A 17-year veteran on the Halo development team has left the company, posting an ominous-sounding message on the way out.
Glenn Israel said on LinkedIn that he is “no longer contributing to the Halo universe” after working on the sci-fi series since 2008. Israel got his start on the Halo franchise at Bungie before joining 343 Industries–now known as Halo Studios–as art director.
Israel said in his post that there is “little more I can say for the moment” about the nature of his exit from the Halo development team. He added, “I intend to share this particular story in its entirety when it is absolutely safe to do so next year.”
He also shared a message for others in the games industry, a business that’s facing “dire” times of late. “No illusion of security nor promise of wealth or fame or power is worth trading away your health, your dignity, your ethics, or values–and no one can force you to,” he said. “Stay strong, take evidence when necessary, and find where you belong.”
GameSpot has contacted Microsoft in an attempt to get more details on this situation and Israel’s exit from Halo Studios. Before this, Halo Studios chief of staff Melissa Boone left to join Riot Games.
Israel left Halo Studios just before the company is due to reveal what’s next for the Halo series later this month. Microsoft has already confirmed it’s working on multiple new Halo projects, and they’re being made using Unreal Engine 5. Many are expecting Microsoft’s announcement this month to be something related to the next Halo game(s).
2021’s Halo Infinite is the latest entry in the main series. Microsoft has made major changes to the franchise and its studios since then, including installing a new executive leadership team and switching game engines for future projects, while acknowledging that Halo Infinite missed the mark in some respects. Xbox boss Matt Booty previously said Halo Infinite’s launch was like a runner tripping at the finish line.
“Halo Infinite was the last remnant of how we made Halo games in the past. That was our recipe. And what we’re doing right now is changing our recipe,” studio head Pierre Hintze said.
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It’s been reported that Microsoft wants to bring Halo to PS5 and Switch 2, and it could happen as soon as this year. Specifically, it’s been said that Microsoft is cooking up a new Halo: Combat Evolved remaster project. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Xbox and Halo, and Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer has said Microsoft could release a new Halo project next year alongside new Fable and Gears of War games.
Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest on Halo projects.
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