Frank O'Connor, who directed Halo's development across two decades at Bungie and 343 Industries, has outlined three potential directions for Activision's next entry in the franchise and urged the publisher to recruit developers affected by recent studio layoffs.
O'Connor, who departed 343 Industries during a 2023 restructuring that led to the studio's rebranding as Halo Studios, shared his strategic recommendations in a recent LinkedIn post. He emphasized that none of the paths he identified would be straightforward or guaranteed to succeed.
His first suggestion involves creating a traditional Halo experience that retains the series' signature heavy movement mechanics and unpredictable sandbox gameplay. This approach would target the core fanbase while remaining accessible enough to attract new players—a critical consideration since multiplayer communities benefit from larger player counts. The second path calls for a radical reimagining that substantially transforms both the game and its universe. O'Connor suggested this could take various forms, from a fresh take on first-person shooter design to a full action RPG adaptation, though he acknowledged that a complete lore overhaul has proven controversial with longtime fans. His third option would essentially align Halo with Activision's existing expertise: adopting the business models, progression systems, and content cadence that have proven successful in Call of Duty, resulting in a major annual or semi-annual release cycle with continuous updates.
Beyond these strategic directions, O'Connor added two additional recommendations. He stressed the importance of recruiting talented developers from Bungie, Halo Studios, and other studios affected by industry layoffs—individuals whose creative contributions were previously constrained or shelved. He also cautioned against tying the next Halo to hardware launches or service cycles, pointing to Halo Infinite's troubled development and its obligation to support aging Xbox One hardware as a cautionary example.
Activision has not yet assembled a dedicated team for its Halo project, suggesting the game remains several years away from release. The franchise has experienced considerable turbulence in recent years, with Halo Infinite's launch and post-launch period marked by significant challenges and criticism.
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