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Handing Halo’s Multiplayer to Activision Would Destroy What Makes the Franchise Special

Rumors suggest Activision pitched a Halo game. Here is why Sledgehammer shouldn’t touch Halo.

Two armored soldiers in a rocky landscape, one red and one blue, engaging in combat. The red soldier is delivering a punch while the other red soldier stands nearby with a weapon raised. A building and mountainous background can be seen.
Two armored soldiers in a rocky landscape, one red and one blue, engaging in combat. The red soldier is delivering a punch while the other red soldier stands nearby with a weapon raised. A building and mountainous background can be seen.
alexa author
By Alexandria LopezStaff Writer

  • Primary Subject: Halo
  • Key Update: Reports indicate Xbox briefly tested a cancelled Halo multiplayer prototype with Sledgehammer Games, sparking fears that Activision studios could alter the franchise's core identity.
  • Status: Leaked
  • Last Verified: August 17, 2026
  • Quick Answer: Rumors reveal Activision prototyped a cancelled Halo multiplayer pitch, raising concerns that Call of Duty-style design could erode Halo’s classic sandbox feel.

Recently, rumors have started circulating that Halo might be moved to Activision.

Specifically, Halo's multiplayer development is being rumored to be handed over to Activision. While nothing has been confirmed, Microsoft has reportedly tested a prototype under Activision and its studio Sledgehammer Games, but it was cancelled.

That hasn't stopped rumors from swirling. And if it's true, then I'm worried.

All Aspects of Halo Should Remain With Halo Studios, Honestly

When I heard that Sledgehammer Games - the team behind Call of Duty: WWII, Advanced Warfare, and Modern Warfare 3 (2023) - might be taking over Halo's multiplayer, my heart sank. Unlike COD, Halo has never been about lightning-fast reflexes or sprint-canceling around corners. What makes Halo so special is the floaty jumps, the high time-to-kill firefights, the plasma grenade sticks, and the sandbox physics.

A vehicle with two passengers is driving over rough terrain, while one passenger is firing a weapon and another is holding a flag. In the background, there are structures and additional conflict happening, indicated by beams of light and action.
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Credit: Halo Studios

I fear that moving Halo to Activision and Sledgehammer means we're losing the essence of what Halo means, and it will instead be defined by sweaty combat. It doesn't need Activision's hyper-kinetic gunplay to stay relevant, so why touch it?

The idea that Activision can fix what Halo lacks is like putting a band-aid on a broken bone. Halo doesn't need what Activision and Sledgehammer excel at - they don't need seasonal monetization, bloated menus, and aggressive corner-to-corner battles. What made the original Halo games so good was the laser-focused, single-player experience backed by a social multiplayer sandbox.

A futuristic military vehicle on a dirt road, with soldiers inside, while a spaceship hovers above and a rocky, desert landscape is in the background.
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Credit: Halo Studios

READ MORE: Halo Co-Creator Says Campaign Evolved Hate Is Overblown — But Is Social Media Really The Problem?

If Microsoft wants Halo to return to its former glory, outsourcing multiplayer prototypes isn't the answer. Instead, they need a team at Halo Studios to respect the franchise's heritage. Give us campaigns with massive open encounters, distinct enemy AI, and an offline split-screen capability. Halo shouldn't try to be COD - it's special enough just as Halo.

Xbox needs to stop looking for quick fixes in Activision's portfolio and start rebuilding the foundation with people who know Halo best - and that's the folks at Halo Studios.

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