Halo Studios Upgrades to Unreal Engine 5

Halo Studios Switches to Unreal Engine 5 to Make “The Best Possible” Halo Titles

Microsoft has confirmed multiple new Halo titles are forthcoming, along with the announcement of the rebranding of 343 Industries—the studio managing 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 its identity 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 make Halo games. So, we begin a new chapter today."

The studio also announced that it will be developing new, forthcoming Halo installments using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). The UE5 has been praised for producing top-tier game titles that feature 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 trajectory. "We had an undue 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 switch to UE5 will enable them to produce more Halo games with the highest possible quality. "We want a single focus," Hintze said. "Everyone here is dedicated to making the best possible Halo games."

Halo Studios Switches to Unreal Engine 5 to Make “The Best Possible” Halo Titles

Halo franchise COO Elizabeth Van Wyck added: "Ultimately, if we create the games our players want, that’s how we’ll succeed. That’s our primary motivator. That’s also what this structure achieves – we empower the game developers to make key decisions." Van Wyck also noted they are seeking "increasingly broad feedback" from their player base as they pursue this new franchise direction. "Ultimately, it’s not just our assessment, but how our players assess 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 meeting fan expectations. "To be clear, some parts 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 required immense time and resources."

Halo Studios Switches to Unreal Engine 5 to Make “The Best Possible” Halo Titles

Shifting Halo to UE5 also enables the game series to continuously expand with fresh updates in a comparatively shorter timeframe. "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 respond to player preferences," Van Wyck said. With Halo Studios' plans underway, the studio also announced that it has begun recruiting for the new projects.