Despite the wild success of Helldivers II on Steam, many Halo fans have been left wondering why 343 Industries never developed something similar to the ODST spinoff. It turns out that a game with an almost identical concept to Helldivers II was pitched, but was ultimately rejected for unknown reasons. Former 343 Industries developer Kevin Schmitt revealed that in his 12 years at the studio, they must have come up with 20-30 game ideas that would have worked entirely within the Halo universe, including some ODST-themed options.
This revelation has left fans pondering why there aren’t any Halo Mega Bloks games, The Flood horror games, third-person Halo adventures, 100 vs 100 player ODST action festivals, Spartan Battle Royale, and Helldivers-inspired titles. The answer seems to be that although the ideas were presented, 343 Industries simply wasn’t convinced.
Instead of exploring these alternative gaming avenues within the Halo universe, the studio has mainly focused on the classic Halo titles such as Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, and the upcoming Halo Infinite. While these games have been well-received, many fans feel that there is untapped potential in exploring the Halo universe in a more diverse manner. Ironically, when 343 Industries did try something new with Halo Wars, it was positively received. However, this success did not appear to encourage the studio to continue investing in new ideas.
The rejection of Helldivers-inspired games and other creative concepts within the Halo universe has left many fans disappointed, questioning why the studio isn’t more open to exploring new and innovative possibilities. It remains to be seen whether 343 Industries will reconsider their approach and potentially bring some of these fan-favorite ideas to life in the future.