Microsoft has confirmed several new Halo titles are in development alongside the rebranding of 343 Industries - the studio overseeing the iconic sci-fi franchise - which will now operate as "Halo Studios."
Xbox Game Studio's 343 Industries Rebrands to Halo Studios
Halo Studios Commits to Delivering Fan-Requested Experiences
343 Industries, the Microsoft-owned studio that inherited the Halo franchise from original developer Bungie, revealed multiple Halo projects are currently underway. Today's announcement coincided with the studio's rebranding to Halo Studios.
"Halo's history has unfolded in two clear chapters: Bungie's era and 343 Industries' tenure," stated Studio Head Pierre Hintze in an official release. "Our community is ready for more, so we're not just optimizing development processes - we're reinventing how we create Halo experiences. Today marks the beginning of Chapter 3."
The studio confirmed future Halo titles will utilize Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), praised for delivering cutting-edge visuals and physics. "The original Halo revolutionized console gaming in 2001, and subsequent releases have consistently pushed technological boundaries with their gameplay, storytelling, and audio design," Epic CEO Tim Sweeney commented via Twitter. "We're honored Halo Studios selected our engine for their ambitious projects."
During today's announcement, franchise leadership outlined their vision for Halo's future. "Our efforts were disproportionately focused on sustaining Halo Infinite," Hintze admitted, explaining the transition to UE5 will enable higher production quality across multiple titles. "We're completely focused on one mission: creating the absolute best Halo games possible."
Franchise COO Elizabeth Van Wyck emphasized player-centric development: "Success comes from building what our community wants to play. This new structure empowers our development teams to make creative decisions while gathering broader player feedback to guide our direction." She added, "Ultimately, player satisfaction must drive our evaluation process."
Studio Art Director Chris Matthew explained the technical advantages of UE5: "While we've continuously improved Slipspace Engine, certain elements trace back 25 years. UE5 offers advanced tools and capabilities that would require massive resources to replicate in our proprietary engine."
The transition to UE5 will also accelerate content updates and responsiveness to player feedback. "It's not just about reducing development cycles," Van Wyck noted, "but how quickly we can implement new features and adapt to community preferences." With this strategic pivot underway, Halo Studios has begun recruiting talent for its upcoming projects.
