Microsoft Job Listing Hints At Secret Halo Game
Who needs just one Halo game when you can have a whole host of Halo games in 2021 and beyond? While 2020 was a bit of a kicker in general, Xbox fans were particularly disappointed that the planned release of Halo Infinite was delayed and the long-awaited Halo 5: Guardians sequel didn't land alongside the Xbox Series X/S. Much like the drawn-out delays CD Projekt Red had with the release of Cyberpunk 2077, pretty much every interview thrown Microsoft and 343 Industries' way involves questions about Halo Infinite's postponed launch.
The Xbox Games Showcase wasn't exactly the extravaganza 343 Industries wanted to show off its next-gen game, with the developer being mocked for subpar graphics and an underwhelming reveal. At least we all got a bit of a laugh with the birth of Craig the Brute. Since then, the release date of Halo Infinite has remained up in the air as 343 has been hard at work making the game the best it can be. Now, new rumours suggest the team is also tinkering on something else - away from the much-hyped release of Infinite.
Is Microsoft planning a secret Halo game?
The official Microsoft careers page has a listing for a Producer role, working directly with 343. If that doesn't scream "unannounced Halo project", nothing does. It's been live since February 6 and is asking for someone "to help develop a new project in the Halo universe". The mention of "new" definitely suggests it's out of the realms of Infinite. If this sounds like your dream job, 343 is looking for someone who has experience shipping AAA games for the current generation, also leaning toward the idea this is a game and not something else.
Remember that this isn't the first time we've heard about a mysteriously unannounced Halo title. Recently, there were claims Halo Wars 3 and a game following Halo 5's Fireteam Osiris were in the works. The account that broke the news was suspended, which could work either for or against the legitimacy of the leak. It's unclear whether the latest job listing could be tied to either of them or is AGAIN something completely new.
Going against the idea of a secret Halo game, former Studio Head Chris Lee told Game Rant Inifinite would be the only game for the next decade. Last year, Lee explained, "We want Infinite to grow over time, versus going to those numbered titles and having all that segmentation that we had before. It’s really about creating Halo Infinite as the start of the next ten years for Halo and then building that as we go with our fans and community". Then again, Lee left Infinite last October in a dramatic shakeup, so it's possible things have changed.
What could the secret Halo game be about?
Opening the floor to wild speculation and theorising, just what could a secret Halo game be about? Even though we're not expecting a title in the vein of Infinite, it would be nice to get a little something extra. Remember when we tried something different when Halo Wars tackled the real-time strategy genre. Halo Wars hasn't been visited in 2017, but with the subfranchise doing well on its own back in the day, it could be a nice little moneymaker on the side of the main series.
It's interesting to note that Capcom surprised everyone during its games showcase and announced the multiplayer Resident Evil Re:Verse. The game will throw players against each other with deathmatch-style gameplay using iconic characters from the long-running franchise. Although it's clearly not as ambitious as Resident Evil Village, it's being bundled alongside the main game as an added extra. It's easy to imagine 343 doing something similar.
Halo Infinite is currently on the cards for later this year, so there's plenty of time to hire the right person for the job. Once 343 has filled the role, we're hopeful things could power ahead toward a big announcement to tie into Infinite's release. If 343 is working on a secret Halo, here's hoping its production is a little smoother than Halo Infinite's rocky road to release.
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