It’s been nearly three years since 343 Industries releasedHalo Infinite. Though the multiplayer side of the game continues to be supported, a vast majority of the content added in recent updates has been created either by forgers or other third-party developers. 343 continues to shift what resources remain afterMicrosoft’s major 2023 layoffstoward the studio’s next project — whatever it may be.
Halohas increasingly prioritized its PvP in recent entries. Multiplayer has been a major draw forHaloever sinceCombat Evolved, but when the gaming industry rushed to copy and capitalize on the microtransaction-based models of games likeFortniteand theCall of Dutyseries, 343 followed suit.Halo 5: Guardianswas plagued with loot boxes in the form of its unpopular REQ packs, and whileHalo Infinite’s multiplayer was released as a free package, almost every cosmetic in the game was locked behind a paywall at launch. It’s unknown how the next entry will handle PvP and whether the focus on microtransactions will remain, butHalofans almost received a multiplayer-only title in the form of Project Tatanka that would have chased another industry trend: the battle royale genre.
What is Project Tatanka?
Project Tatanka was the codename for aHalospin-off that 343 had supposedly begun developing alongside Certain Affinity — an independent game studio that helped to develop content forfan favoriteHalogameslikeHalo 2andHalo: Reach. 343 never officially announced the game, but data miners scouringHalo Infinite’s files in early 2022 found hidden settings and playlist titles confirming that a new multiplayer experience was being tested.
In addition to the implications of these leaks, an article from Bloomberg in 2023 confirmed that Tatanka was not only being worked on by 343 and Certain Affinity but would provide a Battle Royale multiplayer experience. Around the time thatHalo Infinitewas in development, Battle Royale modes took the world by storm thanks togames likePUBG,Fortnite,Apex Legends, andCall of Duty: Warzone. It makes sense that Microsoft would want to throw its hat in this trendy ring by way of its most popular shooter franchise, so fans were surprised to learn earlier this year that Project Tatanka was supposedly canceled.
Word on the street regarding Tatanka’s development had gone completely quiet until a YouTube channel by the name of Rebs Gaming released an exclusive update on October 1 of this year. Rebs Gaming claimed to have been given new information by a former developer who had both developed and playtested Tatanka. The video posted to the channel gave new details regarding the spin-off’s gameplay and cancelation.
Gameplay in Project Tatanka
Based on the information that Rebs Gaming received, Project Tatanka was indeed meant to be a Battle Royale game — at least at first. Players would start out each match in a launch bay before being deployed via ODST drop pod on to the map. Like other Battle Royale games, players could either drop in solo or squad up with others. The map — set onInfinite’s Zeta Halo— consisted of several different biomes. Once on the ground, players would proceed to hunt each other down as one would expect from the game mode, but several side objectives could be pursued during the match to keep things interesting. These objectives would provide power-ups, equipment, and partial shield. Pelicans were also said to traverse the map and drop off vehicles like the falcon that players could pilot. Project Tatanka also vaguely tied into Joe Staten’s campaign narrative until Staten left 343 and new leadership took over.
Project Tatanka’s Cancelation
With Joe Staten out of the picture, 343’s leadership decided to take Project Tatanka in a new direction. The game was supposedly renamed Project Ekhert. It’s unknown why the pivot was made or what Project Ekhert’s gameplay would have consisted of. However, the multiplayer game was canceled shortly after in the summer of 2023.
Since 343’s resources were dwindling, Rebs Gaming’s source stated that the studio wasn’t confident that it could compete with other popular games in the Battle Royale genre. It also didn’t want to split its focus between two differentHalotitles. 343 decided to devote its remaining staff towardsthe next mainlineHalogame, and thus Project Tatanka/Ekhert was abandoned. While a newHalogame is in high demand among fans, 343’s time being wasted on Project Tatanka means that the next entry in the series is most likely further off than one would hope.
Halo Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic open-world adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.With Network Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay, you can relive your favorite moments, rediscover collectibles and explore the wonders of Zeta Halo on your own or with up to three other fireteam members.Experience Halo’s celebrated multiplayer reimagined and free-to-play! With over 70 maps in matchmaking, billions of customization configurations, and countless community Forge creations to experience, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s most expansive multiplayer offering to date.Enjoy an unprecedented variety of gameplay experiences, ranging from fast-paced intense ranked modes to whimsical mayhem in Custom Games, or even co-operative coordination in the wave-based survival mode Firefight: King of the Hill. Assemble your Fireteam and conquer every mode – Halo offers endless opportunities for teamwork, strategy, and unforgettable victories.
