"Halo Remake Developed for Free Exposure Succeeds"

The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary marked a significant turning point for the then-independent studio Saber Interactive. They boldly offered to undertake the project for free, a decision that would ultimately transform their trajectory in the gaming industry. Here's how the story unfolded and how it led a once indie team to work on a renowned franchise.

Saber Interactive Offered To Do Halo For Free

A Huge Opportunity For An Independent Studio

In a revealing interview with journalist Stephen Totilo for Game File, Saber Interactive's CEO and co-founder, Matthew Karch, shared the bold move his studio made when pitching to Microsoft for the opportunity to remaster the iconic Halo game. Karch explained that they offered to do the project for free, emphasizing the value of the association: "Because it’s Halo."

The Xbox executive was taken aback by this proposal, but Karch saw it as a strategic move for his young, independent studio. He believed that working on such a globally recognized franchise would significantly boost their visibility. "It’s the biggest franchise in the world at the time. I said: ‘It’s like putting a Harvard diploma on your wall. Everyone in the world is going to want to work with me after they see that I’ve worked on this last Halo game, and it is going to open up doors. So I’ll suck it up and I’ll do it at a loss.'"

Despite initially proposing a low bid of $4 million at Microsoft's request, the contract included clauses that resulted in Saber receiving no royalties from the project. However, the exposure and prestige from the 2011 release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary on Xbox 360 proved invaluable.

From Relying On Publishers To Becoming One Themselves

Although the initial project was undertaken at a financial loss, Saber's fortunes changed when Microsoft contracted them to contribute to Halo: The Master Chief Collection alongside other developers like Bungie and 343 Industries. Their role included porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One. However, a contractual oversight by Microsoft led to a last-minute renegotiation. Karch refused to sign the new contract unless the royalty-killing clauses were removed.

Microsoft agreed to amend the contract, and Saber was compensated generously for their work on The Master Chief Collection, receiving tens of millions of dollars. This substantial payout provided the financial boost Saber needed to pursue larger opportunities. Karch reflected on this turning point, saying, "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own."

Saber Interactive Now

Following their successful collaboration with Microsoft, Saber Interactive expanded internationally, opening new studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring other studios such as Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They worked on numerous projects, including the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with CD Projekt Red and developed World War Z under their own banner.

In February 2020, Saber was acquired by the Embracer Group, becoming a subsidiary while retaining autonomy. Under Embracer, they acquired more subsidiaries and developed titles like Evil Dead: The Game. However, due to financial pressures, Embracer sold Saber Interactive to Beacon Interactive, a company owned by Saber's CEO Matthew Karch, in a deal that allowed Saber to retain its studios and IPs.

Despite the transition, CCO Tim Willits reassured fans via X (Twitter) that Saber's ongoing projects would continue as planned. Currently, Saber is actively developing several titles, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released in September 2024), John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival.