Summary
Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer Games was reportedly tapped to develop a Halo multiplayer prototype for XBOX. The project was shelved after early testing and never advanced beyond the prototype stage. The claim comes from YouTuber Rebs Gaming. He cites a source previously accurate on Halo: Campaign Evolved details. This follows speculation that Microsoft wants Activision involved in future Halo work. The build was said to be an early blockout with only basic mechanics; after tests in June, XBOX opted the following month not to proceed. The same reporting stresses that killing the pitch does not end talks—Microsoft is still exploring Activision help on Halo, with nothing greenlit yet—amid broader notes on Halo Studios’ outsourcing and limited post-acquisition crossover between XBOX and Activision teams.
Key Points
- Sledgehammer’s recent credits include Call of Duty: WWII, Vanguard, and Modern Warfare III.
- Prototype testing reportedly took place in June, with the no-go decision about a month later.
- Microsoft completed its $68.7bn Activision Blizzard acquisition in 2023; studio collaboration on Halo had not been a major pattern since.
- Context includes XBOX’s wider strategy review and recent cuts of about 3,200 jobs across the gaming division.
