Xbox Is Reportedly Shopping a Massive Package of Its Biggest Game Franchises to Hollywood, and Netflix Wants In

Video game adaptations have quietly become one of Hollywood’s most reliable bets over the past few years, transforming what was once considered a cursed genre into a legitimate box office and streaming powerhouse. Studios that once avoided game-to-screen projects are now actively racing to secure the rights to anything with a built-in fanbase.

That shift has apparently caught the attention of one of gaming’s biggest players, who’s reportedly ready to cash in on that appetite in a much bigger way than before.

Xbox has begun pitching Hollywood studios a package of its major gaming IP, including ‘Halo,’ ‘Warcraft,’ ‘The Elder Scrolls,’ and more, aimed at turning these franchises into movie and TV adaptations, according to Puck News. Universal, Netflix, and Paramount are all reportedly interested in acquiring the audiovisual rights to these properties.

This bundled pitch approach marks a notable strategic pivot for the company, which has previously discussed having more than a dozen film and TV projects based on its gaming portfolio in various stages of development. Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty has publicly emphasized that Halo remains one of the company’s most important franchises going forward, telling interviewers the company is “certainly going to invest” in the property despite its rocky television history.

Xbox’s push into Hollywood has produced wildly uneven results so far. The live-action ‘Halo’ series on Paramount+ was canceled after two divisive seasons before eventually finding a second life on Netflix, while Amazon’s ‘Fallout’ became a genuine critical and commercial triumph, reportedly earning 17 Emmy nominations including a nod for Outstanding Drama Series.

That contrast has clearly shaped the company’s current thinking. Xbox has also seen success translate directly back into game sales and subscriptions, with executives noting that hit adaptations like ‘A Minecraft Movie’ have demonstrated just how effectively a well-executed screen adaptation can drive renewed interest in the source material.

Beyond the franchises named in this specific pitch, Xbox’s broader portfolio gives it plenty of additional leverage for future deals, thanks to its acquisitions of Bethesda, ZeniMax, and Activision Blizzard. That expanded library includes properties like ‘Gears of War,’ ‘Dishonored,’ ‘Doom,’ ‘Diablo,’ ‘Overwatch,’ and ‘Call of Duty,’ several of which already have adaptations in various stages of development at other studios.

The timing of this renewed push comes amid a broader industry-wide embrace of gaming IP, with recent hits like ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ proving that audiences are increasingly receptive to these adaptations when handled with genuine care. Given how much financial upside is riding on these franchises, it’s easy to see why three major studios are already circling this particular package deal.

Whether this pitch results in a flurry of new announcements or simply lays the groundwork for future negotiations remains to be seen, but it’s clear Xbox is done treating its games purely as games. With ‘Halo,’ ‘Warcraft,’ and ‘The Elder Scrolls’ representing some of gaming’s most beloved and lore-rich universes, the potential for compelling screen adaptations is significant, provided the execution matches the ambition this time around.

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