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Former Dev Alleges Don Mattrick Killed Halo MMO To Protect Stock Bonus

The allegation remains unverified as coverage revisits Ensemble’s 2008 shutdown.

Overview

  • Petersen’s Oct. 28 posts on X, reported on Nov. 3, claim the Halo MMO codenamed Titan was ended to safeguard the then–Xbox chief’s stock bonus.
  • Petersen says Titan needed about 3.5 years to finish and had a lowest internal revenue projection near $1.1 billion, conflicting with a three‑year bonus window he attributes to Mattrick.
  • Reporting reiterates that Titan was in development at Ensemble Studios and was canceled when Microsoft closed the Dallas studio in 2008 after earlier budget estimates of roughly $90 million.
  • Alternative accounts cited from prior reporting suggest internal dysfunction or insufficient Microsoft approval, and critics note Petersen’s credibility has been challenged by industry figures.
  • Outlets frame Mattrick’s controversial Xbox tenure and later troubled stint at Zynga as context that some see as lending plausibility to the claim without providing independent proof.