Microsoft could be considering creating Halo video games designed for kids according to a new interview with Microsoft corporate vice president and head of 343 Industries, Bonnie Ross. In the conversation with Fast Company, Ross mentions that while Microsoft and 343 Industries’ various attempts to market the Halo brand to broader age groups had been limited to toys and comic books, the companies have begun rethinking their decision to keep the main games restricted to older age demographics due to an increase in demand for alternate takes on the series.
“I would say that when we first started the franchise, the thought of doing, like, a LEGO Halo game was not something that our core fans thought was interesting, whereas now we’re getting requests for that,” Ross reveals. This doesn’t mean that the entire brand would get a revamp however. Instead it seems that any all-ages Halo video game venture would be created in addition to the traditional Halo action-heavy shooter. “Whether or not we do a game, I think we need to be really deliberate on the right game, because we can’t alienate our core audience,” she reassures. “Games will always be the core business for Halo,” she says. “The critical piece there is to never alienate the torch bearer. And the torch bearer, if you look at Marvel or whatever, is the kid that was so into that comic book character before that comic book character ever came to the masses. How do you give a nod to him or her as you broaden the franchise? You have to be really careful, because if you alienate the torch bearer, you lose what the DNA is of your franchise.”
The Halo brand has already begun to reach out to younger gamers through a variety of themed content created for the popular Minecraft video game. Would you like to see more family friendly Halo video game experiences? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
