Halo Studios, formerly 343 Industries, embarks on a new chapter in Halo's legacy, transitioning to Unreal Engine 5 to craft the "best possible" Halo games. This strategic shift, coupled with a rebranding, signals a renewed focus on player desires and faster development cycles.

The announcement confirms multiple new Halo projects are underway. Studio Head Pierre Hintze emphasized a departure from past development strategies, stating a commitment to creating games that resonate with the fanbase. The move to Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), lauded for its high-fidelity graphics and realistic physics, is key to this ambition. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney publicly welcomed Halo Studios to the UE5 ecosystem, highlighting the engine's capacity to push the boundaries of console gaming.

Hintze highlighted a previous overemphasis on supporting Halo Infinite, stating the transition to UE5 allows for a singular focus on creating high-quality titles. This sentiment was echoed by COO Elizabeth Van Wyck, who underscored the importance of player feedback in shaping the future of the franchise and emphasized the need to build games players actually want to play. The studio is actively seeking broader player input to guide its development decisions.

Art Director Chris Matthew explained the technical advantages of UE5, citing the age of existing development tools and the significant time and resources required to replicate the capabilities of Unreal Engine. The adoption of UE5 promises not only improved graphical fidelity but also faster development and update cycles, enabling quicker responses to player feedback and the introduction of new content. The studio is actively recruiting for these new projects. In short, Halo Studios is leveraging Unreal Engine 5 to create a future for the Halo franchise that prioritizes player satisfaction and rapid iteration.