The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary: A Bold Gamble That Paid Off
Saber Interactive, then an independent studio, made a daring move: offering to develop the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remake for free. This audacious strategy, revealed by CEO Matthew Karch in an interview with Stephen Totilo, was a calculated risk aimed at securing invaluable exposure within the gaming industry. Karch's rationale was simple: working on a globally recognized franchise like Halo would be a powerful endorsement, attracting future opportunities. While the initial Microsoft executive was reportedly "shocked," the gamble paid off in the long run.
Despite a proposed, albeit low, bid of $4 million, Saber essentially received no upfront payment for the Xbox 360 release. Contractual clauses negated any royalties. However, this initial sacrifice proved to be a stepping stone to significant future success.
Subsequent collaborations with Microsoft, including work on Halo: The Master Chief Collection and the Xbox One port of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, proved far more lucrative. Karch successfully renegotiated contracts, eliminating the royalty-killing clauses from the previous agreement. This resulted in a multi-million dollar payout, providing the financial foundation for Saber's impressive growth.
Saber Interactive's trajectory since then has been remarkable. The studio expanded globally, establishing new locations and acquiring other studios like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They've contributed to major projects, including the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the development of World War Z.
Following its acquisition by Embracer Group in 2020 and subsequent sale to Beacon Interactive (owned by Karch), Saber Interactive continues to thrive. CCO Tim Willits confirmed ongoing development on several titles, including the recently released Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (September 2024), John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival. The Halo gamble, though initially financially risky, ultimately proved to be a masterstroke, transforming a small indie studio into a major player in the video game industry.
