Reports suggest Microsoft substantially reduced Halo Studios and handed future development of the franchise to Activision. Insiders say the next mainline Halo game was still years away, with no project in full production when the cuts occurred, highlighting the studio’s slow and fragmented development process.

Work had reportedly begun on possible Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes, Halo 7 and smaller spin-off campaigns, including one based on the First Strike novel. Halo Studios is now said to have about 30 staff focused on supporting existing games, while Activision builds a new studio for Halo’s future.