Halo Studios Upgrades to Unreal Engine 5

Microsoft has confirmed multiple new Halo games are forthcoming, along with the announcement of the rebranding of 343 Industries—the studio developing the military sci-fi franchise—to “Halo Studios.”

Xbox Game Studio's 343 Industries Rebrands to Halo StudiosHalo Studios Accelerates Plans for Developing Halo Games Players Desire

343 Industries, the Microsoft-owned studio that assumed control of the Halo franchise from series creator Bungie, confirmed that multiple Halo game projects are underway. Along with this announcement, 343 Industries rebranded itself and will now be known as Halo Studios.

"If you really analyze Halo, there have been two very distinct chapters. Chapter 1 – Bungie. Chapter 2 – 343 Industries. Now, I think we have an audience that desires more," Studio Head Pierre Hintze said in an announcement post. "So we’re not just going to try [to] enhance the efficiency of development, but alter the approach to how we create Halo games. So, we begin a new chapter today."

The studio also announced it will be developing new, upcoming Halo installments using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). The UE5 has been praised for producing top-tier game titles that boast sharp graphics and realistic game physics. "The first Halo redefined console gaming in 2001, and over the generations Halo has advanced the state of the art with amazing gameplay, story, and music," Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said in a tweet. "Epic is honored that the Halo Studios team has selected our tools to aid in their future endeavors!"

In line with today's announcement, Halo's lead developers discussed the military sci-fi franchise's new direction. "We had an excessive focus on trying to create the conditions for success in supporting Halo Infinite," Hintze shared regarding their experience with the Halo franchise, further stating that the shift to UE5 will enable them to produce more Halo games with the highest possible quality. "We want a singular focus," Hintze said. "Everyone here is dedicated to making the best possible Halo games."

Halo franchise COO Elizabeth Van Wyck added: "Ultimately, if we develop the games our players desire, that's how we'll succeed. That's the primary motivator for our development. That's precisely what this structure achieves – we empower the individuals directly creating the games to make crucial decisions." Van Wyck also stated they are seeking "increasingly comprehensive feedback" from their player base as they pursue the franchise's new direction. "Ultimately, the key isn't just our evaluation, but how our players evaluate it?"

As players' expectations for their gaming experiences evolve, Studio Art Director Chris Matthew added that the transition to UE5 allows developers to create games aligning with fan expectations. "To be clear, some elements of Slipspace are nearly 25 years old," he explained. "While 343 continuously developed it, Unreal Engine features developed by Epic over time are unavailable in Slipspace – replicating them would have demanded significant time and resources."

Moving Halo to UE5 also enables the game series to continually expand with fresh updates at a comparatively shorter pace. "It’s not just about how long it takes to launch a game, but how long it takes for us to update the game, deliver new content to players, and adapt to player preferences," Van Wyck said. With Halo Studios' plans underway, the studio also announced that it has begun recruiting for the new projects.