Discover how the 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary transformed Saber Interactive from an indie studio to a major player in the gaming industry, all starting with a bold, no-cost proposal.
Saber Interactive Offered To Do Halo For Free
A Huge Opportunity For An Independent Studio
In a revealing interview with journalist Stephen Totilo for Game File, Saber Interactive's CEO and co-founder Matthew Karch disclosed an audacious pitch to Microsoft: remastering the iconic Halo game for free. Karch's rationale was clear: "Because it’s Halo." The Xbox executive present was taken aback, but Karch saw it as a strategic move for his fledgling studio. At the time, Saber was a young indie outfit, and working on such a renowned franchise was a golden ticket to industry recognition. Karch likened it to "putting a Harvard diploma on your wall," believing it would open countless doors for future collaborations. "It’s the biggest franchise in the world at the time. I said: ‘It’s like putting a Harvard diploma on your wall. Everyone in the world is going to want to work with me after they see that I’ve worked on this last Halo game, and it is going to open up doors. So I’ll suck it up and I’ll do it at a loss.'"
Saber's bold move paid off, leading to the release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary on the Xbox 360 in 2011. Although Karch initially proposed a low bid of $4 million at Microsoft's behest, contractual clauses ensured that Saber received no royalties from the project.
From Relying On Publishers To Becoming One Themselves
Despite the financial hit from the 2011 remake, Saber's fortunes turned when Microsoft contracted them again for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, alongside other developers like Bungie and 343 Industries. Tasked with porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One, Karch faced a contract issue when Microsoft forgot to send the agreement until just before the collection's release. Refusing to sign until the royalty-killing clauses were removed, Karch successfully negotiated a revised contract. This resulted in a lucrative payout for Saber, amounting to tens of millions of dollars, which was pivotal in propelling the studio forward. "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own," Karch recalled telling partner and Saber COO Andrey Iones.
Saber Interactive Now
Post their successful Halo contract, Saber Interactive expanded significantly, establishing new studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring other studios like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. Their portfolio grew to include projects such as the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with CD Projekt Red, and the development of World War Z.
In February 2020, Saber was acquired by the Embracer Group, becoming a subsidiary while retaining autonomy. Under Embracer, they continued to grow, acquiring more studios and developing titles like Evil Dead: The Game. However, due to financial constraints, Embracer sold Saber to Beacon Interactive, a company owned by Karch, in a deal that allowed Saber to retain its studios and IPs.
Despite the separation from Embracer, CCO Tim Willits reassured fans via X (Twitter) that Saber's work would continue as planned. Currently, Saber is engaged in several projects, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released in September 2024), John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival.
