Halo Development Rumors Debunked by 343 Industries

343 Industries has issued a statement rejecting reports that the business would no longer oversee Halo developments. This is in reaction to speculations alleging that although Microsoft was laying off up to 10,000 people – including 343 personnel – it was also planning to relocate the production of Halo games to a new studio in its reorganisation efforts.

As it deals with the impact of layoffs occurring across the computer sector, Microsoft is going through a difficult time. When word initially came that Microsoft was planning to have significant layoffs before the end of its fiscal year, there were obvious fears about how it might spread to its enormous video game divisions. As the hours and days passed, news of a few developers from other studios sent word that they were let go. The most dramatic news was the notion being propagated that 343 Industries was about to lose development responsibility for the Halo games.

 

 

In a recent Halo Twitter post, 343 Industries Studio Head Pierre Hintze said, “Halo and Master Chief are here to stay.” The brief statement emphasises the studio’s ambitions to remain the producer of any future Halo games and stories. Earlier in the week, reports started circulating that Microsoft was contemplating withdrawing 343 Industries from Halo projects. The tweet raises doubts about whether there have been boardroom meetings where deals were made to maintain 343 Industries as the Halo franchise developer, or if the developer is putting up a fight for its marquee project.

The statement, which was signed by Pierre Hintze, the head of 343 Studio, delivers a firm rejection to put an end to the commotion caused by the rumours. Time will tell whether that stays true, but by having 343’s Studio Head make the comment, it appears as if Halo will actually remain with 343 Industries in the foreseeable future. 343 Industries has had a hard time following through with elements of the planned post-launch DLC of Halo Infinite. Unkept promises like the cancelled split-screen co-op as well as a lack of enthusiasm around the multiplayer modes have left Halo Infinite adrift in the shadow of its rivals.

Microsoft takes great care in how it manages social media messaging. Whether it’s the lighthearted appeals of gamers loving what they play or serious comments like the several Microsoft has had to make in the midst of the Activision merger, when a public statement is made by the corporation, there is a purpose with what and how it says things. Microsoft is going through numerous changes at the moment, but this statement means to suggest that for now, a split of 343 Industries and Halo isn’t going to be one of those changes.