Halo Series Was Nearly Acquired By Borderlands Studio Instead Of 343 Industries
Since Bungie‘s departure from the cult favorite, science-fiction Halo series, the torch was handed off to 343 Industries and the team has since managed and developed the franchise from 2011 onward. However, 343 wasn’t the only studio Microsoft had their eyes on during the property’s re-homing process. As a matter of fact, Borderlands studio Gearbox Software was just as likely a contender.
Based on an interview with head of 343 Industries, Bonnie Ross, Halo almost found itself in the arms of developers of the Borderlands series. After Bungie emerged from under Microsoft’s wings, the road for Halo was uncertain. Despite a relatively satisfying yet open-ended finale, there was plenty of opportunity left to expand upon the respective universe. Attempting to find the right studio proved a difficult task, but after throwing out an idea to take the reigns on the series herself, the then corporate VP of Microsoft Game Studios, Shane Kim, entrusted Ross with the “keys to the franchise.”
She was determined to find the right people to hand off the torch to create following entries for generation to comes. Ross told IGN that it would have been “blasphemy” to end at Halo 3, and that’s how 343 Industries was born. Ross created a team within Microsoft to carry on the Halo legacy, but creating an entire development studio wasn’t the only idea the Microsoft corporate vice president had in mind. Since Gearbox Software spearheaded the PC port for Halo: Combat Evolved, they were nearly chosen as next of kin. Despite that, they went on to create the critically-acclaimed Borderlands series.
That’s pretty neat, don’t you think? How do you feel about Gearbox’s near acquisition of the Halo series? Do you believe it is better in the hands of 343 Industries or would you have liked to see what the former could have done? Let us know what you think in the comments section below or start a conversation on Don’t Feed the Gamers Facebook page. To stay up to date on gaming and entertainment news as it happens, follow us on Twitter! Here are some of our latest:
Hoi Duong2131 Posts
Hoi is an elusive figure at DFTG, whose favorite past-times include chillin' in the Fade, reading manga, watching anime, collecting novelty items, and gaming.
