OXM rumor: Gearbox developing Halo 4 as launch title for next Xbox

by Christopher Grant on Aug 25th 2008 10:38PM

Remember back in February when Gearbox Software big boss Randy Pitchford teased his studio's next project as something "big"? Well, not just "big" but something that was "even bigger" than anything Gearbox is currently working on? Well, the kids at OXM sure remembered and they sent their spies deep undercover into Gearbox territory and came back with one heck of a rumor for their October issue: Gearbox is working on Halo 4 as a launch title for the next Xbox (NextBox?).

With Bungie admittedly uninterested in creating Halo games ad nauseum, and Gearbox one of the industry's top FPS developers, we've certainly heard crazier rumors. And there are few licenses that would get a studio chieftain to inadvertently slam his own games in development. Whatever the project is, Pitchford has said he'll be directing it himself, adding, "When you find out what this is, you'll likely agree that I can't oversell this one." Nope, you probably couldn't Randy. Overselling Halo is Microsoft's job anyway; you guys just make with the shooting of the aliens ... no, the other aliens.

[Thanks for the tip, Jordan!]

Tags: Gearbox, Gearbox-Software, Halo-4, Randy-Pitchford, Rumor, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (80)

"Question… Would it still be Halo 4 if it didn’t have Master Chief?"

Does a bear shit in the woods?

.... I mean.. it's not like we ever got to see his face or anything. They can put random guy X in a space marine suit and it would still be rad. I say go for user customization. They should let us build our own hero and customize the marine suit.

Kind of like in Ice Hockey... when you could pick if you wanted the fat, average or skinny skaters... except for cooler than that.... yeah.

Woah... didnt meant to do that thrice. Sorry guys.

Okay. I'm not buying this because Gearbox did the Halo PC port and from what I remember. They did not get along with Bungie at all.

I think this could potentially be a very good thing. Halo 3 was a great game with forge, saved films, etc. That being said, the actual gameplay was basically Halo 2 with a different starting weapon. Which wouldn't have been such a bad thing, had my friends and I (and a ton of other people) not played Halo 2 for 2 years off and on.

It got old fast, and for the first time in the Halo series history there was competition.

I actually like what Activision is doing with CoD. Yes, I know it's all about money for them, but having two studios work on the same franchise lets them play off of each other. Say what you will about CoD3 (I personally liked it, just not as much as 2 or 4), IW was able to take some of the concepts and refine them. Imagine how Halo 3 (or 4) could've been different had another studio made a title in the middle with their own ideas.

Um.. I was aware that Bungie was pulled from E3 and it was CONFIRMED it was another Halo project.. so I don't know what to think of this.

OOOOoooo this is not good gear box sucks...

Wayyyy too soon! As well as 360 and PS3, I'm still playing my original Xbox- still lotsa mileage left in them! Look how well the PS2 is doing.....better to sink the $$s into tweaking up the new games...all the systems are great!

Halo, Brothers in Arms style?

What I'd like to know if this is the Peter Jackson project, the one they were going to announce at E3, the supposed Ghost Recon style Halo, or a completely different game?

Jeez, there are so damn many rumored Halo games, I wish they could just fucking tell us straight and simple which is which and which is real

I won't be buying it if Bungie isn't developing it.

I'm not dealing with another CoD3... And I really don't want to see a new Halo title slowly kill the series every 15 months.

Halo without Bungie equals MAYOR FAIL!

Wouldn't even touch it.

Besides this rumor sounds like a lot of BS.

More important, I dont think MS would let anyone touch their baby unless its Bungie.

Halo + Bungie = Sucess. Why would they change that? Its not like Bungie does not like making tons of money either...

Bungie wants to do other things, Microsoft wants to make a second money Mt. Everest. Microsoft owns the IP, so it's entirely possible that even without Bungie, the Halo series will continue.

my honest feelings are that i don't want a first person halo game to end with halo 3. i would want more...just not for a LONG time. time for them to make it great. time for us to move on, then come back and love it all over again. a true sequel.

i really wouldnt mind if we NEVER found out what the legendary end was meant to be.

really though, if they do a number FOUR. one that is meant to directly follow up 3 then they need to wait ATLEAST a decade.

im fine with spinoff games like Halo Wars, and i really hope they do a tactical halo game similar to RB6 or GR(Halo Recon as some have said). i just want them to take care of the series. dont make it hit and miss the way mario has become. and PLZ for the love of all things dont make this microsoft's Sonic.

