If you haven't come across it yet, a new adult-animated series called Secret Level arrived on Amazon Prime in early December, and it seems to have been a big hit so far - to the point where it's been greenlit for Season 2!
All of the episodes in Secret Level are based around video games, including the likes of Sifu, New World, Pac-Man, Armored Core and Mega Man, but notably only The Outer Worlds makes an appearance from Xbox's first-party lineup.
The creators did try others, though. As revealed by executive producer Dave Wilson in an interview with Collider, they attempted to create an episode where Halo's Master Chief and the DOOM Slayer would cross over, but it wasn't to be.
"The creative director at id [Software] is a good friend of ours, and so are folks at Microsoft, so we made a big plea because one of the things both Tim and I would love to do is do something that isn't currently available in the games, like crossovers. We wanted to make a Master Chief/DOOM Slayer crossover episode, and I spent a whole weekend crafting this impassioned letter of my childhood. And it's exactly what Tim said; they were like, “Nah.”
Wilson did go on to explain, however, that a lot of video game IPs have "preexisting deals" and other factors which can complicate matters when trying to snap them up for a new series. It sounds like quite a few companies rejected their approaches, and apparently they even "begged" Valve for a Half-Life episode - which clearly didn't work out!
Of course, with Season 2 now confirmed, there's every chance that Microsoft may see fit to approve the idea for next time around, which surely we'd all love to see! Halo and DOOM in the same episode? Make it happen, Mr. Spencer!
Have you watched Secret Level yet? What do you think of it? Tell us in the comments down below.
Comments 13
Crossover?
id should be MAKING Halo at this point.
What a shame we didn't get to see that. Instead we got an episode about Concord which will be around far longer than the actual game
It never ceases to amaze just how bad Microsoft is at marketing Xbox since Peter Moore left 18 years ago. They deserve their failure.
Microsoft has absolutely no idea what fans want.
So free marketing for Xbox IP’s and they rejected it, this would’ve at least intrigued some people into trying the games, maybe even subscribing into Game Pass as both franchises are there, oh but that’s right, they were busy marketing my phone as an Xbox even when I can’t play 90% of my library…
Eh I didnt care for what i saw of the show. I would rather doom got a proper show instead of a 15 minute animated episode split between doom and halo lore.
I don't think microsoft or the franchises are missing out on too much here.
@Jenkinss
Marketing, what is this marketing You speak of.
That would have been fun and interesting crossover.
The Outer Worlds episode made me sad, though. I appreciated the humor, but the ending was a huge kick in the feels.
The ONLY reason I would accept them saying no is because of Halo still being in the works at Paramount during development of this series. aka: Paramount had a lot of control and sway.
If Microsoft said no of their own volition, I won't be surprised but I'll be heavily disappointed. Do everything but what people want.
@Elbow Irony being that if this episode had been made, it would have likely been better received than the whole of Paramount's Halo.
@InterceptorAlpha Oh yeah, that glorified fanfic was weird...
This is what everyone wants. Microsoft needs to get the Super Smash Bros concept of celebrating their IP with appropriate crossovers. Literally some of the best shooters of all time with similar themes and they out MC in R6 Siege.
I think a lot of publishers rejected them, considering the bottom of the barrel IPs they did make into episodes.
I watched one episode, the Pac-Man one, quite possibly the most cliche'd plot I've ever seen.
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