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Windows Central
Windows Central
Technology
Brendan Lowry

As Helldivers 2 soars, former Halo dev says tons of pitched ODST games never saw the light of day: "Some galaxy-spanning, some more intimate…and one that was really dark"

343 Industries Microsoft Arrowhead Game Studios PlayStation Studios Steam Windows Central
An ODST in Halo.

What you need to know

  • Helldivers 2, the hit new PvE co-op shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios, is blowing up right now with extremely impressive player count numbers.
  • Many Halo fans are wondering why Microsoft and 343 Industries never made a similar game about Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODSTs), which use drop pods to land in the thick of combat like Helldivers do.
  • Former 343 Industries senior game designer Kevin Schmitt says that "20-30 game ideas" were pitched while he was with the company, and that there were "many SP & MP ODST themed ones. Some galaxy-spanning, some more intimate…and one that was really dark. lol."
  • The reason why these projects never saw the light of day is unknown, though many speculate it's due to Microsoft and 343 Industries' focus on telling "a Spartan story."
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