Revolutionizing Halo: How the Activision Blizzard Deal Will Take the Franchise to New Heights

Over the past twenty years, Halo has stood as Xbox's flagship franchise, enduring ups and downs. While Gears of War, Forza, and Fable are also beloved and iconic franchises, none of them possess the same impact on the broader gaming landscape as Halo. Despite recent setbacks, Halo remains Xbox's most essential franchise, though it is in dire need of assistance.

Taking on the challenge after one of the most adored gaming trilogies of all time and two equally beloved spin-offs is no small feat, and 343 Industries deserves recognition for their determination. However, it's no secret that 343 Industries' journey with Halo has been a rollercoaster, resulting in both successes and failures. It is evident that the Halo franchise requires a significant shake-up, and the Activision-Blizzard acquisition might just be the catalyst for this much-needed change.

How the Activision-Blizzard Deal Can Save Halo

Microsoft, which announced its intent to acquire Activision-Blizzard in January 2022 for a staggering $68.7 billion, is still working towards finalizing the deal. As one of the largest transactions in gaming history, it is expected that there have been significant obstacles from global financial and technology authorities. However, despite these setbacks, the leaders at Xbox are confident that the acquisition will eventually be successful and believe that it will greatly benefit the gaming industry as a whole.

Throughout the past year, Xbox has consistently emphasized that the Call of Duty franchise, which is arguably Activision's most valuable asset, will remain available on all platforms. While Call of Duty will not become an exclusive to Xbox in the near future, its inclusion under the Xbox banner can help alleviate some of the pressure on the beloved Halo franchise.

With a new flagship franchise in the first-person shooter genre, Xbox has the potential to provide a much-needed respite for Halo. This would allow 343 Industries to step back and reevaluate the entire Halo series, keeping what works and discarding what doesn't. Although Halo Infinite initially received critical acclaim, its live-service approach and lack of key franchise modes resulted in negative reviews. By shifting the focus away from 343 Industries, they would have the necessary time and mindset to ensure that fans are satisfied with the final product, including the expected modes and features in a fully-developed Halo title.

If the Activision-Blizzard deal is finalized, Xbox will have access to a variety of studios that it can utilize as it sees fit. While some studios will likely remain dedicated to successful projects like Call of Duty and Overwatch, there will inevitably be a few available studios. Xbox could employ these studios to co-develop the next Halo game with 343 Industries or create smaller spin-offs similar to Halo 3: ODST or the Halo Wars series. Both options would relieve the current pressure on 343 Industries and prevent a rushed development process as seen in recent Halo titles. Regardless of the other outcomes resulting from the Activision-Blizzard acquisition, it appears highly plausible that Halo will benefit greatly from this transaction.