When it comes to Halo's future, Microsoft should follow BioWare’s lead and try something new with the next entry in its most famous franchise.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Microsoft should take inspiration from BioWare's approach to the Mass Effect franchise and experiment with new ideas to keep Halo fresh and competitive.
- Focusing on Halo's strengths and eliminating what hasn't worked in the past could make the next entry the franchise's biggest yet.
- Microsoft should consider reshaping Halo's past, such as releasing a reboot or spin-off story, and be willing to disregard canon if it results in a better game.
Even though the next entry in the long-running Halo series is still several years away, it’s not too soon for Microsoft to start thinking about how it plans to move its most famous franchise forward.
While little is known about the series’ next entry, following the underwhelming response to 2021’s Halo Infinite the pressure is on Microsoft to ensure that its flagship franchise remains competitive. To keep Halo feeling fresh almost a quarter-century on from its debut, Microsoft should be open to experimenting with the series in the same way BioWare is doing with the next Mass Effect.
While both franchises feature spectacular sci-fi settings, Halo and Mass Effect also share a similarly tumultuous track record when it comes to their biggest releases in recent years. Though both Mass Effect: Andromeda and Halo Infinite managed to find some success, neither lived up to the lofty expectations of long-time franchise fans.
This is why, just as BioWare followed Halo: The Master Chief Collection’s lead with the release of its remastered Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, Microsoft needs to follow in BioWare’s footsteps and try something new with the next Halo.
Halo Infinite cliff shootout
With rumors indicating that Halo 7 could go multiplatform and appear on competitors’ consoles, now is the time for Microsoft to shake up the series’ familiar formula.
Much like the few details that have been revealed about Mass Effect 4 indicate that BioWare is making some unexpected choices with the game, potentially even ignoring Mass Effect 3’s multiple endings, Microsoft should do the same with Halo 7.
Doubling down on what’s worked from the series’ past while being unafraid to eliminate what hasn’t could potentially make the next Halo the franchise’s biggest entry yet.
By focusing on the series’ strengths rather than trying to reinvent the wheel with Halo 7, Microsoft could create a title that appeals to long-time fans and new players alike.
This doesn’t mean there’s no room to innovate with the next Halo game, though. Following the mixed reception to the graphics in Halo: Infinite the franchise could experiment with its art style, potentially even taking a more stylized approach like Bungie’s Marathon reboot. Another bolder option would be to shake up the series’ timeline.
Releasing a reboot of the original Halo would be one way to revitalize the series, giving the franchise a fresh start free from the baggage of earlier entries.
It could also choose to take the spotlight off Master Chief for the next entry, providing players with a spin-off story similar to Halo: Reach. Another choice for Microsoft—though one certain to be controversial—may be to stick with Halo’s tried-and-true gameplay but take a scalpel to its increasingly strained storyline.
Although it would likely prove to be an unpopular move with the most ardent fans of the series’ sometimes-convoluted lore, Microsoft should be willing to disregard canon if it results in a better Halo game.
That’s not to say that the series should completely abandon the rich lore that’s been established across countless games, books, and other media, though. Just as the Halo TV series manages to tell its own unique story while still following the overall narrative framework established by the games, the next Halo shouldn’t feel obligated to slavishly stick to canon if it stands in the way of offering players innovative gameplay.
Regardless of how it does so, Microsoft needs to breathe new life into the Halo franchise ahead of its next release. Following in Mass Effect 4’s footsteps and introducing some big changes to the world of Halo would be a great way to do this, and it could help ensure that the series has a strong future ahead for years to come.
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