The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was a pivotal project for then-independent studio Saber Interactive, who took on the challenge for free. This article delves into the circumstances surrounding their decision and how it propelled them from an indie outfit to a recognized name in the gaming industry.

Saber Interactive Offered To Do Halo For Free

A Huge Opportunity For An Independent Studio

In a revealing interview with journalist Stephen Totilo for Game File, Saber Interactive's CEO and co-founder Matthew Karch disclosed that the studio pitched to Microsoft to remaster the original Halo game, offering to do it for free. Karch's rationale was simple yet bold: "Because it’s Halo." The Xbox executive was taken aback by the proposition, but Karch saw it as an invaluable opportunity. At the time, Saber was a fledgling indie studio, and working on such a high-profile franchise like Halo was akin to earning a "Harvard diploma" in the gaming world. Karch believed it would open doors and attract future collaborations, even if it meant operating at a loss. "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 a low bid of $4 million upon Xbox's request, Saber received no royalties from the project due to certain contractual clauses imposed by Microsoft. Nevertheless, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was successfully released on the Xbox 360 in 2011.

From Relying On Publishers To Becoming One Themselves

The gamble paid off when Microsoft contracted Saber to contribute to Halo: The Master Chief Collection, working alongside other developers like Bungie and 343 Industries. Saber was also tasked with porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One. However, Microsoft delayed sending a contract for the port until just before the collection's release. Karch refused to sign unless the royalty-killing clauses were removed. Microsoft eventually agreed, 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's growth, allowing them to take control of their future. "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own," Karch remarked to partner and Saber COO Andrey Iones.

Saber Interactive Now

Following their success with Halo, Saber Interactive expanded significantly, establishing new studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring others 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 World War Z under their own banner.

In February 2020, Saber was acquired by the Embracer Group, becoming a subsidiary while retaining autonomy. Under Embracer, Saber grew further, developing games like Evil Dead: The Game and acquiring additional subsidiaries. However, due to financial challenges, Embracer sold Saber to Beacon Interactive, a company owned by Karch, in a deal that allowed Saber to retain all its branded studios and IPs.

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