For the first time since Halo 4 in 2012, a new Halo game will be developed by a team outside the studio that has held the franchise since 2007. Microsoft has officially confirmed that the next major entry in the series will be made by Activision, the publisher behind Call of Duty. Here’s everything we know so far about this major shake-up.

How the News Broke

The announcement came via an internal memo sent to Xbox employees by Xbox Content Director Matt Booty, which was later shared by The Verge. Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) will not be developing the next game in the series; instead, the studio is shifting to a support role for existing titles.

Activision’s Ambition

Activision President Rob Kostich set out an ambitious goal in his statement: “Our mission for Halo is clear: to create the best Halo game ever, worthy of its universe and legacy, while staying true to the elements that made fans fall in love with the series in the first place. This is a bold claim, but one the franchise deserves. We’ve already started assembling a dedicated team, ready and uniquely qualified to deliver this new chapter alongside the community.” Kostich also mentioned looking forward to working with the teams at World's Edge and Rare.

What’s Next for Halo Studios

Halo Studios isn’t disappearing. A small team will stay on to support existing games like Halo Infinite and Halo: Campaign Evolved. However, their leadership role in developing the next mainline title has ended. This change coincides with layoffs affecting a total of 268 people across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and Xbox Game Studios management; this number is part of a broader restructuring, not specific to Halo.

Who Is the New Team

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new Halo game will be handled by a newly formed, dedicated team, completely separate from the Call of Duty development plans. It’s not yet clear which Activision studios will be involved or if the team will be made up entirely of new hires. Importantly, this is not a reboot or remake, but a full-scale, mainline installment.

Not Just Halo: Rare and World's Edge Are Moving Too

This restructuring isn’t limited to Halo. Rare (Sea of Thieves) and World's Edge (Age of Empires) are also moving from Xbox Game Studios to Activision’s oversight. Rare’s UK-based development team is now officially part of Activision. No details have been shared yet about release schedules or content plans for these two franchises.

Why This Big Change

Since the launch of Halo Infinite, the franchise has struggled to maintain a strong player base and attract new fans. In October 2024, 343 Industries rebranded to Halo Studios in an effort to strengthen the brand identity. This rebranding also included a move to Unreal Engine for projects like Halo: Campaign Evolved. However, these changes didn’t fully address concerns about the series’ future, leading Microsoft to hand development over to a more experienced studio.

What We Know and Don’t Know So Far

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the new Halo game being made by the Call of Duty team?

No. Activision has formed a brand-new, dedicated team for this project, completely separate from the Call of Duty development plans.

What is Halo Studios doing now?

A small team at the studio continues to support existing games like Halo Infinite and Halo: Campaign Evolved, but they no longer have a leadership role in the new mainline game.

When will the new Halo game be released?

No release date or window has been announced yet; the project is still in its early formation stage.