343 Industries
A Halo Infinite Battle Royale? A developer confirms it was real
After years of speculation, a developer has finally revealed that the Halo Infinite Battle Royale was real, and well into development before it got canceled
The long-rumored Halo Infinite Battle Royale mode, once shrouded in secrecy, has been confirmed by former developer Mike Clopper. He recently revealed that the mode, which Microsoft scrapped, could have been a “game changer” for the franchise.
Clopper, who led the design team for the mode, expressed that, despite its cancellation, working on the project was an unforgettable experience: “I led a large team of designers working on a canceled Battle Royale mode for Halo.” he said. “I believe this product could have been a game changer for the franchise. We loved playing it and working on it was a fantastic experience in spite of its cancelation.”
The mode, internally known as Project Tatanka and later rebranded as Project Ekhert, was reportedly integrated into the Halo Infinite narrative. Clopper’s statement is the first public confirmation from a developer regarding its existence, despite years of rumors and speculation. The ambitious mode was playtested on a vast map with varied biomes, but Microsoft eventually shelved it, possibly to shift focus to future Halo projects.
Halo Infinite did introduce a battle royale-inspired mode called Last Spartan Standing in 2022, but it was far from the expansive vision Clopper and his team had in mind. The decision to cancel the full-fledged battle royale was made despite the massive success of other FPS titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone, which have capitalized on the genre’s explosive popularity.
Interestingly, Microsoft executives, including Phil Spencer, have downplayed the need for a Battle Royale in Halo Infinite, preferring to emphasize the franchise’s classic arena-style multiplayer. However, one can’t help but wonder if Clopper’s vision might have given Halo the reinvigoration it needed to compete in today’s competitive FPS landscape. Unfortunately, we’ll never know.
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