Former Halo Executive Outlines Three Potential Paths For Future Series Success

Former Halo Franchise Creative Director Frank O'Connor has outlined three potential paths that could lead to successful games for the franchise in the future. The discussion comes as the Halo intellectual property goes through a period of transition, with Halo Studios in a support studio role while Activision builds a team to create the next mainline entry in the series. O'Connor worked on the franchise for a couple of decades before leaving Microsoft in 2023.

According to O'Connor, none of the proposed paths are easy, guaranteed, or necessarily viable. The first path involves making a classic Halo movement, sandbox, and shooter experience tailored to a core audience. This option would be scaled to succeed with that core audience while remaining attractive to a broader one to encourage growth.

The second path suggests making something new and modern that reinvents the game and universe in a surprising way. This could take the form of an action sandbox game, a new take on the first-person shooter, or an action role-playing game. Success under this direction would rely on a combination of a strong story, intellectual property use, and an initial head start driven by curiosity or loyalty.

The third path proposes translating the Halo intellectual property and sandbox into the Activision Blizzard comfort zone. This approach would utilize proven player progression and business models to craft a large annual or semi-annual spectacle with constant content.

Additionally, O'Connor suggests that talent from Bungie, Halo Studios, and other recent layoff situations should be hired for the Activision team. He also warned against tying future releases to hardware or services launch cycles, or trying to force the franchise into aging platforms it cannot fit.

While these suggestions represent just one perspective from an industry figure closely connected to the series, they highlight the ongoing discussions surrounding the future of the franchise.