343 Industries, now rebranded as Halo Studios, has revealed its vision for the future of the iconic Halo franchise. During the Halo World Championships, the studio announced:
– Name change to Halo Studios
– Multiple new games in development
– Adoption of Unreal Engine for all future projects
– Abandonment of Slipspace Engine used in Halo Infinite
Project Foundry
Halo Studios showcased Project Foundry, an experimental project demonstrating Halo built with Unreal Engine. Although a tech demo, it offers a glimpse into the franchise’s fresh start.
Reasons Behind Engine Shift
Art Director Chris Matthews explained:
– Slipspace Engine’s outdated components (almost 25 years old)
– Unreal Engine’s advanced features and Epic’s continuous development
– Significant time and resources required to replicate Unreal’s features in Slipspace
Leadership and Future Plans
Under Pierre Hintze and Elizabeth Van Wyck’s leadership, Halo Studios aims to:
– Develop multiple high-quality experiences
– Focus on new projects rather than servicing Halo Infinite
– Release games “when they’re ready”
Industry Implications
This shift follows Xbox’s announcement of a next-generation successor to the Xbox Series X|S and signals a new era for the Halo franchise.
