Recently, there has been a bout of rumors going around that 343 Industries planned to no longer work onHalogames. Considering Microsoft has seen a bout of layoffs recently and the unsuccessful nature ofHalo: Infinitemultiplayer, this was somewhat believable. However, it turns out the contrary is true.
343 Industries has announced that it is hitting a reset button with theHalofranchise. This gives it the chance to create an entirely new team for upcoming games while also being able to further refine its vision for what it sees as the future of the franchise. This could become the turning point for modernHalogames.
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The Future of Halo
Despiterecent layoffs at 343 Industries, it seems that there is still hope for the franchise to earn back its reputation. Back in the early to late 2000s,Halowas seen as one of the best franchises for couch co-op gameplay. Friends could get together and play story missions or hours of competitive multiplayer matches. One of the most memorable game modes was forge, where players could create their own maps and sometimes even game modes, and one of the most famous iterations of this was zombies, where players would infect each other until either the time ran out or no players remained.
With more modern installments such asHalo 5andHalo:Infinite, lacking many features that made them lackluster compared to their predecessors.Halo 5andHalo: Infinitereleased without the beloved forge game mode, which drastically hurt both games. Player-made content is often what keeps games active and relevant, and lacking this aspect damaged their longevity. Both games would also release without split screen support, andHalo: Infinitego one step further in lacking story mission co-op to this day. Over time,Halo’s once famous reputation would trickle down the drain, leaving it where it is now.
That is exactly why a reboot might be one of the best things to happen for the franchise. At this point, 343 Industries needs to take a step back and realize what exactly madeHalothe genre-defining video game franchise that it is. Ensuring that future games launch with beloved features such as forge could be a start, as game modes like that are what players continue to play for. The reboot also applies to core game structures, as the next installment ofHalois reportedly using a Unreal engine, which will allow 343 to do much more than it could in the past. However, the real challenge would be how the studio approaches its future and current installments to the franchise.
The reboot could begin withrefining theHalo: Infiniteroad map, adding more earnable cosmetics and more rich content to multiplayer matches. Giving players something to work for as they hone their skills would serve a strong motivator. As a live service game, it could also provide regular updates to forge, adding content and objects not seen in previously games. LikeGarry’s Mod, it could become a game that’s good at making other games. By adding more mechanics and affording more control to the player over how the game works, players can create game modes that could become as iconic as the zombies and grifball.
For now, the ball is in 343 Industries hands. As of now, thedevelopment rumor that 343 Industries would loseHalois untrue. Perhaps in the future, it will be able to deliver fans aHalothat remains loyal to its golden age, while also bringing something new to theHalofranchise that will make it the cornerstone of gaming for another generation.
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