans and developers.”

Rebs also mentioned that Activision had pitched two Halo games prior to Xbox’s announcement. One was envisioned as a free-to-play multiplayer experience, while the other would focus on single-player gameplay. Sledgehammer Games, which recently led the development of a major title, prototyped both projects using Infinity Ward’s in-house engine. In contrast, Halo Infinite was built on Halo Studios’ Slipspace Engine, and Halo: Campaign Evolved utilized Unreal Engine 5.

The Halo series has experienced its share of highs and lows since series creator Bungie departed from Microsoft in 2007. Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians, developed by 343 Industries (now Halo Studios), both achieved impressive sales, moving 9.75 million and 9.5 million units, respectively. However, the team announced last year that active development on Halo Infinite was ceasing due to issues with player retention and fan feedback regarding the handling of live service elements. This year’s Halo: Campaign Evolved sold just over 1 million copies, according to analytics.

Before the transition to Activision, Halo Studios was reportedly working on a multiplayer Halo game, which ultimately got canceled. Rebs indicated that while the next mainline Halo game is still “years” away, the studio was in the early planning stages for Halo 7, remakes of Halo 2 and 3, and various spinoff campaigns.

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