{"id":2097117,"date":"2026-08-17T10:11:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T07:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2097117"},"modified":"2026-08-17T10:11:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T07:11:42","slug":"call-of-duty-studio-sledgehammer-reportedly-worked-on-a-halo-multiplayer-prototype-before-it-got-canned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2097117","title":{"rendered":"Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer reportedly worked on a Halo multiplayer prototype before it got canned"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/halo-campaign-evolved\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Halo: Campaign Evolved<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer reportedly worked on a Halo multiplayer prototype before it got canned<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Above and beyond the Call of Duty.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/halo-campaign-evolved-cheif-crop-1.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"halo-campaign-evolved-cheif-crop-1.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"301\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Halo Studios, Xbox.<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sherif Saed avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/IMG_1950_Uy1XomJ.JPG?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1638\" height=\"1346\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Sherif Saed avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"IMG_1950_Uy1XomJ.JPG\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1638\" height=\"1346\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/sherif-saed\">Sherif Saed<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Senior Contributor<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\n<p>Published on   <time datetime=\"2026-08-17T10:11:42+00:00\" data-auto-time-zone=\"true\" data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"short\" data-day=\"numeric\" data-hour=\"numeric\" data-minute=\"numeric\">Aug. 17, 2026, 10:11 a.m.<\/time>\n              <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mypop-header-wrapper\">\n<p><button class=\"mypop-button button wide\" data-state=\"follow\" data-type=\"tag\" data-uuid=\"53781f86-0b15-46e5-9f11-c0bb9d1087d4\" data-name=\"Halo: Campaign Evolved\" data-follow-text=\"Follow Halo: Campaign Evolved\" data-unfollow-text=\"Following Halo: Campaign Evolved\" data-aria-follow-text=\"Follow Halo: Campaign Evolved\" data-aria-unfollow-text=\"Following Halo: Campaign Evolved\" data-popup=\"true\" data-force-login=\"true\" aria-label=\"Follow Halo: Campaign Evolved\" title=\"Follow Halo: Campaign Evolved\"><br \/>\n  Follow Halo: Campaign Evolved<br \/>\n<\/button>          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>A Halo game made by an Activision studio doesn&#8217;t sound like a far-fetched idea, and is actually something Xbox considered per a new report. Sledgehammer Games, the studio behind several Call of Duty games like WW2, Vanguard, and Modern Warfare 3, is said to have been sought out to develop a Halo multiplayer game.<\/p>\n<p>The project, however, never made it out of the prototype stage. That&#8217;s according to a new video from YouTuber <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@RebsGaming\">Rebs Gaming<\/a> (via <a href=\"https:\/\/insider-gaming.com\/activision-halo-multiplayer-pitch-report\/\">Insider Gaming<\/a>), who followed up <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JezCorden\/status\/2073897065395146989\">speculation from Windows Central&#8217;s Jez Corden<\/a> that Xbox may be interested in having Activision develop Halo games.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I spoke to a source who previously sent me a bunch of Campaign Evolved information that turned out to be 100 percent accurate,&#8221; said Rebs Gaming. &#8220;They told me that Microsoft is exploring a proposition to have Activision help develop Halo games, which includes having Sledgehammer Games help develop a Halo multiplayer game.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The prototype, according to the video, is said to have been in the early blockout phase, only featuring basic gameplay mechanics. Following a period of testing in June, Xbox decided a month later not to move forward with the project.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Cancelling the pitch prototype does not mean Activision won&#8217;t develop Halo games,&#8221; they went on. &#8220;According to my source, Microsoft is still exploring the proposition, but they have not green lit anything yet.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Halo&apos;s Future Is Outsourcing\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rn8kqiM75KU?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/rn8kqiM75KU\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Halo&#8217;s Future Is Outsourcing<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rn8kqiM75KU\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Much of the video revolves around how much outsourcing Halo Studios seemingly relied on to develop Halo: Campaign Evolved, and the extent to which they believe that same approach will be replicated with future titles.<\/p>\n<p>Xbox, of course, owns the entirety of Activision Blizzard, including all of the Call of Duty teams, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/microsoft-has-finally-bought-activision-blizzard\">following its 2023 $68.7bn acquisition<\/a>. However, there hasn&#8217;t been much overlap in terms of development duties; both companies have continued working on their own projects just like pre-acquisition.<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/xbox-layoffs-business-reset\">Microsoft takes a long hard look at its Xbox gaming strategy<\/a>, we&#8217;re bound to see more collaborations between the different studios, especially now that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/microsoft-xbox-layoffs-2026-double-fine-compulsion-ninja-theory\">Xbox is laying off 3,200 workers across the entire division<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source\" data-component=\"preferred-source\">\nLove Eurogamer.net? Make us a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\">Preferred Source on Google<\/a> and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>A Halo game made by an Activision studio doesn&#8217;t sound like a far-fetched idea, and is actually something Xbox considered per a new report. Sledgehammer Games, the studio behind several Call of Duty games like WW2, Vanguard, and Modern Warfare 3, is said to have been sought out to develop a Halo multiplayer game.<\/p>\n<p>The project, however, never made it out of the prototype stage. That&#8217;s according to a new video from YouTuber <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@RebsGaming\">Rebs Gaming<\/a> (via <a href=\"https:\/\/insider-gaming.com\/activision-halo-multiplayer-pitch-report\/\">Insider Gaming<\/a>), who followed up <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JezCorden\/status\/2073897065395146989\">speculation from Windows Central&#8217;s Jez Corden<\/a> that Xbox may be interested in having Activision develop Halo games.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I spoke to a source who previously sent me a bunch of Campaign Evolved information that turned out to be 100 percent accurate,&#8221; said Rebs Gaming. &#8220;They told me that Microsoft is exploring a proposition to have Activision help develop Halo games, which includes having Sledgehammer Games help develop a Halo multiplayer game.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The prototype, according to the video, is said to have been in the early blockout phase, only featuring basic gameplay mechanics. Following a period of testing in June, Xbox decided a month later not to move forward with the project.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Cancelling the pitch prototype does not mean Activision won&#8217;t develop Halo games,&#8221; they went on. &#8220;According to my source, Microsoft is still exploring the proposition, but they have not green lit anything yet.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Halo&apos;s Future Is Outsourcing\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rn8kqiM75KU?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/rn8kqiM75KU\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Halo&#8217;s Future Is Outsourcing<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rn8kqiM75KU\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Much of the video revolves around how much outsourcing Halo Studios seemingly relied on to develop Halo: Campaign Evolved, and the extent to which they believe that same approach will be replicated with future titles.<\/p>\n<p>Xbox, of course, owns the entirety of Activision Blizzard, including all of the Call of Duty teams, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/microsoft-has-finally-bought-activision-blizzard\">following its 2023 $68.7bn acquisition<\/a>. However, there hasn&#8217;t been much overlap in terms of development duties; both companies have continued working on their own projects just like pre-acquisition.<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/xbox-layoffs-business-reset\">Microsoft takes a long hard look at its Xbox gaming strategy<\/a>, we&#8217;re bound to see more collaborations between the different studios, especially now that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/microsoft-xbox-layoffs-2026-double-fine-compulsion-ninja-theory\">Xbox is laying off 3,200 workers across the entire division<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News Halo: Campaign Evolved Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer reportedly worked on a Halo multiplayer prototype before it got canned Above and beyond the Call of Duty. Image credit: Halo Studios, Xbox. News by Sherif Saed Senior Contributor Published on Aug. 17, 2026, 10:11 a.m. Follow Halo: Campaign Evolved A Halo game made by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-2097117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2097117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097117\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2097117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2097117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2097117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}