The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was a pivotal project for then-independent studio Saber Interactive, who offered to undertake it for free. This decision paved the way for their involvement in a major franchise, showcasing their capabilities and leading to further opportunities. Here's how the events unfolded and how this formerly indie team transitioned from working on a beloved game to becoming a key player in the gaming industry.

Saber Interactive Offered To Do Halo For Free

A Huge Opportunity For An Independent Studio

In an interview with journalist Stephen Totilo for Game File, Saber Interactive's CEO and co-founder, Matthew Karch, disclosed that during their pitch to Microsoft for the chance to remaster the first Halo game, he proposed doing it for free, emphasizing, "Because it’s Halo."

The Xbox executive present was "shocked," Karch recalled, yet he believed it was a strategic move for his company. At the time, Saber was a young and independent start-up, and the opportunity to work on a massive franchise like Halo was invaluable. "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 offering a low bid of $4 million at Microsoft's request, the contract's clauses ensured Saber received no royalties from the 2011 Xbox 360 release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

From Relying On Publishers To Becoming One Themselves

Although the initial project was financially challenging, it set the stage for further collaborations. Saber was later contracted by Microsoft to contribute to Halo: The Master Chief Collection, working alongside other developers like Bungie and 343 Industries. They also ported Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One, but faced a delay in receiving the contract.

Karch refused to sign the new contract unless Microsoft removed the royalty-killing clauses from the previous agreement. Microsoft complied, and Saber was generously compensated for their work on The Master Chief Collection, receiving tens of millions of dollars. This financial boost was crucial for Saber, enabling them to pursue more significant projects. "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own," Karch stated to partner and COO Andrey Iones.

Saber Interactive Now

Post-Halo, Saber Interactive expanded globally, opening new studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring other studios like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They worked on various projects, including porting The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to the Nintendo Switch for CD Projekt Red and developing their own game, World War Z.

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

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