After at the moment’s announcement that Microsoft will lay off 10,000 folks, particulars on how inside restructuring will hit its gaming divisions proceed to emerge, with Halo Infinite’s 343 Industries among the many studios impacted.
Based on Bloomberg, Joseph Staten, a Halo veteran who started his profession with Bungie in 1998, will transition from his Halo Infinite inventive director position and rejoin Xbox’s publishing division. Staten joined the group at 343 Industries in 2020 because the marketing campaign mission lead on Halo Infinite and later noticed a title change to Head of Inventive.
Bloomberg’s report consists of an electronic mail from 343 Industries head Pierre Hintze, who defined the studio “made the tough determination to restructure” and that assist for Halo Infinite’s stay service options will proceed. Particulars on Staten’s new position and the precise diploma of affect at 343 Industries stay unclear for now.
Staten’s credit embody an extended historical past with the Halo collection, beginning along with his position because the cinematic director on Fight Advanced, Halo 2, and Halo 3. His work on the Halo universe consists of authoring a few of its novelizations, and the studio lead additionally served as lead author on Bungie’s sci-fi shooter, Future. He departed his position on the MMO and later rejoined Microsoft in 2014.
The Halo studio is amongst many impacted by Microsoft’s layoffs, together with Gears of Battle studio, The Coalition, and the extra not too long ago acquired Bethesda. Microsoft’s weblog notes that cuts affect 5% of its workforce. That is along with the 1,000 staff let go in October 2022.
As cuts and restructuring prolong into its recreation studios, Microsoft continues to be transferring ahead with acquisitions. A yr in the past at the moment, the corporate introduced it might purchase Activision Blizzard for a record-breaking $68.7 billion. That deal later got here below hearth by regulatory our bodies, just like the US Federal Commerce Fee, with investigations ongoing.
Andrea Shearon is a contract contributor for IGN protecting video games and leisure. She’s worn a number of hats over her seven-year profession within the video games trade, with bylines over at Fanbyte, USA Right now’s FTW, TheGamer, VG247, and RPG Website. Discover her on Twitter (@Maajora) or the Materia Possessions podcast chatting about FFXIV, RPGs, and any collection involving large robots.