I'll be glad if this is the case, I was worried about them releasing a new Halo too soon, but if they're creating it as a launch game for the next console, then it's fine :)

I didn't realise there was so many dumbfuck Halo haters on Joystiq. All aboard now for the Halo hating bandwagon! Tickets are free!

Anyway, I don't think Halo would be quite the same without Bungie. But I can hope.

Its a smart move but with things going so well for MS, I'd expect them to prefer to keep the talk of the next xbox down for now.
I think MS will take the next gen by a significant amount. I just hope they put a fast Blu-Ray drive and a Hard Drive in every system and most of all, learn from their mistakes in regards to their hardware issues! We need to get away from multi sku releases. If you want multi sku with different size hard drives and some include games and subscriptions, ect. thats fine but no main component should be missing!!

I thought the next halo game aside from Halo Wars was going to focus on the spartan III's...?? They could easily make another trilogy from that and in a giant grand finale make an epic end title with the chief and III's meeting on onyx. =o

yes, the spartan III's would be awesome in a game. especially if they do what u said, lorem. trilogy with the spartan III's, then one big finale with mc and the III's

This rumor has been kicking around for a long time now:

http://thespaceoddity.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/goodbye-surfer-girl/

A Halo 4 eh? Haven't they milked the franchise enough?
I am a die hard fan of Halo's story and gameplay. I thought Halo 3 was awesome - especially the campaign - killer over Halo 2, story and gameplay wise.

The sad thing is that if this game turns out to be as good as Halo 3, i'll probably buy the next-gen console just for it.

It better be fucking good.

And I hope the main character does something fantastic. Unfortunately the Master Chief was cool and all but didn't seem to do anything that made you go "Wow that's one fucking crazy son of a bitch"

@tmacairjordan87

Could the same be said about 99% of the FPS games. Just because "the masses" like it doesn't make them idiots. Saying that it's online perfection does..

just because Halo 4 doesn't have master chief doesn't mean it can't exist. Look at Metal Gear Solid 4, Hideo is already planning his next installment.

As for halo 4, if they don't bring back halo 2's multiplayer, then count me out.
And someone mentioned story? yeah, the story was great in the FIRST halo, the second not so much, and the third being a wannabe epic.

It's all about the online with this game.

Sweeetttt my tip got the front page.

Well i think Bungie Will b on ALL OVER THE WHOLE PLAYLIST IN HALO 4 becuase so far they r the only 1es who have done anything on the MULTILAYER ONLINE SO WE"LL JUST HAV 2 WAIT ABOUT 2-3 YRS MOR I BELIEVE THIS NEW XBOX MIGHT B LIKE SWEET ASS TECH LIKE PS3 OR EVEN BETTER HOPEFULLY THERE IS A HALO 4 SPECIAL EDITION I WOULD TOTTALY GET THAT STR8 RIPPIN

there is going to be no next box in 2011 even microsoft said there isnt going to be till 2013-2014 they even said that therre wont becasue the 360 isnt done with there are many many more things the 360 is capable of that they havent done yet. there not done with the 360 quite yet

who cares who makes halo 4, as long as it gets done, many people (including me) will be very happy.

and the stuff about halos 1-3 three, i will agree with most of the them, like how halo 1 was the best, especially with the multiplayer.
halo 2 didn't feel right.... with the fact that you could beat the game in exactly one hour...
and halo 3 didn't allow you to leave any of the levels.... literally , there was no escape.

HALO 4 IS A MUST. who cares how many halo's are relesed as long as the fight go on..... and when it does end i hope the master chief is at home when it ends..... (a heros end).
and as for those who think this game is for the following masses of idiots your wrong, you just can't play the game on or off line.... and as for those who want to smash there xbox it just shows who's the child, JUST IN CASE SOMEONE DIDN'T TELL YOU YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAY HALO, MUPPET'S

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OXM rumor: Gearbox developing Halo 4 as launch title for next Xbox

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