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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, detailed in an interview with Game File's Stephen Totilo, proved remarkably successful. CEO Matthew Karch's rationale was simple: the exposure gained from working on such a massive franchise would be invaluable. "It’s like putting a Harvard diploma on your wall," he explained. The risk paid off handsomely, though not immediately.
While Microsoft was initially shocked by the zero-cost proposal, they accepted. Although Saber initially proposed a $4 million budget, contractual clauses ultimately resulted in zero royalties for the Xbox 360 release. The studio operated at a loss, but the experience opened doors.
Subsequent work on Halo: The Master Chief Collection, including porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One, proved far more lucrative. Karch successfully renegotiated the contract, removing the detrimental royalty clauses. This resulted in a multi-million dollar payout, transforming Saber's financial standing. "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own," Karch recalled.
This success propelled Saber Interactive's growth. They expanded globally, acquiring studios and securing high-profile projects like the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and developing World War Z. While acquired by Embracer Group in 2020, Saber later regained independence through a buyout by a company owned by Karch, retaining all Saber-branded studios and IPs. Despite this change, CCO Tim Willits confirmed continued development on projects including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released September 2024), John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival. The Halo gamble ultimately redefined Saber Interactive's trajectory, showcasing the potential of strategic risk-taking in the gaming industry.
