Back in 2018, Saber Interactive, the studio behind Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, was tinkering with the idea of a game themed around Donald Trump, called Trump Fu. Drawing inspiration from the Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn concept, this ambitious project was never completed. Although Shaq Fu didn’t receive the warmest of welcomes, it ended up being an unexpected stepping stone for Saber Interactive, helping the studio secure a lucrative deal for NBA Playgrounds. Released during a prime moment for the Switch, this move brought in substantial profits.
Saber Interactive has carved a niche for itself in the gaming world since its inception in 2001, showing prowess both as a lead and support developer. Though the company’s journey is dotted with several successful ventures, a standout moment came with the relaunch of the beloved Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary in 2011. Later on, they contributed to Halo: The Master Chief Collection and recently scored big with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, which became a hit in the gaming community by September 2024.
Between their work on Halo projects and Space Marine 2, Saber flirted with the notion of a game where Donald Trump played the protagonist, a project that fizzled out before coming to fruition. This interesting detour stemmed from a brainstorming session with basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal following their collaboration on Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn. Shaq initially pitched a detective game featuring himself, but Saber’s CEO, Matthew Karch, shifted that concept towards revamping the 1994 classic Shaq Fu.
Remarkably, 2018 was a busy year for the studio, seeing the release of Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, alongside a quirky DLC featuring former President Barack Obama titled Barack Fu: The Adventures of Dirty Barry. Unfortunately for Saber, this content didn’t capture much attention, with Karch admitting that the Obama-themed expansion was virtually unnoticed.
Karch elaborated in an interesting interview that Trump Fu’s story was set to explore a scenario where President Trump’s “Cabinet sabotages him, leading to his plane crashing in the Mexican desert, leaving him to find his way back over the wall.” This quirky premise, though shelved, showcased Saber’s knack for creative, if not quirky, ideas. Karch even briefly entertained the thought of a Putin-themed game, but that too remained unrealized.
Despite the lukewarm reception of Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, its existence proved beneficial. It helped position Saber as a go-to studio for projects like NBA Playgrounds, a sports title that saw great success across various platforms, especially the then-new Nintendo Switch. The timing of this release, amid a sparse gaming library for the Switch, led to significant financial gains, enabling Karch to eventually acquire a lavish $23 million Gulf Stream 280 jet in 2022. Such ventures underscore Saber Interactive’s knack for turning creative risks into rewarding opportunities.
