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

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary's Unconventional Path to Success

The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary took an unusual route to its release. Saber Interactive, then an independent studio, offered to develop the game pro bono. This bold strategy, detailed in an interview with Game File's Stephen Totilo, proved remarkably successful.

A Gamble That Paid Off

Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch explained their reasoning to Microsoft: the prestige of working on such a massive franchise—the "biggest in the world"—would be invaluable exposure, attracting top talent and future opportunities. While Microsoft was initially "shocked" by the zero-cost proposal, they accepted. Karch's foresight was to leverage the Halo brand to elevate Saber's profile. Although a $4 million bid was later submitted at Microsoft's request, contractual clauses ultimately resulted in zero royalties for Saber.

From Zero to Millions

The risk paid off handsomely. Saber's involvement in the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remake led to further collaborations with Microsoft, including work on Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This time, Karch ensured the contract addressed the previous royalty issue. Microsoft agreed to amend the terms, and Saber received a substantial payout—tens of millions of dollars—for their contribution. This financial windfall fueled Saber's ambitious expansion.

Saber Interactive's Growth and Evolution

The Halo project became a springboard. Saber expanded globally, establishing studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring studios like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They broadened their portfolio, working on projects such as the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and developing World War Z.

Acquired by Embracer Group in 2020, Saber maintained operational autonomy, continuing to grow and develop titles like Evil Dead: The Game. However, a subsequent sale to Beacon Interactive (owned by Karch) returned the company to independent ownership, retaining all Saber-branded studios and intellectual property. Despite this change, CCO Tim Willits confirmed ongoing projects remain on track. Current projects include Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released September 2024), John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival. The Halo gamble transformed a small independent studio into a major player in the gaming industry.