Just as Activision's takeover of Halo's future became clear, Halo Studios offered a glimpse into what could have been. Following the launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved, franchise author Alex Wakeford published a blog post that clarifies lore questions and concludes with a teaser likely to sting fans.
What does the Halo blog reveal about the plans?
The text was largely written before the Xbox restructuring was announced – at the time, the studio still believed the series would remain in its own hands. Some postscripts were added later. Wakeford jokingly remarks that fans would have to wait until next week to learn more about the Sacristan Order, adding that the joke had taken on “new dimensions” following last week's news.
Additionally, official drawings of the Primordial by Sam Wood are featured – the very creature that later became the Gravemind in Halo 2. The blog also summarizes retcons and continuity clarifications, aiming to unify the narrative across games, remakes, books, and the TV series.
Who are the Xalanyn?
Finally, Wakeford teases the Xalanyn, the “Children of Abaddon.” These are an advanced race of immortal beings, imprisoned by the Forerunners. According to IGN, the teaser hints that the next Halo installment – likely referred to internally as Halo 7 – would have delved deeper into these enigmatic foes. The game was already projected to be years away and is now effectively canceled.
The novel series is also impacted: According to Wakeford, Troy Denning’s “Halo: Fireteam Noble” is explicitly slated for completion, with a significant portion of its editing already done. However, the future of Kenneth Peters’ “Halo: Burn the Road Home” remains just as uncertain. It’s unclear whether those who pre-ordered would receive refunds should the project be canceled.
What does the Activision switch mean for Halo fans?
For the community, this comes as a significant blow. Reports of a potential reboot had already hinted at how Activision plans to approach the brand – a topic we covered in our article on the rumor of a Halo reboot. From our perspective, the blog primarily reveals one thing: Halo Studios had fresh ideas for new enemies, and the series now feels like a franchise that’s increasingly moving into the shadow of the Call of Duty empire. Whether the Xalanyn ever appear is now Activision’s decision. Find more about the brand on Halo Waypoint.
Source: IGN
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