Former Halo Director's Advice for Activision: Hire Laid-Off Talent

Frank O'Connor, former Halo franchise creative director, has advice for Activision Blizzard as it takes over Halo: hire laid-off devs and don't tie the game to hardware launches.

Ever wondered what a Halo game made by the Call of Duty folks would look like? Well, now that Activision Blizzard is officially handling future Halo development, some former series veterans are sharing their thoughts. And one of them, Frank O'Connor, has some pretty solid advice.

O'Connor knows Halo inside and out. He worked on the franchise for over 20 years, starting as a writer and community manager before serving as franchise creative director from 2003 to 2023. So when he talks, it's worth listening. On September 25, he took to LinkedIn to respond to Xbox's former social media manager, Genevieve Harrison, who was discussing Activision's development tactics.

In his post, O'Connor laid out some pro tips: "Do NOT tie it to hardware/services launch cycles, do not try to force it into a shape (or aging platform) that it can't fit and do NOT abandon sandbox." That's a pretty clear warning against repeating past mistakes. But he didn't stop there. His "pro-pro-tip"? Hire the laid-off talent from Bungie, Halo Studios, and other studios who are "bursting w. talent and ideas that got nerfed or shut down over the years." In other words, bring back the people who know Halo best.

So what could the next Halo actually look like under Activision? O'Connor offered three possible paths. The first is a "classic" Halo game focused on sandbox, movement, and shooter experience—tailored to core fans but scalable enough to attract a broader audience. The second is something new and modern: a surprising reinvention, like an action-sandbox game or an action RPG, that's fundamentally different but succeeds through strong story and IP use. The third is an Activision Blizzard-style Halo—a sandbox game with player progression and business models similar to Call of Duty, potentially becoming a big annual or semi-annual spectacle with consistent content.

O'Connor was quick to note that none of these ideas are "easy, guaranteed, or necessarily viable." But he believes one could be successful now that Activision is driving the Warthog. He's not the only former dev weighing in, either. Marcus Lehto, co-creator of Halo, said on September 23 that he's "shocked but not entirely surprised" by the move.

For now, all we know is that the next Halo game will be a "full-feature, mainline installment." But with O'Connor's advice and the influx of talent, there's hope yet. What do you think—should Activision hire those laid-off Halo vets? And which of O'Connor's three ideas sounds best to you?