Joseph Staten, the top of artistic on Halo Infinite and a former longtime author at Bungie, is leaving Microsoft, the corporate confirmed to IGN (opens in new tab). Staten left Bungie in the course of the troubled improvement of Future and joined Microsoft in early 2014, serving to Xbox Recreation Studios publish a wide range of video games. In 2020, after Halo Infinite’s notorious first displaying and year-long delay, Staten joined 343 Industries to see the undertaking to completion.
The preliminary positivity round Infinite’s launch in 2021 rapidly soured, resulting in a tough first yr for the sport (opens in new tab). Simply because it appeared like Infinite was beginning to discover its footing, Microsoft introduced it could be shedding 10,000 staff (opens in new tab), together with builders at 343. On the identical time, Staten left 343 to return to Xbox publishing. That transfer has confirmed to be short-lived.
“We’re grateful for Joseph’s contributions to the Halo franchise and Xbox as a complete,” Microsoft mentioned in an announcement to IGN. “We want him all one of the best in his new journey.”
When Microsoft enacted its sweeping layoffs in March, one former 343 developer tweeted: “The layoffs at 343 should not have occurred and Halo Infinite must be in a greater state. The rationale for each of these issues is incompetent management up prime throughout Halo Infinite improvement inflicting huge stress on these working onerous to make Halo one of the best it may be.” There was hypothesis on the time that the layoffs hit Halo Infinite’s singleplayer group particularly onerous, and that adjustments in 343 management meant current plans for marketing campaign DLC had been scrapped (opens in new tab).
Maybe Staten was merely prepared for one thing new. However given his historical past engaged on the narrative aspect of Halo improvement, the top of 343’s singleplayer plans appear a possible catalyst for his departure.