Halo Creator Jason Jones Expands AI Apocalypse Novel Into One Zero One

Jason Jones, the co-creator of Halo and Destiny, is bringing a science fiction story about humanity’s struggle against artificial intelligence to a new entertainment venture. The project began as an unpublished novel, An Oral History of Humanity’s Final Invention, and has evolved into One Zero One, a four-part graphic novel series developed by his new studio, Stone Kite.

Jones founded the Los Angeles-based company with bestselling author Margaret Stohl, known for Beautiful Creatures and her work on Marvel Comics. Their ambition extends beyond publishing a single book or comic. Stone Kite is developing an interconnected fictional universe designed to support stories across publishing, games, film and television.

Jason Jones Wrote an AI Apocalypse Novel Before Launching Stone Kite

Jones began sharing his manuscript with Stohl in 2019, when the two had already worked together at Bungie. The novel presents an artificial-intelligence uprising in an oral-history format, following about 100 characters across 40 countries as they describe humanity’s confrontation with increasingly powerful machines.

Rather than following one central hero, the story examines the crisis through different perspectives and experiences. The format lets Jones explore how individuals, communities, and governments might respond as artificial intelligence systems become capable of challenging human control.

Stohl recognised the potential to develop the manuscript into something larger than a conventional novel. Their collaboration eventually led to Stone Kite, which officially launched on October 1, 2026.

According to the studio’s founding announcement, Jones had wanted to pursue fiction writing throughout his career in game development. Stohl became an early supporter of his manuscript and helped establish the creative framework for adapting its fictional world into multiple storytelling formats.

One Zero One Explores a World Threatened by Rogue AI

Stone Kite’s first project is One Zero One, a four-part graphic novel based on Jones’ original manuscript. The story follows four strangers whose lives intersect as humanity faces a worldwide conflict with AI-controlled robotic soldiers known as the Robotai.

The narrative explores a future in which people have grown increasingly dependent on intelligent machines for essential tasks, including security and everyday services. When those systems turn against humanity, the characters must confront the consequences of having surrendered so much responsibility to technology.

The studio’s official story description positions One Zero One as a global conspiracy thriller focused on survival and the value of humanity in a world dominated by machines.

Its premise draws on familiar science fiction concerns about autonomous weapons, technological dependence and human decision-making. What distinguishes the project is its broader narrative structure, which allows different stories to examine the same fictional crisis from multiple perspectives.

Stone Kite Brings Together Writers, Artists and Entertainment Veterans

Established figures in comics, film, and television are contributing to One Zero One. Eric Heisserer, the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter behind Arrival, wrote the first graphic novel instalment, with artwork from contributors including Dan Panosian, Ramón Pérez, Alitha Martinez, Raúl Allén and Hyeonjin Kim.

Stone Kite’s broader creative network includes more than 250 contributors. The studio’s contributors include screenwriter Akela Cooper, author Stephen Graham Jones, illustrator Kyle Lambert, and comic book creator Christian Ward.

The studio plans to develop its stories collaboratively across different media rather than creating a successful property in one format and then producing conventional adaptations. This approach could let individual projects explore separate characters, locations, and events within the same fictional universe.

However, the company’s ambitions are still early. Stone Kite has introduced its first comic series, but it has not announced confirmed release dates for a One Zero One video game, film or television adaptation.

One Zero One Is Available to Read Online

The first issue of One Zero One launched on October 1 and contains 80 pages of illustrated storytelling alongside previously unpublished excerpts from Jones’ novel. Readers can access the digital edition through the official One Zero One platform, while print editions are available for preorder.

Stone Kite plans to publish additional issues online for free through early 2027. The company also plans to add more content and experiences tied to the fictional world as development continues.

The original manuscript remains central to the project, though Stone Kite has not confirmed whether or when the complete novel will receive a standalone publication.

A New Creative Direction for the Halo and Destiny Creator

Jones helped establish Bungie’s reputation through influential games including Halo and Destiny, both of which combined science fiction settings with extensive fictional histories. One Zero One gives him a chance to build another large-scale universe outside the structure of a traditional video game.

The project also arrives as artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly prominent subject in entertainment and technology. Although its story concerns a fictional machine uprising, its underlying questions about technological dependence and human control connect with current discussions about the growing capabilities of AI systems.

Stone Kite’s immediate challenge is to make One Zero One a compelling story, not just an ambitious multimedia concept. The first graphic novel offers an accessible introduction, but the studio’s long-term success will depend on the strength of its characters, storytelling, and future releases.

For now, One Zero One marks a notable expansion of Jones’ creative work beyond gaming. The first instalment is out, and Stone Kite has begun building the larger fictional universe the original manuscript inspired.