Xbox CEO Says Making Halo Popular Again Is A Priority, But Franchise Co-Creator Questions If It’s Possible

Xbox's new CEO, Asha Sharma, has addressed the future of the Halo franchise, stating in an interview that the iconic series remains a very important and key part of Microsoft's portfolio. Acknowledging that great games possess a long history and heritage, Sharma expressed confidence in taking a long-term view toward reviving the brand. While she noted that Microsoft has more news to share regarding Halo going forward, the remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the franchise's trajectory and past commercial performance.

The latest entry in the series was Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remaster of the 2001 original game released to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Although generally well-received, the title reportedly experienced a slow start for sales following its release on PlayStation. Industry analyst Rhys Elliott pointed to diminishing profile and slowing sales, reflecting on how the franchise has evolved since its peak years with titles like Halo 3 and Halo: Reach. Meanwhile, additional Halo projects remain in development, including rumored remakes of Halo 2 and Halo 3, alongside a live-service project described as being similar to Fortnite. Developer Halo Studios previously indicated that future games would launch on PlayStation, though those comments preceded Sharma taking over as Xbox CEO and pledging to release more platform-exclusive games.

Addressing the challenges of reviving the series, Halo co-creator and Master Chief designer Marcus Lehto recently shared online thoughts regarding the immense financial investments and corporate structures required. Lehto estimated that building a fully featured Halo game today could cost between $600 million and $800 million and require four or more years of development, expressing doubt that Microsoft would commit that much time and money. He further criticized large corporations as inefficient machines, suggesting that a smaller indie team comprised of seasoned developers, new talent, and minimal management layers would serve as a more viable path forward. Looking back at historical budgets, Lehto noted that Halo 3 cost approximately $40 million for development alongside $30 million for marketing, while Halo: Reach reached an estimated cost of $120 million.