"Halo: Combat Evolved Remake Developed for Free Exposure, Succeeds"

The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was a game-changer for then-independent studio Saber Interactive. Discover how this strategic move not only boosted their profile but also paved the way for their growth in the gaming industry.

Saber Interactive Offered To Do Halo For Free

A Huge Opportunity For An Independent Studio

In a revealing interview with journalist Stephen Totilo for Game File, Saber Interactive's CEO and co-founder, Matthew Karch, shared the story of how his studio pitched to Microsoft to remaster the iconic Halo game. Karch boldly stated that his team would undertake the project for free, driven by the sheer prestige of working on "Halo."

The Xbox executive was taken aback by the proposal, but Karch saw it as a pivotal move for Saber, a young indie studio at the time. "It's the biggest franchise in the world at the time," Karch explained. "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.'"

Saber's gamble paid off. They secured the project, and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was released on the Xbox 360 in 2011. Although Karch had initially proposed a low bid of $4 million at Microsoft's request, the studio received no royalties due to specific clauses in the contract.

From Relying On Publishers To Becoming One Themselves

Despite the financial hit from the 2011 remake, Saber's fortunes turned when they were contracted by Microsoft to contribute to Halo: The Master Chief Collection alongside other developers like Bungie and 343 Industries. They were also tasked with porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One. However, Microsoft nearly forgot to send a contract for the port until the last minute.

Karch refused to sign unless the royalty-killing clauses were removed. Microsoft complied, and Saber was handsomely rewarded for their work on The Master Chief Collection, receiving tens of millions of dollars. This significant payout was the boost Saber needed to pursue larger opportunities. "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own," Karch recalled telling partner and Saber COO Andrey Iones.

Saber Interactive Now

Following their success with Microsoft, Saber Interactive expanded internationally, opening studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring other studios like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They worked on various projects, including the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with CD Projekt Red, and developed World War Z under their own banner.

In February 2020, Saber Interactive was acquired by the Embracer Group, becoming a direct subsidiary while maintaining autonomy. Under Embracer, they continued to grow, acquiring more subsidiaries and developing games like Evil Dead: The Game. However, financial pressures led Embracer to sell Saber Interactive to Beacon Interactive, a company owned by Karch, in a deal that allowed Saber to retain all its studios and IPs.

Despite the separation from Embracer, CCO Tim Willits reassured fans via X (formerly Twitter) that work would continue as planned. Currently, Saber Interactive is developing several titles, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released in September 2024), John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival.