We start a new chapter today

The announcement of Halo Studios’ rebranding and its future projects is fuel for cautious optimism. Now, Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) is looking to turn the page, both literally and figuratively. In the announcement, studio head Pierre Hintze stated, “We start a new chapter today.” But what direction will the franchise take now?

The Halo franchise held a revered place in gaming for decades, but its recent trajectory hasn’t been the best. Once seen as the undisputed king of first-person shooters (FPS), the series has struggled to recapture the magic that originally propelled it to success. Will this new chapter bring it back to its former glory?

Halo has always been synonymous with iconic gameplay and memorable moments. From its inception under Bungie, the series pioneered the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, setting the standard for multiplayer and single-player campaigns.

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For many, Halo Infinite was supposed to bring the franchise back to its roots. The game promised a nostalgic return to the franchise’s core elements, but it failed to deliver the experience that earlier titles were known for. Despite an impressive launch, the lack of post-launch support left players disappointed.

This brings us to the announcement at the 2024 Halo World Championship. A key part of this new chapter is the switch from the proprietary Slipspace Engine to Unreal Engine 5. Studio head Pierre Hintze emphasized that the change was more than just cosmetic.

If you really break Halo down, there have been two very distinct chapters. Chapter 1 – Bungie. Chapter 2 – 343 Industries. Now, I think we have an audience hungry for more.

For years, the Slipspace Engine powered the franchise, but according to studio art director Chris Matthews, some components were almost 25 years old. With the switch to Unreal, the team aims to take full advantage of advanced technologies like Nanite and Lumen, for more dynamic environments and better lighting.

While Unreal Engine 5 brings better graphics and other features, some fans worry that it might compromise the “feel” of the franchise. After all, Halo has always had a distinct gameplay identity that could be lost with the switch. We’ve seen this happen with other franchises.

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When studios try to modernize too much, they sometimes lose the core mechanics that made their games beloved in the first place. The comparison to Metroid Dread comes to mind, a game that embraced its roots to widespread acclaim. Could the studio be risking too much in its pursuit of change?

Despite these concerns, there’s no denying that they’re making moves. Multiple new games are reportedly in development, with the team promising that Unreal Engine 5 will enable them to create more projects simultaneously.

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This could mean more variety in content, potentially addressing different aspects of what fans love about the series. However, until actual gameplay is revealed, it’s hard to gauge whether these changes will resonate with the fanbase. As of now, the studio is asking for trust as they embark on this new chapter.

The studio’s rebranding, the shift to Unreal Engine 5, and promises of multiple new games all signal a bold new direction for the franchise. But will this end in success or failure?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!