Microsoft’s 343 Industries has rebranded as Halo Studios and has adopted Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.
Halo Studios made the announcement in a video today. Recognized as a significant move, this transition to Unreal Engine 5 demonstrates Halo Studios’ endorsement of the engine’s advanced graphics and physics capabilities.
This decision reaffirms Microsoft’s commitment to the Halo franchise, a notable success with over 81 million copies sold and generating $10 billion-plus in revenue.
The latest installment, Halo: Infinite, released in December 2021, received positive reviews and solid sales. However, criticisms surfaced regarding the development timeline and game quality, leading to Bonnie Ross’s resignation as the head of the Halo franchise at 343 Industries in September 2022.
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Microsoft’s transition from the proprietary Halo engine to Unreal Engine 5 represents a strategic shift towards leveraging external technology for game development. This move acknowledges Unreal Engine’s potential to deliver superior quality and realism compared to Microsoft’s internal engine, Slipspace.
In a blog post, studio head Pierre Hintze described this transition as a new chapter for Halo, aiming to innovate game development processes and elevate the Halo gaming experience.
Microsoft introduced key leaders of the new Halo Studios in a video, emphasizing the studio’s commitment to redefining how Halo games are created. The shift to Unreal Engine 5 enabled a focus on visual storytelling and creating immersive worlds inspired by real-world landscapes.
UE5 will let Halo devs add intricate details to Halo imagery.
The new direction for Halo Studios signifies a shift towards innovation and collaboration, aiming to deliver Halo experiences unlike anything before. The studio’s passionate team is dedicated to maintaining Halo’s essence while embracing new possibilities offered by Unreal Engine 5.
