TheHalofranchise has struggled recently, with developer 343 Industries facing a wave of wider Xbox layoffs and cancellations. With growing tensions in their studio, the fate of theHalogames is up in the air, meaning that fans of those games may have to look elsewhere for a solid sci-fi shooter. Thankfully, another series has been building its popularity with solid gameplay and visuals, looking to dethrone Xbox’s flagship franchise.
According to an article published byWindows Central,Halostudio devs describe a lot of tension in their upcoming title, with the quality of the next game coming into question often. With the emphasis of Microsoft and Xbox on replacing many jobs with AI, the internal struggles seem to be worsening. Despiterumored plans for aHalo: CEremaster, it is unclear how and whenHalowill move forward.
Warhammer 40k: Space Marine Might Outpace Halo Over Time
An Established Series With A Recently Popular Title Could Take Over
AfterHalo Infintiehad been out for quite some time following its 2021 release,Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2was launched in 2024. A follow-up to a beloved third-person action game similar toGears of War,Space Marine 2was incredibly successful, outpacing the first game by a wide margin. Even now, it sits on Metacritic with an 82 score, well within favorable reviews for its action and setting.
Space Marine 2takes place in theWarhammer 40,000universe, representing a world based on the tabletop war game.Warhammeris revered for its detailed lore, with multiple factions in a dystopian sci-fi futureengulfed in endless warfare.Space Marine 2follows the story of an Ultramarine, a genetically engineered soldier from one of the most recognizable sub-factions in the Imperium of humanity, who is one of the many morally gray sides of the intergalactic conflict.
The established setting ofSpace Marine 2helped entice fans of 40k to play, but its other systems drew in many new players. Thethird-person action was complimented by a tight gear system and multiple character classesfor you to choose between. Withmultiplayer crossplay inSpace Marine 2, squads of up to four players could go into PvE Operation missions or the game’s story mode, which featured a detailed campaign with a compelling story.
Operations inSpace Marine 2create long-form missions against armies of enemies, while PvP Eternal War multiplayer pits teams of players against each other. The variety of these modes reflectsHalo’s campaign and online multiplayer modes, which are often touted as the best in the sci-fi shooter genre. However, withfar more character and class customization inSpace Marine 2, it can outpaceHalo’s sandboxin some areas.
The Popularity Of Space Marine 2 Will Likely Spawn Sequels
DLC And Player Support Has Already Green Lit More Warhammer Adventures
In 2025, it was announced thataSpace Marine 2sequel has been green lit for development, expanding the story of Titus even further. This comes from the great reception of the game, which was supported through multiple phases of DLC content.Most DLC was free inSpace Marine 2, adhering to a roadmap that added plenty of new content, such as:
One of the newest pieces of content inSpace Marine 2is Siege mode, a new alternative to Operations and Eternal War. This is essentially a horde mode, where trios of teams take on waves and waves of enemy forces for as long as they can survive.
The continual content drops, balance patches, and extra gameplay elements added toSpace Marine 2have retained player counts for a while, keeping the game popular even a year after its release.With more cosmetic Chapters being added, players can customize their Space Marine more than ever, leaving no wonder as to why they have stuck around as long as they have.
Even with one sequel already announced, it’s likely that the follow-up toSpace Marine 2will come with its own catalog of DLC content. If that sequel continues to appeal to fans ofSpace Marine 2, it could evolve into a growing franchise quickly, prompting aSpace Marine 4or5if given enough time to cultivate continued fan support.
Lack Of Halo Leadership Might Keep The Franchise Dormant For Too Long
The announcedSpace Marinesequel comes in light of little to noHalonews, reflecting the latter franchise’s lack of cohesion.While Xbox undoubtedly has aHaloproject in the works somewhere, the lack of leadership or voice in that project’s development doesn’t spark faithin it. Meanwhile, the constant communication regarding the sequel andDLC roadmap forSpace Marinegames can provide stability for sci-fi shooter fans.
According to devs from Halo Studios, many aspects of its future developments have been outsourced to temporary contracts. This could contribute to the lackluster communication surrounding any news regarding any ongoingHaloprojects.
The Xbox layoffs and waning confidence inHalo’s current project might delay any games in the series for the time being. Even if a remaster is in the works,it is likely that we will see far moreSpace Marine 2content before any new announcements regardingHalo.
Although there are far more fans of Master Chief than avidWarhammer40kfanatics at the moment, the continued good word of mouth surroundingSpace Marine 2could generate a lot of hype for its developing sequel. WhenSpace Marine 3comes out,Halomight still be a dormant series, causing those craving sci-fi action to migrate to another storied series they can enjoy.
