Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto redesigned Master Chief 9 times before perfecting the Xbox mascot: "It took forever, but I wasn't going to stop"

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Before landing on the design that made it into Halo: Combat Evolved

Halo
(Image credit: Microsoft)

Everyone with a passing interest in games probably recognizes the green man that usually reps Xbox and Halo - for a time, in the Xbox 360 era, he was almost as ever present as Mario. But before Master Chief (AKA John 117 or John Halo) became a gaming mascot, his creator rebuilt his design nine times to get it just right.

Halo co-creator and Bungie's former art director Marcus Lehto recently spoke with Kent State Magazine, the university he once attended, about his long career. Lehto recalled that he was first attracted to the FPS hit maker after playing the original Marathon and was quickly doing UI work for the company on Myth: Fallen Lords.

Kaan Serin
Freelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

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