Activision’s upcoming Halo game could reportedly explore Master Chief’s origins as part of a potential reboot of the franchise, according to new claims from YouTube channel RebsGaming. The project is still said to be in the early stages of development, meaning Activision’s plans could change before the game is officially revealed.
Activision was previously confirmed to be working on the next mainline Halo game, although official details about the project remain limited. According to information shared by RebsGaming, the company initially considered developing two separate Halo projects before changing direction.
The original plans reportedly involved a free-to-play multiplayer game and a separate campaign-focused title. Sledgehammer Games is said to have worked on early concepts and prototypes for these projects, which were eventually abandoned in favour of a single full-scale Halo game.
According to RebsGaming, the original campaign concept was intended to act as a soft reboot for the franchise. It reportedly would not have continued directly from Halo Infinite while also stopping short of completely resetting established Halo canon.
Those plans have allegedly since changed, with Activision now working towards a full mainline Halo instalment. RebsGaming also points to an earlier report from The Hollywood Reporter, which described Activision’s project as a full-featured mainline Halo game.
The most significant claim concerns the potential story. RebsGaming says its source indicates that Activision is considering a full reboot centred on the origins of Master Chief. If that direction is ultimately pursued, the game would reportedly not be a direct sequel to Halo Infinite and could instead provide a new starting point for the character and wider franchise.
It remains unclear how extensive such a reboot would be. RebsGaming stresses that the project is still early enough in development for Activision to alter its plans considerably.
The report also claims that Sledgehammer Games has experimented with basic gameplay systems, including player movement. These early prototypes were reportedly created using the Infinity Ward engine, although this does not necessarily mean the final Halo game will use the Call of Duty engine rather than Unreal Engine.
