It’s been a while since many players outside of its dedicated community heard about Halo, and the latest piece of news surrounding Xbox’s flagship title isn’t good.
According to several trusted sources, Xbox canceled an in-development Halo spin-off that was reportedly codenamed “Project Tatanka.” This unannounced project was planned to be a battle royale off-shoot and was in development by Certain Affinity, a studio known for its collaboration with 343 Industries on various Halo titles.
Project Tatanka started life as a battle royale mode for Halo Infinite, but over time it evolved into something more significant. This evolution of the project led to speculation and excitement among the Halo community, who were eager to see a new dimension added to the beloved series. The project, according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, had shifted significantly during its development and possibly evolved into a different kind of game altogether.
The cancellation of Project Tatanka was first brought to light on the XboxEra podcast by industry insider Shpeshal_Nick. This revelation was then independently confirmed by co-host Sikamikanico. According to their sources, Project Tatanka isn’t in active development anymore. Additionally, Shpeshal_Nick mentioned during the podcast that he had received info about another Xbox game that, if announced, could cause plenty of drama. However, he chose not to disclose this game publicly to avoid potential controversy.
Had it come to fruition, Project Tatanka would’ve offered a 100-player experience with bots, a shrinking map similar to other battle royales, and various multi-objective missions. This ambitious plan would have added a new layer to Halo’s gameplay, potentially attracting both long-time fans and newcomers to the series.
The spin-offs cancellation comes amid a tumultuous time for the gaming industry, marked by economic challenges and layoffs. The impact of these industry-wide issues may have played a role in the decision to cancel Project Tatanka. Both Certain Affinity and 343 Industries, the primary developer of the Halo series, have been focusing on other projects. To be more specific, Certain Affinity is working on a new original FPS, Project Loro, while 343 Industries recently released the King of the Hill Firefight mode for Halo Infinite.
Despite the disappointment surrounding the cancellation of Project Tatanka, Halo continues to evolve, complete with the ongoing Halo TV series, the series remains a cornerstone of the Xbox gaming experience even if it now shares the same trillion-dollar umbrella with Call of Duty.
For those looking forward to hear more about what Microsoft has in store for the Xbox platform, the next Xbox Direct showcase is scheduled for January 18.
