We all know for a fact that Halo is one of the best FPS franchises out there. The series’ focus on an incredible multiplayer experience and jaw-dropping campaigns is remarkable. The first two games were the reason why Xbox solidified itself as a gaming console. Halo isn’t just a game; it’s an icon that has lasted for decades.
Since the release of Combat Evolved, we’ve seen eight mainline entries in the franchise. However, one of the most special ones is undoubtedly Halo 4. Even though it was 343 Industries’ first project, it managed to generate over $300 million. Why did the game succeed? Well, it’s all thanks to the unusual strategy of hiring developers who absolutely despised Halo!
Halo 4 used a bold hiring strategy to achieve success
A few years ago, ex-343 Industries’ franchise development director, Frank O’Conner, opened up about the development of Halo 4 in an interview with Gamasutra. As the game was 343 Industries’ first step into the iconic franchise after taking it over from Bungie, it had to approach the game uniquely.
O’Conner later highlighted 343 Industries’ hiring philosophy when it came to Halo 4. Instead of bringing in developers who were long-time fans of the franchise, 343 Industries decided to hire developers who hated the franchise for a number of reasons.
We had people who we hired who hated Halo because of ‘X,’” says O’Connor. “But what that really meant was, ‘I feel like this game could be awesome because of ‘Y input’ that I’m going to bring into it. I want to prove it, and I’m passionate about proving it.’ So we ended up with a bunch of people who were genuinely passionate about the product.
These haters of the franchise saw its untapped potential. They didn’t want to tear down everything that Bungie had worked hard for; they wanted the franchise to evolve with fresh ideas. With their unique vision, these new recruits aimed to improve Halo.
343 Industries wasn’t looking to replicate Bungie’s version of the shooter. The studio wanted to push the franchise to new heights and bring it up to modern gaming standards while still retaining what made Halo so great.
Considering the recent state of the Halo franchise, you might think that this was one of the biggest mistakes made by 343 Industries. However, the studio’s unique development approach allowed Halo 4 to collect $300 million in its opening week, setting a new record for the franchise at the time.
Halo Infinite has a brand-new spring update
It’s been more than 3 years since the debut of Halo Infinite. While its launch was rocky, the developers have continued to update the game over the years. Now, there’s another huge update that completely shakes up the game.
Infinite‘s Spring update is finally here, and it’s big in scope. Among the new additions is Operation: Frontline, which brings a new Operation Pass for gamers to run through. The developers have evolved this pass with the help of community feedback.
Alongside 20 tiers of free content, gamers can also opt to buy a Premium version that features 50 tiers of unique rewards. It’s a pass based around ODSTs, and the Premium one instantly grants players a new model for the BR75 Battle Rifle and other items.
That’s not all, though; we have a number of new changes for the multiplayer mode, including a weapon and game mode. The latest update brings Fuel Rod SPNKr, a semi-automatic rifle that fires quicker than the MF41 Rocket Launcher and can hold six projectiles.
Returning from older games, we also have an Assault mode. In this mode, teams of four try to plant a bomb in the enemy’s base. There are also two dedicated playlists for the game mode. A new Forge-created map dubbed Origin has also been added to the game.
With that said, do you think 343 Industries’ unique development worked out for Halo? Let us know in the comments below.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
