Activision wants to make the best Halo ever, as Xbox reset eliminates core Halo Studios

The next Halo game will be made by Activision, and the studio has big plans for it. This is part of the internal rearrangement within Microsoft as CEO Asha Sharma’s reset progresses. Chief Content Officer Matt Booty shared the update via an internal memo, and a separate report sheds light on Activision president’s thoughts on Halo.

Starting with plans for Halo, the memo by Matt Booty states that 268 roles across Halo Studios are being eliminated. The studio, formerly known as 343 Industries, has worked on Halo games ever since Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary in 2011. The latest entry, Halo: Campaign Evolved, was under the Halo Studios moniker. Following the latest round of layoffs, the development of the next Halo game has been handed to Activision, with the remainder of Halo Studios now acting as support.

As for Activision’s plans for Halo, Gamefile reports that Activision president Rob Kostich wants to make the greatest Halo game ever, “worthy of its universe and legacy, while staying true to what made players love it in the first place. It is a bold ambition, one that this franchise deserves.”

A “purpose-built” team within Activision is being assembled to lead development on the next Halo game. Development and plans for Call of Duty will continue separately.

The next Halo game is expected to be a mainline title, Halo 7. It is unclear what state of development the game is in or if any progress has been made on that front at all.