Have you ever pondered how Saber Interactive snagged the remaster gig for one of gaming’s most iconic shooters? Well, pull up a chair, because their CEO, Matthew Karch, recently shared a story with journalist Stephen Totilo that’s more absurd than a cat wearing a top hat!
In a chat for Totilo’s Game File newsletter (shout out to VGC for the scoop!), Karch recalled a time when Saber was barely scraping by, producing titles like Will Rock and Timeshift. Enter fate, stage right! Saber received an invitation to pitch for the halo-tastic remaster of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
Now, instead of simply writing a sensible proposal, Karch decided to play the role of the financial daredevil. He basically threw caution to the wind and proposed to do the remaster for free. Yes, you read that right—free! Karch revealed, “I said I’d do it for free because it’s Halo. It’s like strapping a Harvard diploma to your forehead!” Because nothing screams credibility like working for free, right?
Unsurprisingly, Microsoft wasn’t quite on the free-spirited train. They politely reminded Karch that while his offer was *adorable*, they needed a real number. So, he cranked up the charm and pitched a whopping $4 million. Apparently, someone at Saber was brushing up on basic math, as that’s a significant boost from zero! However, Karch was confident nobody could beat that price, especially with Saber nestled comfortably in St. Petersburg. Who knew geography could be such a financial advantage?
Long story short—they landed the remaster and released Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary for the Xbox 360 in 2011. But hang on! Karch was initially happy to work for free, but it turns out Microsoft decided to add “special clauses” that conveniently reduced his royalties to the big fat goose egg. Despite this tiny hiccup, Saber didn’t hesitate to tackle the remaster of Halo 2, and later, they were thrown a bone to port their earlier work to the Xbox One as part of the illustrious Master Chief Collection.
Enter the plot twist worthy of an HBO series. Microsoft forgot to send the contract for the port work until just hours before the Master Chief Collection’s release. Karch, sensing a golden opportunity, refused to sign until they renegotiated on those pesky Halo: Anniversary royalties. Guess what? Microsoft folded. Talk about the ultimate power move! Saber ended up raking in royalties that Karch claims were in the tens of millions. “Look, Andrey, we’ve been watching everyone else cash in on our genius—now it’s our turn!”
In summary, Karch swings from a bold lowball bid for Halo: Anniversary, gets the short end of the stick with Microsoft’s royalty shenanigans, and then wields negotiation like a sword, fending off the corporate giant until he got his due. And thus concludes today’s episode of “How to Outmaneuver Corporate Giants: A Business Masterclass.”
But wait, it doesn’t end there! This rollercoaster of financial extravaganza isn’t Saber’s only trip. The company was gobbled up by Embracer Group in 2020 and then, plot twist, sold again in 2024 after Embracer played financial Twister, leading to mass layoffs and a slew of canceled games. However, Saber has since thrived outside the Embracer umbrella and recently launched Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 to rave reviews. Proof that the financial rollercoaster never really ends; it just takes a different route!
