It seemed that the future of Halo and 343 had already been finished organizing. Since the announcement of the massive layoffs at Microsoft, 343 Industries has been the hardest hit Xbox studio, with Joseph Staten being kicked out of Halo during its reorganization and sent to another development division within Microsoft.
Now and following a press release sent to IGN, it would seem that Microsoft has fully confirmed the departure of Staten Microsoft and therefore Xbox. According to IGN, they weren’t told their apparent reasons for leaving, let alone their new projects and whether they’re related to video game development.
We are grateful for Joseph’s contributions to the Halo franchise and to Xbox in general,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. We wish you the best in your new adventure.
The end of an era, the aftermath of mishandling with the Halo saga
Joseph Staten has been associated with the Halo saga since its inception. He was one of the creators during the Bungie era, being promoted several times to become one of the franchise’s directors. With the arrival of 343, his relationship developed in an almost symbolic way, since he tried to take care of his job as one of the managers, being the only one who lasted until the end .
When Microsoft announced the layoff of over 1,000 employees, Staten transferred to Xbox Publishing, where he remains to this day.
The internal consequences of all this we do not know. It is likely that within 343 and, above all, within Microsoft, many strategic alternatives are being considered for Xbox and its most recognized franchise. While there was talk about Halo’s demise, these moves clearly show that there’s work behind it to build something much better.
