Big news are coming from Xbox on this Friday at 1pm PT where Halo Studios is most likely to announce one of the projects they have been working on. The gaming world has been very active in guessing, drawing from leaks and opinions that really do not resemble each other at all regarding the future of the classic franchise.
But who are these Halo Studios anyway? If you have not heard of them—maybe you have just been ignoring all the drama—this is the same studio that once went by the name of 343 Industries. You heard it correctly! That is the name change they have had. One gamer even told, “All they did was a name change so that they could try to run away from the negativity of the name ‘343 industries.'”. That is quite a strong statement, although it is a good summary of the negative feelings of many gamers who are skeptical right now.
The open secret that is beyond everybody’s guess and the most likely scenario is that we are going to witness the release of a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved. Not only a remaster but a building from the ground up. One commenter even pointed out another user saying, “There wasn’t a remake goober. It was a remaster of the exact same game. This is a ground-up remake. Grow up.” The passion is real, folks. Still, not everyone is thrilled. Another player shrugged it off with, “worst kept secret is that we’re getting a CE remake and I could care less to be honest.” The hype is indeed… selective.
Then there is the group that is totally pessimistic about things. One person foresees the announcement “Most probably it will be some junky remake that adds sprint to the game as the only new feature.” Another one just said, “Gonna be ass btw,” showing a kind of confidence that can only be the result of a long series of disappointments. And then, there is the unforgettable tweet from MichelSeguin2 stating: “I can’t wait to be disappointed! When they bury me, I want Halo Studios to lower my coffin into the grave, so that they can let me down one last time.” We can only respect such a commitment to the joke.
However, not everything seems so bad. Some players still have hope. “Beginning to think it might as well be a reboot announcement,” one user posted, while another just prayed, “Plz be good.” There is a real feeling that the people want Halo back to its former glory. One old fan confessed, “My first Halo was in 2005 with Halo 2. I want Halo to be good again.” That feeling is powerful, especially if you think about how many people the franchise has been important to throughout the years.
The rumors, however, do not stop at just a CE remake. There are talks of ports—like bringing the Master Chief Collection or even Halo Infinite to PS5 for instance. One player remarked, “Hopefully mcc and infinite on ps5. My infinite queues are super long.” But that notion was quickly rebuffed by another who insisted, “Wouldn’t sell. Ps already has all the top-tier shooters worth playing.” The console war never sleeps, it seems.
Speculation is also around a Halo 3 Anniversary edition or that indie-style “vampire survivors but Halo” that was hinted at some time ago. One user made a presumption, “Probably the official upgrade/release of that vampire survivors but Halo game we saw a while back. I expect a nothingburger.” Because by the time you have experienced as much as these people have, you will learn to keep your expectations under control.
And we must also take into account the technical problems that have been affecting the game. One gamer brought to attention, “The Halo Infinite Campaign doesn’t even run on PC and hasn’t for months. Lmao.” It is a valid question—if things are not working well currently, why should we rely on a new project?
So what will actually transpire this Friday? My guess is no better than yours. It could very well be a major surprise that could sing the franchise’s songs for a long time to come, or it might add another “meh” moment to the already long list of negative experiences that Halo has had in recent years. There is undeniably a divide in the community between those choosing to have hopeful optimism and those being jaded in their realism.
In the end, one of the features of the Halo franchise is that it has always been a franchise with a meaning to people. It is more than just a game, it’s part of gaming history. The question whether this announcement will live up to the legacy or fall short is academic; one thing is certain: everybody will be watching. And most likely, they will be tweeting about it straight away after the event.
So, the time is set for Friday at 1pm PT. Regardless of whether you are enthusiastic, doubtful, or simply want to witness the drama unfold, it will be a spectacle. Let’s just wish it is a good one.
