A new era dawns for Halo, as developer 343 Industries revealed at the close of the 2024 Halo World Championships that multiple new projects are in development. Notably, these projects will be built using Unreal Engine 5, a departure from Halo Infinite's Slipstream Engine. Additionally, 343 Industries is undergoing a significant transformation, rebranding as Halo Studios.
These new Halo games are not expected to release soon. An Xbox blog clarifies that this announcement signifies the start of a new chapter, not its conclusion. Halo Studios is restructuring to enable multiple projects to progress simultaneously, unlike the past where the entire studio focused on a single project.
Halo Studios showcased a non-game project called Project Foundry to illustrate the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5. Footage and images from Project Foundry depict various Halo-inspired settings, from Pacific Northwest-style landscapes to a Flood-infested world, all demonstrating the engine's potential. The project also featured a highly detailed scene of Master Chief from Halo: Combat Evolved battling an Elite, rendered in Unreal Engine 5.
According to Halo Studios art director Chris Matthews, Project Foundry is not a game nor merely a tech demo. Instead, it is being developed to the standards required for future Halo games, with content potentially usable in those projects. Matthews emphasized that everything created is built to meet the future standards of their games, avoiding the pitfalls of a tech demo.
The shift to Unreal Engine 5 aims to better meet player expectations. Halo Studios head Pierre Hintze noted that a substantial part of the studio previously dedicated to developing and maintaining their engine, limiting content delivery pace. The transition to Unreal will free up resources and accelerate the development pipeline, according to COO Elizabeth Van Wyck.
While visual aspects are a focus, Halo Studios emphasizes that Halo's essence extends beyond visuals. Matthews highlighted that the spirit of Halo includes lore, physics, and the immersive experience of playing as Master Chief. The studio is committed to listening to player feedback and incorporating it into their initiatives.
Halo Infinite will continue to be supported on its existing Slipspace Engine, with more Operations and Forge mode updates planned. Meanwhile, a new Halo tabletop wargame, Halo: Flashpoint, is available for preorder and set to release on October 25.
