More than just intense competition was produced at the 2024 Halo World Championship for the fans. They showed breathtaking Master Chief spliced in a video, but this wasn’t just an ordinary game preview. All the graphics came from Unreal Engine 5, a huge break from the Halo franchise. To cap it all, 343 Industries has also revealed that it has rebranded itself as Halo Studios, signaling a new chapter for the beloved series.
The big news didn’t stop there. In addition to the engine change, the studio also revealed its plans for future games. The studio already has several projects in Unreal and plans to work faster but be more visually impressive and deliver fresh content over a shorter period. It’s a bigger shift to their new way of thinking about match-ups, trying to accommodate the continuing ask of his players.
Halo Studios: New engine, new direction
The most important announcement came from Studio Head Pierre Hintze, who explained that Halo is now entering its “third chapter.” Then there was Bungie, then 343 Industries, and now Halo Studios. Going forward, the departure from the old Slipspace Engine to Unreal Engine 5 is a giant leap to make the development process more efficient and open a new creative pathway.
Advanced tools like Nanite and Lumen are expected to bring richer and, frankly, more immersive environments to life. Future games will use the new technology, while Halo Infinite will still get updates. This new vision, the first of which is called Project Foundry, is an attempt to explore what can be done in Unreal to help create the future of Halo.
This isn’t just a cosmetic rebrand; it’s a new way of thinking for the team behind Halo. Halo Studios is expanding both in terms of content and the talent to join the studio. By opting to work with Unreal Engine 5, the studio aims to simplify development so that effective, high-quality games can be delivered quickly.
We don’t know the specifics of the games yet, but Halo fans will get treated. As it puts its hands on building bigger, more immersive worlds, the franchise is headed for new creative heights without forgetting its roots. More updates will be coming as Halo Studios begins this new chapter.
Featured image credit: Xbox News
