Halo Remake Nets Free Exposure

The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: A Bold Gamble That Paid Off

Saber Interactive, then an independent studio, made a daring move: offering to develop the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remake for free. This audacious strategy, detailed in an interview with Game File's Stephen Totilo, stemmed from CEO Matthew Karch's belief that the exposure alone would be invaluable. Working on such a massive franchise, he reasoned, would be akin to earning a prestigious Harvard degree, opening doors to future opportunities. The gamble paid off, albeit in a roundabout way.

While Microsoft was initially surprised by Saber's zero-cost proposal, they accepted. Although Karch later submitted a low bid of $4 million at Microsoft's request, contractual clauses effectively eliminated any royalties, resulting in no direct financial gain for the remake.

However, this initial sacrifice paved the way for future success. Saber's involvement in the Halo: The Master Chief Collection, including porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One, proved far more lucrative. Karch successfully renegotiated the contract, removing the detrimental royalty clauses, leading to a multi-million dollar payout. This windfall provided the financial foundation for Saber's significant expansion.

Saber's trajectory since then has been remarkable. The studio expanded globally, establishing new studios and acquiring others like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They've worked on diverse projects, including the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the development of World War Z. While acquired by Embracer Group in 2020, Saber was later reacquired by CEO Karch's Beacon Interactive, retaining all Saber-branded studios and intellectual properties. Despite this change, CCO Tim Willits confirmed continued development on projects like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released September 2024), John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival. The Halo gamble, though initially financially risky, ultimately proved a masterstroke, propelling Saber Interactive to remarkable growth and success.