Mark anniversary milestone of Xbox with a revered title that's stood the test of time - could it be hinting at a fresh Halo game release slated for 2026 per Spencer's hint?
Xbox Games Showcase 2025: A Look Back, and Potential Halo News
In this weekend's largest gaming extravaganza, Microsoft kicked off the Xbox Games Showcase, following the Summer Game Fest conference. The event delivered a two-hour dose of trailers, reveals, and announcements for games and hardware, including specifics about Xbox’s handheld device, set to hit Xbox and PC.
The grand finale was a significant announcement from Obsidian, featuring details about The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2. However, the event started with Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO, discussing the future of Xbox. As he closed the presentation, he hinted at the potential return of a beloved series that dates back to the early days of Xbox — Halo.
"Excited to share that players will get to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Xbox with a new Fable, the Next Forza, Gears of War E-Day, and the return of a classic that's been with us since the beginning," he said.
When pondering "a classic that's been with us since the beginning," it’s challenging not to think of Halo. Indeed, Halo: Combat Evolved launched alongside the original Xbox and was the console’s most prominent seller for several years. The franchise, which had a resurgence under Microsoft, is looking for its second wind.
Inevitably, Halo’s popularity dwindled in the 2010s, as the franchise passed to new hands. Despite post-launch improvements and additions, the latest installment, Halo Infinite (2021), didn’t receive the live-service audience Microsoft and 343 Industries — now known as Halo Studios — had hoped for. But by the end of 2022, there were signs of change: Halo was moving to Unreal Engine 5, and the developers were increasing hiring for various projects[1].
A technical demo called Project Foundry followed, which showcased several environments and characters from the Halo universe, rendered in Unreal Engine 5, including scenes featuring Master Chief in his classic armor from Halo: Combat Evolved. This sparked rumors of a remake or reimagining of the original game, separate from the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remaster developed by Halo Studios in partnership with Saber Interactive and Certain Affinity[2].
Now, the ball is in Microsoft’s court. Has Phil Spencer actually hinted at a new Halo project? The CEO has remained tight-lipped about the specifics, so speculation runs rampant. It’s possible that Spencer teased a simple remaster, or perhaps an entirely new Haloexperience. As a franchise faithful, I’m grinning from ear to ear, eagerly awaiting more news on the potential Halo comeback[3].
References:
[1] The Verge, "Halo is moving to Unreal Engine 5", 2022, [www.theverge.com/2022/10/13/23403885/halo-unreal-engine-5-xbox][2] GamesRadar, "New Project Foundry trailer showcases Halo graphics in Unreal Engine 5", 2022, [www.gamesradar.com/new-project-foundry-trailer-showcases-halo-graphics-in-unreal-engine-5/][3] IGN, "Looking at Halo Jobs Listings, Is a New Halo Game in Development?", 2023, [www.ign.com/articles/looking-at-halo-jobs-listings-is-a-new-halo-game-in-development]
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- In the Microsoft-hosted Xbox Games Showcase 2025, the CEO of Xbox Gaming, Phil Spencer, sparked excitement with a potential return of the Halo series, a franchise that started with the release of Halo: Combat Evolved on the surface laptop and PC, back in the early days of Xbox.
- During the event, Spencer mentioned a classic Xbox game returning, hinting at the possibility of a new installment in the Halo franchise.
- Rumors swirled after a technical demo called Project Foundry showcased environments and characters from the Halo universe rendered in Unreal Engine 5.
- The potential new Halo project could be a simple remaster or an entirely new experience, according to speculation fueled by Spencer's tight-lipped approach to the subject.
- With the franchise moving to Unreal Engine 5 and increased hiring for various projects, Microsoft is poised to potentially revitalize the popularity of Halo, which dwindled in the 2010s.
- As a dedicated fan, I eagerly await more news on the potential comeback of the Halo series, which could be expanded to entertain not just Xbox gamers, but also PC and even Windows users, potentially integrating with other Microsoft services such as Microsoft Edge for in-game browsing and Xbox for online multiplayer gaming.
