Halo Evolves: New Studio, Engine Shift Signals Fresh Era
Microsoft has announced a significant shift for the Halo franchise, including a name change for its primary development studio and a switch to a new game engine.
Formerly known as 343 Industries, the studio responsible for developing Halo games will now be called Halo Studios, led by Pierre Hintze. This change marks the beginning of a new era for the series, according to Hintze.
“Halo has had two distinct chapters: Bungie and 343 Industries,” he explained. “Now, our audience is eager for more. We will not only improve development efficiency but also alter the way we create Halo games.”
Halo Studios has chosen Epic’s Unreal Engine 5 as the platform for future Halo titles, replacing its previous Slipspace engine. Chris Matthews, studio art director at Halo Studios, acknowledged that Slipspace had limitations due to its age.
“Unreal has been in development for a longer period and offers capabilities that Slipspace does not,” Matthews said.
Additionally, the switch to Unreal allows Halo Studios to attract employees with prior Unreal experience, reducing the need for extensive training in Slipspace.
Although gameplay footage showcased during the announcement was created using Unreal Engine 5, Halo Studios emphasized that it should not be considered a game announcement. It represents the studio’s initial explorations with the new engine, codenamed Project Foundry.
Halo Infinite will continue to receive support from the Slipspace engine and has already announced its professional esports circuit’s next season.
This latest news follows last year’s reports of Microsoft’s layoffs and reorganization within 343 Industries. Halo remains a cornerstone of Microsoft’s gaming division, and the rebranding and engine change signal a fresh start for the franchise.
