The Epic Alliance: Halo's Unthinkable Union with Its Arch-Nemesis
Halo, the iconic FPS franchise, has long battled fierce competitors in the gaming world However, it seems that a monumental collaboration could be on the horizon, as Halo prepares to join forces with its greatest rival Get ready for an unprecedented alliance between two gaming giants
Highlights
The potential merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard opens up the possibility of exhilarating collaborations and crossovers between two renowned franchises - Halo and Call of Duty, presenting thrilling prospects for fans.
Microsoft's acquisition would grant them ownership of highly acclaimed games such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and the immensely profitable Call of Duty series. This could potentially yield substantial advantages for other Microsoft ventures. Moreover, enthusiasts might witness the inclusion of Halo characters as playable operators within Call of Duty, or the integration of Call of Duty-themed content into the realm of Halo. This symbiotic relationship between the two intellectual properties would serve as a catalyst, enticing players to actively participate in both games.
Despite a decline in popularity in recent years, the Halo franchise remains one of the most influential first-person shooters of all time. Since its debut in 2001, it has consistently faced competition from Call of Duty and Battlefield, despite their distinct themes.
Call of Duty is often seen as Halo's biggest and most important competitor, as both franchises have remained focused on their own paths over the past twenty years. However, with the potential approval of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it is possible that these two leading first-person shooter giants may collaborate in ways that were once unimaginable to fans.
Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Deal: An Alliance Between Call of Duty and Halo
Halo has long been the flagship franchise for Microsoft and Xbox, making it one of the most successful gaming IPs under the Microsoft gaming branch. However, the glory days of the franchise are clearly in the past, leading Microsoft to explore new opportunities beyond Halo. This is evident in their highly publicized attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard King, which took place in early 2022 and involved Microsoft offering a historic $69 billion for the company.
If the acquisition is successful, Microsoft would gain ownership of renowned titles such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and most notably, Call of Duty. Considering that Call of Duty alone generates billions in revenue annually, it comes as no surprise that Microsoft made such an audacious offer for Activision Blizzard. They hope to leverage the success of these games to benefit other Microsoft ventures. While the magnitude of this deal has resulted in significant regulatory hurdles, recent developments suggest that Microsoft may finalize the acquisition in the coming months or even weeks.
The potential for crossovers between Microsoft IPs presents numerous opportunities for collaboration between Halo and Call of Duty. This would captivate the interest of dedicated first-person shooter fans, as it marks a significant departure from their longstanding rivalry. Following the acquisition, both franchises would actively seek to assist one another, and organizing collaborative events would serve as an effective means to achieve this goal.
A straightforward approach would involve featuring iconic Halo characters as playable operators in Call of Duty. Master Chief and the Arbiter would be ideal candidates for this integration. Halo has already demonstrated its inclination for collaboration through its crossover with Rainbow Six Siege, wherein the operator Sledge received a Master Chief skin. The success of this crossover could easily be replicated in Call of Duty, with the inclusion of Halo-inspired weapon blueprints and Warzone vehicles further showcasing the potential for collaboration between the two franchises.
Additionally, there is an opportunity to incorporate Call of Duty elements into Halo by introducing armor cores inspired by popular CoD characters like Ghost and Soap. This would seamlessly connect the two franchises. Microsoft could also take a more interactive approach by providing exclusive content for Halo and Call of Duty that can be earned by actively participating in both games. For instance, playing Halo during a specific event could unlock special items for Call of Duty and vice versa, encouraging players to enjoy both series simultaneously. With the recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the rivalry between Halo and Call of Duty seems to be transforming into a mutually advantageous partnership.
