Halo: Combat Evolved was originally intended to be an Apple Macintosh exclusive.
Marcus Lehto, one of the principal creators of Halo and co-architect of the Master Chief’s design, told Kent State Magazine in a recent interview about the franchise’s earliest development and how Microsoft effectively tore the project out of Apple’s hands.
According to Lehto, Halo: Combat Evolved began life as a Macintosh-exclusive title and was planned as a third-person shooter. In 1999, Steve Jobs personally showcased the game at Macworld.
We took the stage with Steve Jobs at Macworld and presented the project there.
But Bungie was facing significant financial strain at the time. Microsoft seized the opportunity — eager to secure standout exclusives for the launch of its first console, the Xbox.
Then Microsoft called and said, “Steve Jobs won’t get this. We’re buying you, relocating the whole team to the Pacific Northwest [Redmond], and making the game for Xbox.”
Source: iXBT.games