Is a Halo x Destiny crossover possible? Here’s what I think.

In recent months, a Destiny 2 leak went public on the Destiny-focused r/raidsecrets subreddit and has gone viral ever since because of the sheer amount of information in it. Details about new Exotics, story content, the Witch Queen expansion in 2022, and more are included in the leak, but the most interesting part of the document is arguably the suggestion that there will be a crossover between Destiny and Halo, Bungie’s previous franchise and Microsoft’s flagship series for Xbox.

According to the leak, the crossover will be part of the celebration of Bungie’s 30th anniversary. The crossover will supposedly happen in Season 15 of Destiny 2 (begins in late August) and will feature several Halo-themed items, including the Halo: Combat Evolved Magnum as a usable weapon and a collection of cosmetics. This all sounds awesome, but it begs the question: Is this crossover even possible?

While I wouldn’t say it’s likely, I do think that there’s a solid chance that a crossover like this between Halo and Destiny could happen. Here’s why.

It’s mutually beneficial for both franchises

The biggest reason I think this crossover is entirely possible is because it would be mutually beneficial for both Bungie and Microsoft and 343 Industries. On Bungie’s side of things, the presence of Halo content in Destiny 2 would incentivize Xbox and Halo fans who previously haven’t tried Destiny to give Bungie’s current franchise a try. Considering the fact that MMO-style games like Destiny naturally benefit greatly from getting lots of new players into the mix, it makes sense for Bungie to try to attract more fans with a move like this.

Microsoft and 343 Industries, meanwhile, would get to draw more eyes onto the Halo franchise. This is undoubtedly what these companies want to do anyway since the launch of Halo Infinite is only months away, and showing off the style of Halo in one of the most popular online games right now is a fantastic way to do it. Positive publicity like this would be awesome for Halo at the moment, especially since Halo Infinite’s E3 2020 gameplay reveal felt underwhelming. Even if Halo Infinite has an excellent showcase at E3 2021 that restores fan faith in the game, though, more good press couldn’t hurt.

Halo and Destiny are a good fit for a crossover

Secondly, I think the fact that Halo and Destiny are visually and mechanically similar in many ways makes it more likely that this crossover could happen. It’s often difficult not to be reminded of parts of Halo’s universe when playing Destiny; many of the Fallen’s agile and deadly warriors evoke the fighting style of the Elites, and the Cabal, much like the Brutes, are defined by their imposing size and overwhelming firepower. Even the Hive feel loosely inspired by the Flood with their infestations of fleshy and chitinous biomass mixed with bulbous growths and the occasional slimy tendril or two.

Halo-themed cosmetics wouldn’t look out of place in Destiny at all.

These similarities extend to Destiny’s Guardians and Halo’s iconic Spartan super soldiers. Guardians are empowered by the Traveler’s Light and Spartans are empowered by advanced biological augmentations, but both ultimately defeat their foes by shooting, sprinting, sliding, and bashing their way through enemies. Guardians and Spartans also wear similar types of armor, with most of Destiny’s armor sets (especially those used by Titans) featuring visored helmets and several pieces of armor plating over undersuits that are fairly reminiscent of the MJOLNIR suits Spartans use.

All of this means that Halo-themed cosmetics wouldn’t look out of place in Destiny at all, which is an important thing to consider when deciding whether or not a crossover between two franchises could feasibly happen. Bungie probably doesn’t want Destiny to cross over with franchises that have a wildly different style, but since Destiny and Halo are very similar, I can totally see Halo-themed items fitting right into the Destiny universe.

The leak has been surprisingly accurate so far

Lastly, it’s worth pointing out that so far, the Destiny 2 leak that suggested this crossover will happen has been surprisingly accurate so far. The leak correctly predicted the story, setting, and gameplay features of both Season of the Chosen and Season of the Splicer, and predictions about new weapons and armors, weapon balance changes, and bugfixes have come true as well. This makes it difficult to dismiss this leak as fake.

Whether the rest of the information in the document — such as the spoilers about the story of Destiny 2’s 15th season, details about the Witch Queen expansion, and the occurrence of a crossover between Halo and Destiny — is true or not remains to be seen. However, the fact that the leak has been almost fully accurate thus far does make me believe that the crossover could happen.

Your thoughts

What do you think? Do you feel like a crossover between Halo and Destiny could happen, or do you think it’s a far-fetched idea? Let me know. The latest Destiny 2 expansion, Destiny 2: Beyond Light, is available now for $40 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. The base game is free, so if you’re looking to try Destiny 2 out before paying for expansions or season passes, you can do so. If you do decide to try the game, don’t miss my beginner’s guide on how to get into Destiny 2 in 2021 as well as my guide to the best Destiny 2 builds, and how to make your own. Don’t miss my roundup of the 10 best Destiny 2 weapons you need to farm in Season of the Splicer either, as new and veteran players alike will want to get their hands on them. Ultimately, Destiny 2 is one of the best Xbox One shooters available, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Also, keep in mind that Halo Infinite is expected to launch in Fall 2021 with a free multiplayer. According to a Best Buy preorder, the rest of the game’s content will cost $60. We expect that it will end up being one of the best Xbox games ever made, so keep an eye on it. For more on Halo Infinite, don’t miss our piece on what we’re hoping to see from Halo Infinite at E3 2021.