Halo: Combat Evolved Remake Was Developed For Free Exposure— And It Worked

The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was a game-changer for the then-independent studio, Saber Interactive. This article delves into how the studio managed to secure the project for free and how it transformed their trajectory in the gaming industry.

Saber Interactive Offered To Do Halo For Free

A Huge Opportunity For An Independent Studio

In a revealing interview with journalist Stephen Totilo for Game File, Saber Interactive's CEO and co-founder, Matthew Karch, disclosed the studio's audacious pitch to Microsoft. Karch proposed remastering the iconic first Halo game without charging a fee, stating, "Because it’s Halo." This bold move left the Xbox executive "shocked," but Karch saw it as a strategic move for his fledgling studio. At the time, Saber was a young start-up, and working on a major franchise like Halo was a golden opportunity to gain industry visibility. Karch likened it to "putting a Harvard diploma on your wall," believing it would open numerous doors for future collaborations. Despite proposing a low bid of $4 million at Microsoft's request, the contract's clauses ensured Saber received no royalties from the 2011 Xbox 360 release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

From Relying On Publishers To Becoming One Themselves

Although the initial project was a financial loss, it paved the way for Saber's involvement in the Halo: The Master Chief Collection, working alongside industry giants like Bungie and 343 Industries. When tasked with porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One, Karch faced a similar contract issue. He refused to sign until Microsoft removed the royalty-killing clauses from the previous agreement. This negotiation resulted in a lucrative deal for Saber, earning them tens of millions of dollars from their contribution to The Master Chief Collection. This significant payout was a turning point, allowing Saber to transition from relying on publishers to becoming a self-sustaining entity. Karch reflected on this shift, saying, "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own."

Saber Interactive Now

Following their success with Microsoft, Saber Interactive expanded globally, establishing new studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring studios like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They collaborated on high-profile projects, including the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with CD Projekt Red and developed World War Z under their own banner.

In February 2020, Saber Interactive was acquired by the Embracer Group, becoming a subsidiary while retaining autonomy. Under Embracer, they continued to grow, developing titles like Evil Dead: The Game and acquiring more subsidiaries. However, due to financial pressures, Embracer sold Saber to Beacon Interactive, a company owned by Karch, in a deal that allowed Saber to retain all its branded studios and IPs.

Despite the change in ownership, Saber's Chief Creative Officer, Tim Willits, reassured fans via X (formerly Twitter) that ongoing projects would continue as planned. Currently, Saber is working on several exciting titles, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released in September 2024), John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival.