Years after cancelation, Microsoft’s back for another go at adapting iconic video game series

Video game adaptations have always occupied a strange place in film and TV, haven’t they? For years, they were basically punchlines — if you saw a game turned into a movie, odds were it’d end up something you’d only watch ironically with mates. But things have shifted in a big way over the last few years, with studios finally figuring out how not to make a complete hash of it (looking at you, 90s Mario).

Now, in 2026, we’re at a point where gamers, nerds and even regular folk will actually tune in for these things. Some have genuinely worked: Sonic the Hedgehog surprised just about everyone, The Last of Us won over both critics and fans, and even the new Mario animated films weren’t half-bad. Of course, misses still happen – and in the case of Halo, that miss was audible from orbit.

Microsoft is actively shopping 'more than a dozen games' to big studios and streamers, with a price tag near $300 million.

From Halo Hype to TV Flop

Paramount+ gave Halo the big glossy treatment back in 2022, bringing one of Xbox’s crown jewels to television. You had Pablo Schreiber togged up as Master Chief, that iconic faceless super-soldier, but the fun sort of stopped there. The series was immediately knocked for tinkering with the game’s established lore, showing way too much of John’s face, and generally just not being much fun. After two seasons, the plug was quietly pulled; reaction was so muted that it barely registered as news across the gaming world.

Microsoft Is Not Done Yet

But that’s not slowing Microsoft down. As reported by Puck, the tech giant is now playing matchmaker with its gaming franchises, shopping around a rather ambitious deal. They’re talking with all the usual suspects – Netflix, Paramount, Universal – and trying to offload a package that covers over a dozen games, including not just Halo, but also The Elder Scrolls, Diablo, and Warcraft. They aren’t shy about the asking price, either; word is Microsoft wants roughly $300 million for the lot, so we’re not talking peanuts.

If you’ve not been paying attention: Warcraft did get the movie treatment in 2016. While critics were split (to be kind), the film did rattle up decent takings at the box office – oddly, almost all of it coming from overseas, especially in Asia. That international success wasn’t quite enough for a sequel to ever surface.

The State of Game Adaptations

Despite the Halo fumble, not all bets have gone badly for Microsoft properties making the jump to screen. Their Fallout series on Prime Video has actually landed pretty well. Not to mention, the Minecraft Movie shattered records and there’s a sequel already lined up for release next year.

• Microsoft is pitching a mega-deal to streamers and studios featuring Halo, Elder Scrolls, Diablo, and Warcraft.
• They're asking for approximately $300 million.
• Halo's TV run ended after two unpopular seasons on Paramount+.
• The 2016 Warcraft film found box office success internationally, but never got a follow-up.
• Fallout and Minecraft adaptations have worked out well for Microsoft so far; a Minecraft sequel is due next year.

Meanwhile, studios everywhere are still raiding the games industry for their next big thing. In addition to whatever comes of this Microsoft package, there’s already momentum elsewhere: we’ve got an Elden Ring film on the way, the God of War show seems to recast itself every other month, and a Legend of Zelda film is happening too. Given the brand recognition Halo, Elder Scrolls, Diablo and Warcraft bring to the table, one of these is bound to hit eventually — if someone can just crack the code that keeps this genre from looking daft on screen.