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

The 2011 remake, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, was a bold gamble for Saber Interactive. This then-independent studio offered to develop the game for free, a decision that would ultimately reshape their trajectory.

Saber Interactive's Daring Offer

A Risky Bet with Huge Potential

In an interview with Game File's Stephen Totilo, Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch revealed the audacious strategy behind their pitch to Microsoft. He proposed developing the Halo remaster for free, stating simply, "Because it’s Halo." Karch's bold move shocked the Xbox executive, but he saw it as an invaluable opportunity for his young studio. The chance to work on such a massive franchise offered unparalleled visibility and future opportunities. Karch's reasoning was clear: the exposure alone would be worth the financial sacrifice, opening doors to future collaborations. He famously stated, "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 $4 million bid at Microsoft's request, Saber ultimately received little to no direct financial compensation for the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remake. Contractual clauses effectively negated any royalty payments.

From Underdog to Industry Powerhouse

Despite the initial financial loss, Saber's gamble paid off handsomely. Their work on the remake led to further collaborations with Microsoft, including contributions to Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This time, however, Karch ensured the contract addressed the royalty issues from the previous project. The studio received a substantial payout, in the tens of millions of dollars, for their work on the collection. This financial windfall provided the foundation for significant growth and expansion. Karch recalled the sentiment at the time: "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own."

Saber Interactive's Continued Success

Following their success with Microsoft, Saber Interactive expanded rapidly, opening studios globally and acquiring other development houses. They took on diverse projects, including the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and developing World War Z.

Acquired by Embracer Group in 2020, Saber later transitioned back to independent ownership under its CEO, Matthew Karch, retaining all its studios and intellectual property. Despite this change, Saber continues to thrive, working on highly anticipated titles like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released September 2024), John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival. CCO Tim Willits reassured fans on X (formerly Twitter) that development would continue uninterrupted.