Halo Studios Adopts Unreal Engine 5 for Superior Halo Games

Microsoft has announced an exciting future for the Halo franchise, revealing multiple new Halo games are in development. Alongside this news, 343 Industries, the studio responsible for the beloved military sci-fi series, has undergone a significant rebranding to become "Halo Studios."

Xbox Game Studio's 343 Industries Rebrands to Halo Studios

Halo Studios Ramps Up Plans of Building Halo Games Players Want

"If you really break Halo down, there have been two very distinct chapters. Chapter 1 – Bungie. Chapter 2 – 343 Industries. Now, I think we have an audience which is hungry for more," Studio Head Pierre Hintze said in an announcement post. "So we’re not just going to try to improve the efficiency of development, but change the recipe of how we make Halo games. So, we start a new chapter today."

The studio has also revealed that it will be using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) for the development of these new Halo titles. UE5 is renowned for its ability to deliver high-quality graphics and realistic game physics. "The first Halo redefined console gaming in 2001, and over the generations Halo has pushed the state of the art forward with amazing gameplay, story, and music," Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said in a tweet. "Epic is honored that the Halo Studios team has chosen our tools to help with their future work!"

In discussing the new direction for the Halo franchise, Halo's lead developers emphasized their commitment to quality and player satisfaction. "We had a disproportionate focus on trying to create the conditions to be successful in servicing Halo Infinite," Hintze shared, highlighting the challenges of continuing the Halo legacy. He added that the switch to UE5 will enable them to create the highest quality Halo games possible. "We want a singular focus," Hintze said. "Everyone in this place is here to make the best possible Halo games."

Halo franchise COO Elizabeth Van Wyck emphasized the importance of player feedback in shaping the future of the series. "At the end of the day, if we build the games that our players want to play, that’s how we’ll be successful. That’s what should motivate what we build. That’s also what this structure has done – we want the people that are day-in-day-out making the games to be the ones to make the decisions on the games." Van Wyck also mentioned their commitment to seeking broader feedback from the player base as they embark on this new direction. "At the end of the day, it’s not just how do we evaluate, it’s how do our players evaluate it?"

As gaming expectations evolve, Studio Art Director Chris Matthew explained that the transition to UE5 will help meet the high standards of Halo fans. "Respectfully, some components of Slipspace are almost 25 years old," he said. "Although 343 were developing it continuously, there are aspects of Unreal that Epic has been developing for some time, which are unavailable to us in Slipspace – and would have taken huge amounts of time and resources to try and replicate."

The move to UE5 not only promises to enhance the quality of the games but also allows for more frequent updates and new content. "It’s not just about how long it takes to bring a game to market, but how long it takes for us to update the game, bring new content to players, adapt to what we’re seeing our players want," Van Wyck said. With these plans in place, Halo Studios has begun hiring for the new projects, signaling a bright future for the Halo franchise.