(Bloomberg) – Microsoft Corp’s Xbox unit shifts older talent to its delayed Halo Infinite, including a well-regarded veteran of the multi-billion dollar series, to track down the most important game for the new Xbox console .
Joseph Staten, who played a major role in the development and writing of the first Halo titles and recently oversaw another game published by Microsoft, will move to Halo Development Studio 343 Industries, Bloomberg News reported earlier. He confirmed the change in a tweet, while a community update posted by 343 said he will be focusing on improving the game’s campaign mode, and helping existing development leaders. Microsoft is also urging Pierre Hintze, another senior leader within 343, to focus on Halo Infinite and serve as project leader for its free-to-play experience.
The new project leaders will work with studio head Chris Lee and report to Bonnie Ross, a vice president of Microsoft who oversees 343, according to a person familiar with the strategy who asked not to be named.
In a hit for the upcoming Xbox Series X console, which debuts in November, Microsoft delayed the release of Halo Infinite to next year earlier this month, accusing remote work in the development pandemic of delay. That came after a first look at gameplay in late July, which was not well received by Halo franchise fans. The series has generated billions in sales for Microsoft and was expected to anchor the console launch, going up against Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 5, whose first slot of games was filled with a much warmer reception.
Read more: Microsoft releases Halo Infinite, biggest game for Xbox Launch
States, one of the most famous figures among Halo fans, began his video game career in the 1990s at Bungie, the studio that made the series. He was responsible for writing, editing and directing cut-scenes about the first three Halo games, which were loved by fans for their rich characters and universes. He stayed with Bungie when the studio split from Microsoft in 2007 and ended its work on Halo, but left abruptly in 2013, just a year before the launch of Bungie’s online sci-fi game Destiny. States then rejoined Microsoft in 2014 to work on non-Halo games in the Xbox portfolio. 343 was set up to take over the Halo games after Bungie left.
(Updates with confirmation and further details from second paragraph)
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