Halo Revival: Ex-Director's Vision and Call to Hire Bungie Talent

Frank O'Connor, former franchise director for Halo, shared his thoughts on how Activision might approach the next installment in the legendary series. He also urged the company to consider hiring developers recently laid off from Bungie and Halo Studios.

O'Connor, who joined Bungie in the early 2000s and later became development director at 343 Industries, departed the studio in 2023. This was before 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios, which subsequently faced significant cuts as part of an Xbox initiative.

Speaking on a LinkedIn post, O'Connor outlined three potential directions for Activision's Halo endeavors, acknowledging that each path presents considerable challenges.

His first proposal involves creating a "classic" Halo game. This would focus on the series' signature weighty movement and dynamic sandbox gameplay, catering to its established fanbase while also being accessible and appealing to a wider audience to encourage growth. As O'Connor noted, more players naturally lead to a better multiplayer experience.

The second option O'Connor suggested is a radical reinvention. Activision could modernize the game and universe significantly, offering a surprising yet compelling new direction. This might manifest as a fresh take on the first-person shooter genre or perhaps an action RPG. Such a departure, he believes, could gain initial traction through player curiosity and loyalty, even though a complete lore overhaul might not resonate with all fans.

The third path O'Connor described resembles a strategy akin to Call of Duty. This approach would involve integrating Halo's intellectual property and gameplay elements into Activision's established development and monetization frameworks, similar to those proven successful in the Call of Duty franchise. The aim would be to produce a major, regular spectacle with continuous content updates, mirroring Activision's strategy for its other high-profile military shooter.

O'Connor added two further recommendations. Firstly, he strongly advised hiring developers from Bungie, Halo Studios, and others who have been laid off. He believes these individuals possess immense talent and innovative ideas that may have been sidelined or suppressed over time. Secondly, he cautioned against linking the next Halo game to hardware launch cycles or forcing its release on older platforms, citing the example of Halo Infinite's Xbox One version.

Activision's next Halo title is likely still several years away, as a dedicated team has yet to be formed for the project. The hope is that Master Chief's return will be smoother than his previous four attempts.