Following the unexpected announcement of workforce reductions at Microsofr, Bloomberg He argued that the consequences will not only be seen in the technological and software part, since it seems that the video game section will also suffer big cuts. According to the data, there could be more than 10,000 people made redundant, so it’s no surprise that major studios like 343, The Coalition, and Bethesda are included in the equation.
Unfortunately, rumors and reports suggest that a great in the video game industry, practically a living legend, will leave his current position. This is Joseph Staten, creative head of 343 since 2020, who will leave his post to become part of the Xbox Publishing division as reported by Bloomberg. If that were to happen, we’d be witnessing the farewell of a man who built Halo, one of the industry’s most important sagas.
Joseph Staten, centerpiece for Microsoft and Halo is debating within the company
He got his start as a writer at Bungie, where they pitched a visionary proposal to Steve Jobs when they launched the first Mac on the market. At the time, the game they featured had no name or personality, but it was so engaging that Microsoft was tempted to “steal” the project and turn it into Halo: Combat Evolve. Since then, Joe served as writer and director of the main Halo trilogy until he was hired by Microsoft as creative director. Years have passed and the legendary writer has returned to his old ways with Halo to be part of the Halo Infinite campaign, building up what we know about the game and all of its strengths and weaknesses so far.
What is happening now is not a final farewell, certainly not; but it is important to understand that Joe’s presence in 343 was an important guide to what is to come in the near and distant future; with campaign extensions and narrative events. Joseph will return to his previous role at Microsoft following the announcement of the massive layoffs.
As we know so far, 343 was the study hardest hit by this decision, who appears to have been taken for money-related reasons, beyond performance and the value of her work. The truth for now is that there is a restructuring of the study and the mass and blind layoffs have not been long in coming.
NEW: Joe Staten, who joined 343 in 2020 to steer Halo Infinite to the finish line, is leaving the studio to join Xbox Publishing, Bloomberg has learned
—Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) January 18, 2023
