Halo Studios Hit Hard with Job Cuts, New Halo in Development with Activision

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Jon "Sikamikanico" Clarke

2 hours ago

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Microsoft are making massive changes to their studio setup that sees Halo Studios see a large number of job cuts, with the Halo franchise moving over to a new team under Activision.

Announced earlier today on Xbox Wire, an internal letter from Xbox CCO Matt Booty detailed the changes as Xbox continues their strategic reset of the business.

Per Matt Booty – “we are eliminating 268 roles across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and the XGS management and central functions layer. The actions completed since July, inclusive of the studio divestitures, bring us roughly three-quarters of the way through previously announced restructuring. I am deeply grateful for what our colleagues have built, and I know how difficult today will be for those leaving and the teams around them.“

With the layoffs now detailed, the Xbox team have shared specifically what’s next for Halo. According to Xbox, “Activision will also be developing the next Halo title, led by a new, purpose-built team that is separate from ongoing development and plans for Call of Duty.”

With Halo Studios fresh off the release of Halo Campaign Evolved, and hell, fresh off a rebrand for themselves, this likely comes as a surprising shock for Halo fans. Xbox haven’t yet declared that the studio is completely dead, advising fans that a “small team at Halo Studios will continue supporting the Halo community and games in-market.” That is likely to include HaloFest, an upcoming community focused event, which considering this news, may end up feeling not so celebratory.

There are sure to be more details that will surface in the coming days, and we’ll bring you more information as soon as we have it.

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