Halo Embraces UE5 for Premier Gaming Experience

Microsoft has confirmed the development of multiple new Halo games, coinciding with the rebranding of 343 Industries to "Halo Studios."

Xbox Game Studios' 343 Industries Rebrands to Halo Studios

Halo Studios Embarks on a New Era of Halo Game Development

"Halo's history comprises two distinct eras: Bungie and 343 Industries," stated Studio Head Pierre Hintze. "We recognize a strong player demand for more. Our goal isn't just to enhance development efficiency, but to fundamentally redefine how we create Halo games."

The studio will leverage Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) for future Halo titles. UE5's renowned capabilities in delivering high-fidelity graphics and realistic physics are expected to elevate the Halo experience. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney expressed his enthusiasm in a tweet, stating, "Epic is honored that Halo Studios has chosen our tools for their future endeavors!"

The shift to UE5 is a key component of Halo Studios' new direction, aimed at producing the highest quality games possible. Hintze explained, "Our previous focus on supporting Halo Infinite proved disproportionate. Now, our singular objective is to create the best possible Halo games."

COO Elizabeth Van Wyck emphasized a player-centric approach: "Our success hinges on delivering games players want to play. This restructuring empowers the development team to make critical game decisions. We are actively seeking broader player feedback to guide our future direction."

Art Director Chris Matthew highlighted the technological advantages of UE5, stating that the transition from the aging Slipspace engine will significantly improve development speed and capabilities. "Certain aspects of Slipspace are nearly 25 years old," Matthew explained. "While 343 continually improved it, Unreal Engine 5 offers features unavailable in Slipspace, features that would have required substantial time and resources to replicate."

The move to UE5 will also streamline the update process, enabling faster delivery of new content and quicker responses to player feedback. Van Wyck noted, "It's not just about development time, but also about update speed and responsiveness to player desires." Halo Studios has begun recruiting for these new projects.