Xbox Reportedly in Talks With Hollywood Studios Over Halo, Warcraft and Elder Scrolls Adaptations

Xbox is reportedly taking a major step toward expanding its gaming franchises into film and television. According to a new report from Puck, Microsoft is pitching Hollywood studios on a large-scale package of video game properties that could eventually become movies and television shows.

Game adaptations have continued to continue to become a growing trend across Hollywood. Amazon’s Fallout has become a major success, and even projects like A Minecraft Movie have shown the commercial potential of adapting a gaming property to the big screen. And it seems like Xbox is eager to capitalize on that by bringing more of its IPs into film and television.

Xbox Reportedly Wants a Massive Hollywood Deal

Image Credit: Microsoft

The most important detail we have to focus on is that this deal isn’t being negotiated for individual franchises. Microsoft is reportedly seeking what has been described as a bulk deal covering more than a dozen properties. Puck’s Matt Belloni reports that Xbox is looking for more than $300 million for a long-term agreement, although the exact structure of the proposed deal remains unclear.

The reported package includes some of Xbox’s most recognizable franchises, including Halo, The Elder Scrolls, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. Netflix, Paramount, and Universal are said to be among the companies considering the proposal, although none has publicly confirmed that negotiations are taking place.

The collection is particularly notable because these properties span several parts of Microsoft’s gaming business. Halo originates from Xbox, while The Elder Scrolls came under Microsoft’s umbrella through its $7.5 billion Bethesda acquisition in 2021. Warcraft and Diablo, meanwhile, joined the portfolio following Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023.

At least one potential buyer has reportedly balked at the asking price, suggesting that the brand may struggle to find a single company willing to commit such a substantial amount before individual projects are even developed.

Halo, Warcraft and Elder Scrolls Could Get Another Chance

Of the reported properties, Halo may be the most complicated. Paramount previously produced two seasons of a Halo television series before canceling it. Those rights have since reportedly returned to Xbox, potentially allowing Microsoft to present the franchise to another studio for a fresh interpretation.

That could mean a reboot, a completely different story, or even a move from television to film. However, there is currently no indication that a new Halo adaptation has actually been approved.

The Elder Scrolls is arguably the most intriguing possibility. Despite the enormous popularity of Skyrim and the broader fantasy universe, the franchise has never received a major film or television adaptation. Its extensive history, numerous regions, races, factions, and stories could provide Hollywood with considerable material, although translating that complexity to the screen would be a significant challenge.

Warcraft already has some cinematic history. Universal released a Warcraft movie in 2016, which earned roughly $440 million worldwide but performed much more strongly internationally than domestically. A new adaptation could therefore represent another opportunity to explore Blizzard’s fantasy universe with a different approach.

Diablo is another especially interesting candidate. Blizzard’s dark fantasy series has an extensive mythology and visual identity that could lend itself to either a live-action production or an animated project.

Which franchise would you like to see next on the big live-action screen? Let us know in the comments!