The long-rumored Halo battle royale project, codenamed Project Tatanka, appears to have been scrapped, according to a report from the XboxEra podcast and subsequent confirmation by gaming news outlet Eurogamer. Reliable insider Shpeshal_Nick broke the news on The XboxEra Podcast, claiming the project is no longer in development.
According to the podcast, Project Tatanka had been in development for over two years, with nearly 100 developers dedicated to the project. Halo developer Certain Affinity openly discussed the project in late 2022, calling it a “big and new” venture for the franchise. Initial reports suggested it would be a battle royale mode, though later rumors hinted at potential shifts in direction (thanks, Eurogamer).
The cancellation could be because Halo Infinite and its developer, 343 Industries, have not done as well as many would have expected. The game launched in December 2021 to critical acclaim but has since faced criticism for delayed features, a thin content roadmap, and ongoing development issues. 343 Industries underwent a leadership shakeup and experienced significant layoffs in January 2024, further fueling speculation about the project’s fate.
While Project Tatanka’s cancellation remains unconfirmed by official sources, the available evidence suggests the ambitious venture is no longer part of Halo Infinite’s future. Remember that this wasn’t confirmed anyway, but it was well-known, and many insiders said it was coming. This decision could reflect 343 Industries’ current focus on addressing existing challenges with the game and potentially realigning their development priorities within the Halo franchise.
I honestly believed that Halo Infinite needed a battle royale-type mode. The game modes they have now are fun but are pretty dated. Really, it’s the fun of being able to defeat multiple opponents that has everyone happy. Since the mode isn’t coming, we’ll have to wait and see what Microsoft has planned to shake things up in the series.
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