Halo tabletop miniatures game coming this year after Mantic Games inks deal with 343 Industries

Halo, the multibillion dollar-selling video games franchise, is getting a tabletop miniatures combat game this year thanks to UK developer Mantic Games.

Mantic has agreed a deal with Microsoft and Xbox subsidiary 343 Industries to launch the 40mm-scale “team combat” miniatures game directly into retail in September.

Halo cemented Microsoft’s name as a major player in the console gaming space when the first-person shooter launched to huge critical and commercial acclaim in 2001.

Picking up such a major licence is a huge boost for Mantic, which has made a name for itself since its 2008 launch as an alternative provider of miniatures compatible with offerings from industry giant Games Workshop, as well as producing its own line of fantasy and sci-fi miniatures war games.

Mantic has attracted a string of former Games Workshop designers and artists over the year to create games including Kings of War, Dungeon Saga: Dwarf King’s Quest and Hellboy: The Board Game.

The company is yet to reveal who the designers of the Halo game will be – or even what it will be called. Mantic said it expects to release more details at the start of March.

Ronnie Renton, CEO and founder of Mantic Games, said, “Having a firefight play out on the table while moving Spartans in and out of cover connects players to the action in a new and special way.

“We have a thrilling and competitive game, from a passionate team of talented sculptors, artists, and designers who have been building an incredible Halo experience.”

John Friend, head of Halo and Xbox Consumer Products, added, “We are thrilled to team up with Mantic Games to bring a new Halo tabletop game to fans in 2024.

“Mantic is a leader in tabletop gaming, and their quality and experience show through in all their work.

“I’m most excited in this case about their passion for the Halo franchise and for bringing Halo gameplay to tabletop gaming in an incredibly authentic way.”

Halo’s previous conversions to the tabletop have had minimal impact, with 2008’s Halo Interactive Strategy Game, 2015’s Halo: Fleet Battles and 2016’s Halo: Ground Command all failing to gain much in the way of sustained traction.