You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here
The chances of playing Halo on your mobile phone anytime soon is looking pretty slim, as legal wrangles have put plans for a game on hold.
French mobile game developer In-Fusio, the team behind portable versions of Microsoft titles Age of Empires 2 and Midtown Madness 3, signed up to an exclusive three-year deal in 2005 to bring the beloved Xbox franchise to phones, but is now suing Microsoft for alleged breach of contract.
Although the first project under the agreement, Halo Portal (from which users could download themed ringtones and wallpapers), was approved, four separate designs for a full Halo game were rejected with “little or no explanation” between February and September of 2006.
Microsoft initially agreed to defer the minimum $2 million royalty payments required from In-Fusio while the concepts were revised but last November the American giant said it would terminate the contract unless the developer forked over $500,000 within 30 days.
In-Fusio’s lawsuit states that Microsoft could not terminate the contract and it was already in breach of their agreement by not explaining why the game concepts were rejected. It is seeking more than $10 million in damages and legal fees, along with exclusive rights to mobile versions of Halo for an extended period to be determined at trial.
Put simply, it looks like fans of the series could be in for a long wait for their first handheld Halo fix.
Microsoft has so far declined to comment on the lawsuit.
About the Author
