The Halo franchise has struggled recently, with developer 343 Industries facing a wave of wider Xbox layoffs and cancellations. With growing tensions in their studio, the fate of the Halo games is up in the air, meaning that fans of those games may have to look elsewhere for a solid sci-fi shooter. Thankfully, another series has been building its popularity with solid gameplay and visuals, looking to dethrone Xbox’s flagship franchise.
According to an article published by Windows Central, Halo studio devs describe a lot of tension in their upcoming title, with the quality of the next game coming into question often. With the emphasis of Microsoft and Xbox on replacing many jobs with AI, the internal struggles seem to be worsening. Despite rumored plans for a Halo: CE remaster, it is unclear how and when Halo will move forward.
Warhammer 40k: Space Marine Might Outpace Halo Over Time
An Established Series With A Recently Popular Title Could Take Over
After Halo Infintie had been out for quite some time following its 2021 release, Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 was launched in 2024. A follow-up to a beloved third-person action game similar to Gears of War, Space Marine 2 was incredibly successful, outpacing the first game by a wide margin. Even now, it sits on Metacritic with an 82 score, well within favorable reviews for its action and setting.
Space Marine 2 takes place in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, representing a world based on the tabletop war game. Warhammer is revered for its detailed lore, with multiple factions in a dystopian sci-fi future engulfed in endless warfare. Space Marine 2 follows the story of an Ultramarine, a genetically engineered soldier from one of the most recognizable sub-factions in the Imperium of humanity, who is one of the many morally gray sides of the intergalactic conflict.
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The established setting of Space Marine 2 helped entice fans of 40k to play, but its other systems drew in many new players. The third-person action was complimented by a tight gear system and multiple character classes for you to choose between. With multiplayer crossplay in Space Marine 2, squads of up to four players could go into PvE Operation missions or the game’s story mode, which featured a detailed campaign with a compelling story.
Operations in Space Marine 2 create long-form missions against armies of enemies, while PvP Eternal War multiplayer pits teams of players against each other. The variety of these modes reflects Halo‘s campaign and online multiplayer modes, which are often touted as the best in the sci-fi shooter genre. However, with far more character and class customization in Space Marine 2, it can outpace Halo‘s sandbox in some areas.
The Popularity Of Space Marine 2 Will Likely Spawn Sequels
DLC And Player Support Has Already Green Lit More Warhammer Adventures
In 2025, it was announced that a Space Marine 2 sequel has been green lit for development, expanding the story of Titus even further. This comes from the great reception of the game, which was supported through multiple phases of DLC content. Most DLC was free in Space Marine 2, adhering to a roadmap that added plenty of new content, such as:
- New PvE Operation missions
- Extra weapons, gear, perks, and other customization options
- New Space Marine chapter cosmetics
- New character class for unique gameplay
One of the newest pieces of content in Space Marine 2 is Siege mode, a new alternative to Operations and Eternal War. This is essentially a horde mode, where trios of teams take on waves and waves of enemy forces for as long as they can survive.
The continual content drops, balance patches, and extra gameplay elements added to Space Marine 2 have retained player counts for a while, keeping the game popular even a year after its release. With more cosmetic Chapters being added, players can customize their Space Marine more than ever, leaving no wonder as to why they have stuck around as long as they have.
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Even with one sequel already announced, it’s likely that the follow-up to Space Marine 2 will come with its own catalog of DLC content. If that sequel continues to appeal to fans of Space Marine 2, it could evolve into a growing franchise quickly, prompting a Space Marine 4 or 5 if given enough time to cultivate continued fan support.
Lack Of Halo Leadership Might Keep The Franchise Dormant For Too Long
No News Could Lead To Space Marine Taking Over
The announced Space Marine sequel comes in light of little to no Halo news, reflecting the latter franchise’s lack of cohesion. While Xbox undoubtedly has a Halo project in the works somewhere, the lack of leadership or voice in that project’s development doesn’t spark faith in it. Meanwhile, the constant communication regarding the sequel and DLC roadmap for Space Marine games can provide stability for sci-fi shooter fans.
According to devs from Halo Studios, many aspects of its future developments have been outsourced to temporary contracts. This could contribute to the lackluster communication surrounding any news regarding any ongoing Halo projects.
The Xbox layoffs and waning confidence in Halo‘s current project might delay any games in the series for the time being. Even if a remaster is in the works, it is likely that we will see far more Space Marine 2 content before any new announcements regarding Halo.
Although there are far more fans of Master Chief than avid Warhammer 40k fanatics at the moment, the continued good word of mouth surrounding Space Marine 2 could generate a lot of hype for its developing sequel. When Space Marine 3 comes out, Halo might still be a dormant series, causing those craving sci-fi action to migrate to another storied series they can enjoy.
Source: Windows Central/Brendan Lowry