The Halo franchise is in a bit of a tough spot right now as 343 Industries gets hit with massive layoffs, and the fan base has become increasingly critical of Halo Infinite's post-launch support. While 343 seems to be here to stay, these recent developments have made some fans consider whether the studio is really cut out for Halo. It feels like the perfect time for a new perspective, and id Software may be the best one for the job.
id Software has built its entire brand around making exhilarating first-person shooters, and that skill set could lend itself very well to the Halo series. The studio has been creating first-person shooters since Hovertank 3D in 1991, and has continued to wow its audience ever since. Some of its biggest games are considered the best that the genre has to offer, and the studio is showing no signs of slowing down now that it is under the Xbox Game Studios banner. While its expertise may be in games like Doom or Quake, it could easily take the Halo franchise to the next level.
Halo Under 343 Industries Seems to be Struggling
It has felt like 343 Industries has not known what it really wants to do with the franchise since it took over. Halo 4 tried to set up this new Reclaimer Saga, and it was an impressive debut effort, but it was quickly let down by what came after. Halo 5: Guardians tried to redefine what the Halo singleplayer could be, and it brought with it a new type of multiplayer called Warzone. However, the story proved very controversial within the fanbase and 343 Industries chose to start fresh with its next chapter. Halo Infinite was impressive, but it felt far removed from the rest of the Reclaimer Saga, and the post-launch support has been lackluster.
The Halo series has been all over the place, and 343 Industries is now going through some major changes. 343 has been hit with massive layoffs, and it has recently lost Halo Infinite's Creative Director Joseph Staten. There also seems to be many rumors circulating that planned content for Halo Infinite has been cut, and 343 Industries' leadership is facing criticism from the former Halo Infinite multiplayer designer Patrick Wren. It seems like the studio and franchise are in a bit of a tough spot right now, and maybe it is time for another Xbox studio to swoop in to lend a hand.
id Software Seems Like the Perfect Fit for Halo
id Software is no stranger to crafting exciting first-person shooters, and it could do wonders with Halo. The fast-paced action of Doom Eternal would feel right at home in a galactic adventure. Players could take control of Master Chief once more, or a completely different character, and then run wild across a Halo ring shooting every alien that comes in their path. It could be frantic, explosive, and a whole lot of fun.
The Halo and Doom franchises already share some similarities, and id Software has shown that it knows how to make an exciting modern Doom game. Master Chief and Doomguy are often compared for their Stoic nature, and they are both masters at taking down their enemies. Just like Doom, Halo is filled with a wild assortment of weaponry to use and enemies to kill. Replace the demons of hell with the aliens of the Covenant, and the game comes one step closer to being an exhilarating Halo title. If id Sooftware tossed an exciting sci-fi story into the mix, then it could lead to an exciting new entry within the franchise.
343 Industries has made it clear it is going nowhere and that it will continue to oversee Halo for the foreseeable future. However, that does not necessarily mean that 343 is the only studio that should explore the franchise. id Software seems like it would be a great choice for a Halo spin-off or the next chapter of the Reclaimer Saga. It knows how to make bombastic first-person shooters, and that is exactly what Halo needs right now.
Halo Infinite is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.