Microsoft Cuts Halo Studios Staff, Hands Series to Activision
Microsoft slashed Halo Studios staff and moved the Halo series to Activision, with no games in full production and the next mainline entry years away.
Microsoft has drastically cut staff at Halo Studios and handed the Halo series to Activision, according to reports. The layoffs leave the studio servicing existing games Halo Infinite and Campaign Evolved, while Activision is building a new studio dedicated to the future of Halo.
According to Tom Warren, the first communication about the cuts came in a public Xbox blog before employees were notified. Insiders said the next mainline Halo game was at minimum years away, and no games were in full production when the layoffs happened, per Rebs Gaming.
Work had been underway on Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes, Halo 7, and spinoff campaigns. One shorter spinoff game would have been based on the First Strike novel and released between the remakes.
Rebs Gaming's source claimed Halo Studios is now around 30 people. The scale of the cuts marks a major shift for the franchise, which Microsoft has owned since the original Xbox.
The news was first reported by outlets including pcgamer.com.
Quick answers
What happened to Halo Studios?
Microsoft drastically cut staff at Halo Studios and handed the Halo series to Activision, according to reports.
What is Activision doing with Halo?
Activision is building a new studio dedicated to the future of Halo.
What games were in development before the layoffs?
Work was underway on Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes, Halo 7, and spinoff campaigns, including one based on the First Strike novel. No games were in full production when the layoffs happened.