![]() ![]() This included clarifying that this was indeed an older build and that the game is looking better every day. ![]() After the Halo Infinite demo was revealed, 343 Industries and Microsoft surged ahead with promoting the game. Apparently, 343 management was prioritizing the TV series instead of focusing on Halo Infinite‘s development. Yes, the same Halo TV series with Steven Spielberg as executive producer that was announced as early as 2013 and who’s first season was ordered in 2018. Several individuals are who are familiar with development at 343 Industries also described this collaboration as “challenging” and also mentioned “significant disagreements internally.” Soon enough, Tim Longo and then Mary Olsen would leave the studio later that year.Īnother key factor that seems to be messing with development is the Halo TV series by ShowTime. While this is a common trend in the industry, one source that spoke to Sams said that the outsourcing was “at a ratio higher than a typical studio undertakes during development” and had led to problems with cross-development collaboration. The problems apparently began in earnest before E3 2019 with the company outsourcing a “significant portion” of the game to third-party contractors. Oh and they also need to conveniently wrap that whole Reclaimer Saga that began in Halo 4. Suffice it to say that the studio already had its work cut out and after the backlash to Halo 5: Guardians, it had the monumental task of trying to do something new while returning to the spirit of Halo. Keep in mind that the console wasn’t even announced back then. The objective was to rebuild everything that made Halo what it was and 343 Industries went all out, developing the new Slipspace Engine and even planning for the release of the Xbox Series X. In its earliest stages, development began back in 2015 with 343 Industries outlining what it referred to as Halo 6. A new report from Brad Sams on Thurrott has offered more insight, though there has been some rebuttals since then so keep that in mind. Even last year when creative director Tim Longo departed from 343 Industries, followed by his replacement, lead producer Mary Olsen, many believed there to be issues with development. This is not some grand mystery to anyone who’s seen the campaign gameplay from the Xbox Games Showcase, much less heard about its delay into 2021. ![]() However, when it comes to the leadership behind these games, I’m stuck wondering if they’re straddling a fine line between what’s best for business and what the fans, their own employees included, really want.įor those unaware, Halo Infinite‘s development is having problems. This especially applies to those who would join the company over the years. Even with the change in direction and the prospect of having to effectively start over with a series so rich in history, these people stuck with it because they love the IP. When 343 Industries was formed, it saw not only a few members of Bungie jumping over to join but the hiring of several community members. One thing that seems to be certain – the artists, programmers, QA testers, writers and level designers are people that love Halo. Does it want to do it’s own thing and break out from Bungie’s shadow? Does it want to tell a good Halo story that respects the lore? Does it want a fun multiplayer experience? Or does it want to break out from all story conventions, lore be damned? Does it want to make a games-as-a-service title, chasing the will-o’-the-wisp that is the “10 year plan”? Is it interested in competing with the very best games out there, innovating its own right, or is it simply content in skating by? Throughout the years, I can’t help but wonder: What does 343 Industries want Halo to be? This sounds like a rhetorical question but after years of observing the studio, I’m genuinely curious. Nevertheless, Halo has gone from a relatively scrappy FPS with potential under Bungie to a multi-million dollar flagship Xbox franchise before being transferred to 343 Industries. Compare this to the history that franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Mario, Metroid, Final Fantasy, Doom or even Sonic the Hedgehog, and it still seems relatively new. That means the series is less than two decades old. For as storied as the Halo franchise has been, it’s hard to believe that the first Halo game release in 2001. ![]()
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