Microsoft is bringing its popular Halo franchise to TV - but not in the way you might expect. Microsoft Studios" 343 Industries has teamed up with Pilgrim Media Group to develop a new "reality series" focusing on the game in the context of eSports and competitive gaming.
"We continue to be blown away by the sheer excitement surrounding e-sports; the scope and buzz are growing every day," said Pilgrim"s Craig Piligian. "E-sports and Halo fans are exceedingly passionate about gaming and devoted to their favorite titles and franchises - they are exactly the kind of audience we want to produce for."
The new show is part of wider efforts to develop content around the growing eSports industry, which is estimated to be worth $1 billion by 2018.
Pilgrim partnered with media giant Lionsgate and eSports specialist ESL this year to focus on generating more of this content, and with Halo"s popularity in the competitive gaming space, it seems like a good fit for a show of this kind. The Halo World Championship and Halo Championship Series have gained a strong following among gamers and fans in North America and Europe.
Microsoft"s Kiki Wolfkill, head of Halo Transmedia and Entertainment at 343 Industries, said:
We"re thrilled to be partnering with Pilgrim on developing a reality series that will bring the intensity and extreme competition of Halo 5: Guardians eSports to a television audience. There is no better partner than Pilgrim to give our fans insights into the world of Halo eSports.
But there are few details available about the new show so far. The exact format of the series hasn"t yet been revealed, nor has a planned broadcast date or TV network been announced. It"s possible that the series may not be shown on "traditional" broadcast TV, given the increasing popularity of streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter