Former Halo chief pitches three ways forward for Activision's Halo

Former Halo boss Frank O'Connor has set out three paths for the next Halo now that Activision is overseeing the series.

O'Connor published the advice in a LinkedIn post on 25 September, drawing on more than two decades with the franchise. GameSpot reported the post on 30 September, while VGC confirmed Activision's role on the same date.

O'Connor started as a writer and community manager before serving as franchise creative director from 2003 to 2023. That run included time at 343 Industries, now known as Halo Studios, and credit as lead writer on Halo 3. He knows the series from the inside.

He started with what not to do. Do not tie the next game to a hardware or services launch cycle. Do not force it into a shape it cannot fit, or onto an ageing platform. And do not abandon sandbox, the open combat system that lets players mix weapons, vehicles and movement in their own way.

He also urged Activision to hire former Bungie and Halo Studios staff hit by layoffs. Those developers are bursting with talent and ideas, he said. It was a direct call to bring back experience rather than start cold.

His first idea is the classic route. A focused Halo built around sandbox, movement and shooting, made for core players first and scaled to reach a wider audience later.

His second idea is a clean break. Something new and modern that reinvents the game, such as an action-sandbox take on the FPS, the first-person shooter played through the character's eyes, or an action RPG, a story-led game built around character growth and use of the Halo universe.

His third idea borrows from Activision Blizzard itself. Use the player systems, progression and business models known from Call of Duty to build a big annual or semi-annual spectacle with steady content. That means regular seasons and updates rather than a one-off release.

O'Connor said none of the three options is easy, guaranteed or necessarily viable. The debate has already spread beyond him. Former Xbox social and executive communications staffer Genevieve Harrison wrote on LinkedIn about claims that putting Halo under Activision means Xbox has admitted it cannot make games.

For fans, this means options are still open. No date, platform or studio team has been announced for the next main game. What exists so far is advice from someone who helped shape it.