Since Asha Sharma succeeded Phil Spencer as Xbox CEO earlier this year, Xbox has been planning its comeback. Earlier this month, Asha Sharma stated in an interview that Halo remains a "very important franchise" for Xbox, and Microsoft is taking a long-term view on its revival plan. Therefore, revitalizing the Halo IP is a top priority.
As Xbox continues its restructuring, well-known leaker NateTheHate has revealed that Xbox will soon face another round of layoffs. As part of this adjustment, the Halo franchise will also seek a new home.
Due to the lackluster performance of Halo Studios, the current developer of the Halo series, the Halo shooter franchise has suffered significant losses. Therefore, a change of environment might be the best option for Master Chief.
According to leaker NateTheHate, following upcoming structural adjustments at Xbox, the Halo franchise will come under the ownership of Activision Blizzard. He clarified that only the Halo IP will be transferred to Activision, the developer of Call of Duty, while Halo Studios will remain an independent entity within the Xbox ecosystem.
This is not the first time rumors have circulated that Activision will take over the Halo franchise. Last month, Rebs revealed that Xbox plans to hand Halo over to Activision. Additionally, there are rumors that Sledgehammer Games, a studio under Activision, is developing a brand-new Halo multiplayer game.
Considering the mediocre sales of Halo: Combat Evolved on PS5, which were 32 times lower than those of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II, this might be the best move for the franchise in the long run.
Various issues at Halo Studios have led to widespread skepticism about the IP, with former developers believing that no effort can recapture Halo's former glory. Therefore, changing the management team might be the most beneficial choice for Xbox's most legendary franchise.