Halo is a franchise that spent a decade soaring from success to success, with no signs of slowing down. It was originally showcased by Steve Jobs at MacWorld in the late 1990s and later acquired by Microsoft. In 2001, Halo: Combat Evolved launched on the original Xbox, revolutionizing first-person shooters on consoles. Its sequel, Halo 2, further transformed multiplayer gaming, particularly on consoles.
While Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 had already reshaped the industry, nothing could have prepared gamers for the monumental impact of Halo 3 when it launched in 2007 on Xbox 360. Microsoft declared its release the biggest day in entertainment history, generating $170 million in US sales on launch day (via CNET). Despite this success, Bungie sought independence from Microsoft, eventually partnering with Activision for a new franchise. Before departing, they fulfilled their contract by releasing Halo 3: ODST in 2009 and Halo: Reach in 2010.
