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343 Industries, the Xbox Game Studios subsidiary, has announced a significant rebranding to Halo Studios. This move marks a pivotal moment as the studio shifts to Unreal Engine 5 for all future Halo projects, including several new games currently in development.
In a statement, Halo Studios head Pierre Hintze articulated this transition, saying, “If you really break Halo down, there have been two very distinct chapters. Chapter 1: Bungie. Chapter 2: 343 Industries. Now, I think we have an audience which is hungry for more.” With this new chapter, Halo Studios aims to enhance not just development efficiency but also the overall experience of creating Halo games.
Historically, Halo titles utilized the proprietary Slipspace Engine, which required considerable staff resources for maintenance. Hintze emphasized the need to adapt to changing gamer expectations, stating, “We believe that the consumption habits of gamers have changed—the expectations of how fast their content is available.” This shift aims to better align with modern gamers’ desires for timely content delivery.
Halo Studios Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth van Wyck further emphasized the shift in focus. She noted, “The way we made Halo games before doesn’t necessarily work as well for the way we want to make games for the future.” This statement highlights the studio’s intent to prioritize game creation over the complexities of developing tools and engines.
The adoption of Unreal Engine 5 not only streamlines development but also allows Halo Studios to explore multiple projects concurrently, enhancing their ability to deliver high-quality gaming experiences. Hintze reiterated the commitment to quality: “On Halo Infinite, we were developing a tech stack that was supposed to set us up for the future, and games at the same time.”
To give fans a sneak peek into the future of Halo, Halo Studios developed “Project Foundry.” This initiative serves as neither a game nor a traditional tech demo but rather an exploration of what’s possible within Unreal Engine 5. It also acts as a training tool for the team as they transition to new technology.
Matthews, a representative from Halo Studios, clarified the purpose of Foundry, stating, “Where this type of work’s been done historically, across the industry, it can contain a lot of smoke and mirrors.” He added, “The ethos of Foundry is vigorously the opposite of that.” Hintze confirmed that the work showcased in Foundry is expected to influence future Halo projects significantly.
While Halo Studios remains tight-lipped about specific new games, they assured fans that Halo Infinite will continue to receive updates through the Slipspace Engine. Hintze summarized their approach: “We should do more and say less.” This philosophy reflects their commitment to serving the Halo community with humility and respect.
Watch the “New Dawn” developer video featuring “Project Foundry” below.