A recent rumor has set the Halo gaming community abuzz with the possibility of a forthcoming single-player Halo campaign. This speculation comes amidst an air of uncertainty surrounding the future of the beloved Halo franchise. Developer 343 Industries has reportedly undergone restructuring following Microsoft’s recent layoffs and the departure of Halo Infinite director Joe Staten earlier this year.
Halo’s Future and the Shifting Landscape
While Halo Infinite continues to receive multiplayer support, recent reports suggest that 343 Industries has altered its earlier plans for additional solo campaigns that would have extended the narrative of Master Chief and his new AI companion, The Weapon.
However, this doesn’t mean that the Halo story won’t continue in a new game. Insider reports that surfaced alongside the news of Halo Infinite’s post-launch story DLC being canceled also hinted at 343 Industries moving forward with a brand-new Halo project. The developer is reportedly partnering with Certain Affinity, a studio that contributed to Halo Infinite’s multiplayer, to create a new Halo multiplayer title. This new game is said to combine elements of battle royale gameplay, akin to titles like Fortnite, with extraction shooter mechanics. Codenamed Tatanka, this project is a notable departure, as it will be the first Halo game built using Unreal Engine, rather than 343’s proprietary Slipspace engine.
A New Single-Player Campaign in the Works?
Beyond Tatanka, there’s a whisper of another project in the Halo universe. During the latest episode of Hoeg Law’s Bitcast livestream, co-host Ains shared intriguing information. He mentioned hearing about a single-player campaign being developed as part of 343’s restructuring efforts. While there’s no concrete launch date, Ains speculated that it could be a couple of years before this campaign sees the light of day.
As of now, neither Microsoft nor 343 Industries has officially confirmed these developments. Nevertheless, 343 Industries has reassured fans that the Halo franchise will continue to be a cornerstone of the Xbox brand. The cliffhanger ending of Halo Infinite, featuring the unsealing of more of the Endless forces, has left fans eagerly awaiting more single-player content.
If the latest rumors hold true, the next single-player campaign in the Halo series may address lingering plot threads from Halo Infinite. This campaign is said to be in development using Unreal Engine 5. In the meantime, Halo Infinite players can look forward to diving into Season 5’s multiplayer content, featuring the return of Firefight mode and new character cosmetics inspired by the formidable Flood.
