Microsoft Canceled Three Halo Games at Once. Details of the Failed Projects Revealed - Insider

Before the massive layoffs at the former 343 Industries, three Halo projects were being developed in parallel - Halo 7, a small game based on the novel First Strike, and updated versions of classic installments in the series.

According to insider RebsGaming and The Verge, the most advanced side project was a game based on First Strike, which takes place between the first and second Halo installments. It was supposed to connect the remakes of Halo 2 and Halo 3, offering five story missions and a 'Firefight' mode, and could have been released next year.

A small team was also working on the concept of a full-fledged Halo 7. Before the layoffs, the developers presented Matt Booty and the leadership with an updated vision of the game with a new story, PvP, cooperative PvE, and an expanded 'Forge' editor.

However, Halo 7 was in an early stage, and full production was years away. After the layoffs, only about 30 people remained at the studio – key engineers, artists, and support staff. Halo Studios, instead of developing the series, transitioned to a support team role.