Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, said in an interview with the portal IGN that Microsoft will still bring the Halo franchise as a priority, even following recent layoffs at 343 Industries, the developer responsible for the game. According to the executive, “The heart and soul of Halo is with 343 and the team is there, and I have the utmost confidence in the team that is there and leading and the plan that they have going forward.”
Despite apparently optimistic statements, the studio has laid off a large number of employees, which might not yet be specified. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, the team that worked on Halo Infinite —the franchise’s last bet, a free-to-play game that sold itself as a “live service”—had several cuts.
On the subject, studio head Pierre Hintze was also vague and protocol: “343 Industries will continue to develop Halo now and into the future, including epic storytelling, multiplayer, and much more of what makes Halo great.”
On the layoffs, Spencer says the company is now ensuring the leadership team has the flexibility to build new plans — it is understood, with an eye on big tech’s financial health. But there is no concrete information regarding the continuity of the franchise.
Spencer declined to comment on whether Microsoft still has a 10-year support plan for Halo Infinite, passing the buck to 343 itself. , which had virtually no major releases compared to its competitors.
And you, are you a fan of Halo? What do you expect from the future of the franchise?
