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

The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was a pivotal project for the then-independent studio Saber Interactive, who offered to undertake it for free. This article delves into the journey of how this decision unfolded and how it propelled a small indie team into the spotlight of a renowned franchise.

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, shared the story behind their pitch to Microsoft for remastering the iconic first Halo game. Karch boldly stated that his studio would do the project for free, emphasizing, "Because it’s Halo."

The Xbox executive present was taken aback by this offer, but Karch saw it as a strategic move for his young startup. At the time, Saber was an emerging independent studio, and working on such a monumental franchise was seen as a golden opportunity to gain industry recognition. Karch likened it to earning a "Harvard diploma," explaining, "Everyone in the world is going to want to work with me after they see that I’ve worked on this last Halo game, and it is going to open up doors. So I’ll suck it up and I’ll do it at a loss."

Despite proposing a low bid of $4 million at Microsoft's request, the contract's clauses ultimately meant that 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 future opportunities. Microsoft later contracted Saber to contribute to Halo: The Master Chief Collection, alongside other developers like Bungie and 343 Industries. Saber was also tasked with porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One. However, Microsoft initially forgot to send a contract for this port until just before the collection's release.

Karch refused to sign the new contract unless Microsoft removed the clauses that had previously nullified their royalties. Microsoft agreed to amend the contract, and Saber was compensated generously for their work on The Master Chief Collection, receiving tens of millions of dollars. This significant payout was crucial for Saber, enabling them to pursue larger and more lucrative projects. Karch reflected on this turning point, 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 successful collaboration with Microsoft, Saber Interactive expanded globally, establishing new studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring other studios like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They worked on various projects, including porting The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to the Nintendo Switch for CD Projekt Red and developing 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, Saber continued to grow, acquiring more subsidiaries and developing titles like Evil Dead: The Game. However, due to financial pressures, Embracer sold Saber Interactive to Beacon Interactive, a company owned by Saber's CEO Karch, in a deal that allowed Saber to retain all its branded studios and IPs.

Despite the separation from Embracer, CCO Tim Willits reassured fans via X (formerly Twitter) that ongoing projects would continue as planned. Currently, Saber Interactive 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.