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

The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was a pivotal moment for then-independent studio Saber Interactive. Offering to develop the game for free, Saber's bold move not only landed them the project but also set the stage for their future success 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 explained the studio's audacious pitch to Microsoft. Karch told the Xbox executive that they would remaster the iconic first Halo game for free, simply stating, "Because it's Halo." This decision stunned the executive, but Karch saw it as a strategic move. At the time, Saber was a fledgling indie studio, and working on such a monumental franchise could catapult them into the spotlight. Karch likened it to earning a "Harvard diploma," believing that the exposure would open countless doors. "It's the biggest franchise in the world at the time. 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.'"

Despite proposing a modest bid of $4 million upon Xbox's request, Saber ultimately received no royalties from the project due to specific contract clauses imposed by Microsoft. Nevertheless, the release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary on the Xbox 360 in 2011 marked a significant milestone for the studio.

From Relying On Publishers To Becoming One Themselves

Although the initial project was a financial loss, Saber's fortunes changed when Microsoft contracted them to contribute to Halo: The Master Chief Collection alongside other developers like Bungie and 343 Industries. Tasked with porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One, Saber faced a contractual hiccup when Microsoft delayed sending the contract until just before the collection's release. Karch refused to sign until the royalty-killing clauses from the previous contract were removed. Microsoft agreed, and Saber was generously compensated for their work on The Master Chief Collection, receiving tens of millions of dollars.

This substantial payment was a turning point for Saber, enabling them to pursue larger opportunities. Karch reflected on this shift, saying, "We've watched other people make money on our work. Now we're going to make money on our own."

Saber Interactive Now

Following their success with Microsoft, Saber Interactive expanded globally, establishing new studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring studios like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They collaborated on various projects, including the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with CD Projekt Red and the development of World War Z.

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

Despite the change in ownership, Saber's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits reassured fans via X (formerly Twitter) that the studio's projects would continue as planned. Currently, Saber is working on several exciting titles, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released in September 2024), John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival.