Halo is not just a video game franchise. It is the series that saved Microsoft’s gaming ambitions, turned the original Xbox into a cultural phenomenon, and produced one of the most recognizable characters in the history of interactive entertainment — Master Chief.
But who actually owns Halo right now in 2026? The answer involves a groundbreaking Bungie deal, a Microsoft acquisition, nearly two decades of turbulent studio management, and a bombshell announcement made just two days ago on September 22, 2026 that has completely reshuffled who is developing the next Halo game.
What Is the Halo Franchise?
Halo is a military science fiction media franchise that spans video games, novels, animated series, a live-action TV show, merchandise, and comics.
The franchise launched in 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved — a first-person shooter that became the exclusive launch title for Microsoft’s original Xbox console. Since then, it has sold over 100 million copies across its mainline games and remains one of the most commercially valuable gaming franchises on earth.
The franchise centers on humanity’s war against an alien collective called the Covenant and later a parasitic threat called the Flood, told primarily through the eyes of supersoldier Master Chief Petty Officer John-117.
Who Owns Halo in 2026?
Microsoft Corporation owns the Halo intellectual property — completely and outright. The franchise is managed under Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios division.
Microsoft has owned the Halo IP since 2000, when it acquired Bungie Studios — the original creator of the franchise — and retained the Halo rights even after Bungie later regained its independence in 2007.
The studio currently responsible for the Halo franchise brand is called Halo Studios — formerly known as 343 Industries — based in Redmond, Washington, operating as a subsidiary of Xbox Game Studios, itself a division of Microsoft.
However, as of September 22, 2026, Activision — now a part of Microsoft following the $68.7 billion acquisition in 2023 — has been handed responsibility for developing the next Halo game.
Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Owner / Party | Role | Stake / Position | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Corporation | Ultimate IP Owner | 100% of Halo franchise rights | Has owned Halo since acquiring Bungie in 2000 |
| Xbox Game Studios | Publisher & Parent Division | Full control under Microsoft | Microsoft’s first-party game publishing arm |
| Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) | Franchise Oversight Studio | Microsoft subsidiary | Rebranded from 343 Industries in October 2024; now a support team |
| Activision | Next Halo Game Developer | Microsoft subsidiary | Confirmed September 22, 2026 — building next Halo with a new dedicated team |
| Pierre Hintze | Head of Halo Studios | Studio Head | Leads what remains of Halo Studios after the Activision transfer |
| Bungie | Original Creator | No ownership | Created Halo; sold to Microsoft in 2000; regained independence in 2007 |
| Matt Booty | Xbox Chief Content Officer | No ownership | Confirmed the Activision handover in an official Xbox blog post |
The Origin Story: Bungie, a Mac Game, and a Microsoft Acquisition
The story of who owns Halo begins not in a boardroom but in a Chicago apartment in the mid-1990s, where a small developer called Bungie was making games for the Apple Macintosh.
Bungie was founded in 1991 by Alex Seropian and Jason Jones and became known for the Marathon series — a first-person shooter that was beloved on Mac but largely unknown to the wider gaming world.
In 1999, Bungie began developing a new game called Halo, originally conceived as a real-time strategy game set on a mysterious ring world. It then became a third-person shooter before finally settling as a first-person shooter.
Halo was shown publicly for the first time at Macworld Expo in 1999 — introduced by Steve Jobs himself, who called it one of the most beautiful games he had ever seen. The gaming world took notice immediately.
Then, in 2000, Microsoft came calling. Microsoft was preparing to launch its first gaming console — the Xbox — and needed a killer launch title.
It acquired Bungie in June 2000 for a reported $30 million, making Halo an Xbox exclusive and transforming what might have been a PC/Mac game into the defining launch title of a new console era.
Halo: Combat Evolved launched on November 15, 2001, alongside the original Xbox. It sold over 5 million copies and is widely credited with establishing the Xbox as a viable competitor to Sony’s PlayStation 2.
Bungie Leaves — And Microsoft Creates 343 Industries
For seven years, Bungie continued developing Halo games under Microsoft’s ownership, releasing Halo 2 (2004), Halo 3 (2007), and Halo 3: ODST (2009). But Bungie had always wanted its independence back.
In 2007, Microsoft and Bungie reached an agreement that allowed Bungie to spin off as an independent studio — but Microsoft retained full ownership of the Halo IP. Bungie walked away with its freedom. Microsoft kept the franchise.
Bungie went on to create Destiny under Activision and was later acquired by Sony in 2022 — but Halo stayed with Microsoft forever.
To replace Bungie, Microsoft created a brand-new internal studio in 2007 called 343 Industries — named after the Halo character 343 Guilty Spark.
The studio was founded by Bonnie Ross and tasked with carrying the Halo franchise forward. Over the next 17 years, 343 Industries released Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (2011), Halo 4 (2012), Halo 5: Guardians (2015), Halo Infinite (2021), and Halo: Campaign Evolved (2026).
343 Industries Becomes Halo Studios — Then Loses Halo
In October 2024, during the Halo World Championship in Seattle, 343 Industries announced a sweeping rebrand.
The studio was renamed Halo Studios, and it announced that all future Halo games would be built on Unreal Engine 5 — abandoning the studio’s own proprietary Slipspace Engine. Multiple new Halo games were announced as being in development. The future of the franchise under Halo Studios looked, for the first time in years, genuinely optimistic.
But just two years later, everything changed again.
On September 22, 2026, Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty confirmed in an official Xbox blog post that the next Halo game would not be developed by Halo Studios — it would be developed by Activision, through a brand-new team created specifically for the project.
Halo Studios — the studio literally named after the franchise — would now serve as a support team for existing Halo games and the community rather than leading development of new ones.
The decision came alongside a broader Xbox restructuring that also placed Rare and World’s Edge under Activision’s umbrella. Halo Studios also faced another round of layoffs as part of the restructuring.
Why Was Activision Given Halo?
Activision is already a Microsoft company — it was acquired by Microsoft in January 2023 in a landmark $68.7 billion deal, the largest acquisition in gaming history. Activision is the publisher behind Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, and Candy Crush — some of the most commercially successful gaming franchises ever made.
The logic of handing Halo to Activision is straightforward. Activision has proven expertise in managing massive, long-running first-person shooter franchises at global scale — particularly Call of Duty, which releases a major title annually and consistently sells tens of millions of copies.
Halo Studios / 343 Industries spent nearly two decades struggling with internal turmoil, engine problems, leadership changes, and repeated layoffs. Microsoft appears to have concluded that Activision’s operational discipline and shooter expertise give Halo the best chance of returning to the commercial heights it once commanded.
Activision President Rob Kostich said: “For Halo, our goal is clear — make the greatest Halo game ever, worthy of its universe and legacy, while staying true to what made players love it in the first place.”
How Much Is the Halo Franchise Worth?
Halo remains one of the most valuable gaming franchises in existence. The series has sold over 100 million copies across all mainline titles and generated billions in revenue through games, merchandise, licensing, the Paramount+ live-action series, novels, and comics.
Microsoft paid $68.7 billion for Activision Blizzard in 2023 — partly because owning Activision’s Call of Duty was so strategically important. Halo sits alongside Call of Duty and Minecraft as one of Microsoft’s three most important gaming franchises, and its long-term IP value is considered immense even during periods of mixed critical reception.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Halo in 2026?
Microsoft Corporation owns the Halo franchise 100% through its Xbox Game Studios division — a position it has held since acquiring Bungie in 2000.
Q2. Who created Halo originally?
Halo was created by Bungie Studios, founded by Alex Seropian and Jason Jones. Microsoft acquired Bungie in June 2000 and retained the Halo IP when Bungie regained independence in 2007.
Q3. Who is developing the next Halo game?
As of September 22, 2026, Activision — a Microsoft subsidiary — is developing the next Halo game with a brand-new team built specifically for the project.
Q4. What happened to 343 Industries?
343 Industries rebranded as Halo Studios in October 2024, but on September 22, 2026, it was restructured into a support team under Activision, with further layoffs announced.
Q5. When did Activision take over Halo development?
Microsoft’s Xbox confirmed on September 22, 2026 that Activision would lead development of the next Halo title — just two days before this article was published.
Q6. Is Activision owned by Microsoft?
Yes. Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard in January 2023 for $68.7 billion — the largest gaming acquisition in history — making Activision a fully owned Microsoft subsidiary.
Q7. What was the last Halo game released?
Halo: Campaign Evolved was released in 2026 by Halo Studios — the rebranded 343 Industries — and was the final title developed by that team before Activision took over.
Q8. Did Bungie ever get Halo back?
No. Bungie regained its independence from Microsoft in 2007 but did not retain the Halo IP. Bungie was later acquired by Sony in 2022 and remains a PlayStation studio with no connection to the Halo franchise.
Halo is owned 100% by Microsoft Corporation, managed through Xbox Game Studios. Microsoft has owned the Halo intellectual property since June 2000, when it acquired original creator Bungie for approximately $30 million.
Bungie later regained its independence in 2007, but Microsoft kept the Halo rights permanently. For 17 years, 343 Industries — rebranded as Halo Studios in October 2024 — managed the franchise internally.
But on September 22, 2026, Microsoft confirmed that Activision will now develop the next Halo game through a new dedicated team, while Halo Studios is reduced to a support role. Microsoft owns Halo. Activision — also a Microsoft company — is building its future.
