Microsoft downsized Halo Studios in another wave of layoffs, leaving its remaining team to oversee the franchise rather than make games, as Activision takes charge. A PC Gamer analysis questions whether Activision can renew Halo without losing its identity.
The article says the layoffs are not the final wave. The writer says Halo Infinite became a strong multiplayer shooter and calls Halo: Campaign Evolved the studio’s best effort to balance the series’ traditions with change. They credit Halo Studios’ modes, art, gunplay, maps and community-built Forge content, while criticizing its campaign stories, trend-driven experiments and long gaps between releases.
The writer notes that Activision has maintained a steady Call of Duty release pace and can deliver decent campaigns, but says quality varies. They worry Halo could lose its slower-paced combat, vehicles, social lobbies and community-created modes if Activision tries to restore its popularity. In the writer’s view, the challenge is to evolve the franchise while preserving what makes it distinctive.
