Several news sources say that Halo Studios, which used to be called 343 Industries, is working on a number of new projects. This means that the Halo series seems to be starting a major new chapter.
They say that these include a standalone live-service multiplayer game and a modern remake of the first Halo: Combat Evolved. There may be announcements about these games as soon as the Halo World Championship later this week.
According to leaks from Rebs Gaming, a well-known Halo insider, the studio is working on more than just the next mainline game. Reports say that a “live service long-term updating multiplayer game” is in the works. It is said to be “like Fortnite” in its approach, but sources say the description only refers to the way it will be updated all the time, not to a battle royale mode.
It has been said that this project is different from other upcoming titles and is being made to be an evolving ecosystem with seasonal updates, events, and content that changes regularly.
There are also rumors that a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, which has been in the works for a long time, is in the works. Reports say that the goal of this project is to update the classic title by adding modern features like sprinting.
It is said to be being built with a hybrid engine that combines Unreal Engine 5 with a modified version of the Halo: Reach engine. Some sources say that the outside studio Abstraction is working on this remake with the original studio.
Everyone is watching October 24: A New Era for Halo
It might only be a few days until we find out officially what Halo Studios has been working on. The studio has officially teased a “deep dive” panel that will take place at the Halo World Championship on October 24, 2025.
There is a “project update” and a “project deep dive” on the schedule for the event, which has led to speculation that the studio is ready to share its plans for the future.
The studio started a new tradition with this event. The studio used last year’s championship to announce a significant change for the franchise. In 2024, the developer announced that it would be changing its name from 343 Industries to Halo Studios and that it would be moving away from its own Slipspace Engine to make all future games on Unreal Engine 5.
The studio said this was the start of a new chapter for Halo and showed off “Project Foundry” as a research project to build the foundation for Halo in Unreal Engine.
There have been rumors lately that generative AI could be a game-changing tool in the studio’s development process. In a report, Complete AI Training stated that the next two Halo games will incorporate generative AI in every aspect.
This is particularly evident in the initial creation of enemy behavior and terrain, which human developers subsequently refine. The same report said that meeting Microsoft’s stricter deadlines is a big reason for this approach.
However, Rebs Gaming, the same insider who first talked about how AI was being used, has since said that his comments were taken the wrong way. He said he didn’t say that the franchise was “relying on AI for every major component,” and he stressed that he was just passing along what sources had told him about AI being used in different areas of development.
This clarification shows how hard it is to figure out rumors and suggests that AI might be more useful as a tool than as a replacement for human creativity.
Microsoft has reportedly spent $80 billion on artificial intelligence across all of its businesses, so it’s not surprising that its gaming divisions would look into this technology. If the rumors are true, this would be a big step toward a “AI-first” production pipeline, where AI makes the first version of the content and people review and polish it.
The Expanded Halo Landscape and Future Prospects
These new projects are happening at the same time as ongoing support for Halo Infinite, the current flagship title. There are still big updates for the game, like the recent Fall Update that added the Falcon vehicle and the Vestige Carbine weapon. This shows that the studio is dedicated to keeping its current players while also creating new experiences.
The Halo series has been a big part of the Xbox brand since the first Xbox console came out in 2001 with the game Combat Evolved. It is still one of the most successful media franchises of all time, having sold more than 81 million copies and made more than $6 billion.
The plan to release several games, such as the live-service title and the remake of Combat Evolved, suggests that the franchise may be moving to a new volume-based model.
The studio has already promised to “celebrate the occasion in style” since the 25th anniversary of the Halo franchise is coming up in 2026. The promise could come true if one or two new Halo games come out next year.
This could be the start of a thrilling, transformative time for Master Chief and the Halo universe. As always, fans should be careful with any reports that haven’t been confirmed until the Halo World Championship on October 24 makes official announcements.
