The 2011 remake, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, was a bold gamble for Saber Interactive. This then-independent studio offered to develop the game for free, a decision that would ultimately reshape their trajectory.
Saber Interactive's Bold Gamble
In a Game File interview with journalist Stephen Totilo, Saber Interactive CEO and co-founder Matthew Karch revealed their audacious pitch to Microsoft: they would remaster the iconic first Halo game for free. Karch's reasoning? "Because it’s Halo." The Xbox executive was reportedly shocked, but Karch saw the immense value in associating their name with such a legendary franchise. For a young, independent studio, working on Halo was invaluable exposure, a virtual Harvard diploma in the gaming world. Karch understood the long-term benefits outweighed the immediate financial loss. He reasoned the project would open doors to future opportunities. While a low bid of $4 million was eventually proposed at Microsoft's request, contractual clauses effectively eliminated any royalties, resulting in a net zero profit for Saber.
From Indie to Industry Powerhouse
Despite the initial financial sacrifice, the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remake paved the way for future success. Microsoft subsequently contracted Saber to work on Halo: The Master Chief Collection, alongside Bungie and 343 Industries. Their experience with the first game's remake also led to porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One. However, a near-miss occurred when Microsoft delayed sending the contract until just before the collection's release. Karch cleverly negotiated, demanding the removal of the royalty-killing clauses from the previous contract. Microsoft agreed, and Saber received a substantial payout—tens of millions of dollars—for their contribution to The Master Chief Collection. This windfall provided the financial foundation for significant growth. Karch recounts telling his partner, Saber COO Andrey Iones, "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own."
Saber Interactive Today
Following their Halo success, Saber Interactive expanded rapidly, establishing new studios across Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring studios like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They collaborated on diverse projects, including the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the development of World War Z. Acquired by Embracer Group in 2020, Saber remained autonomous and continued its acquisition spree, developing titles such as Evil Dead: The Game. However, a subsequent sale to Beacon Interactive, a company owned by Karch, returned Saber to independent ownership, retaining all Saber-branded studios and intellectual properties. Despite this shift, CCO Tim Willits assured fans that ongoing projects would continue as planned. Saber Interactive's current projects include Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released September 2024), John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival, demonstrating the enduring impact of their initial, audacious gamble on Halo.
