Key Takeaways
- Microsoft has announced that new Halo games will run on Unreal 5 Engine.
- Growing out of 343 Industries, Halo Studios plans to create two new Halo games simultaneously with cutting-edge technology.
- The switch from the proprietary Slipspace engine to Unreal 5 aims to bring a new dawn for the franchise while maintaining authenticity.
As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I’ve witnessed the evolution of Halo from its humble beginnings with Bungie to the current era under 343 Industries. The recent rebranding of 343 Industries into Halo Studios and the switch to Unreal Engine 5 has left me with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
During the 2024 Halo World Championship, Microsoft chose to offer an exceptional gift to its franchise enthusiasts: a fresh studio would be assuming control over Halo, leveraging cutting-edge technology, and prioritizing fan experience in their approach.
…but there’s a catch.
Indeed, there’s a specialized unit known as Halo Studios (just in case you may have forgotten their area of focus). However, it’s essential to note that this is essentially a rebranding of the previously known 343 Industries.
The biggest item on the announcement was the switch from the in-house Slipspace engine to Unreal 5, developed by Epic Games.
The announcement raised queries regarding potential future changes, fortunately, studio leaders were present to provide clarification.
The Engine Room
According to Studio Director Pierre Hintze, this doesn’t necessarily imply severing connections with 343 Industries’ past, but rather initiating a fresh beginning.
Essentially, if we dissect Halo into its core parts, it has experienced two significantly different phases. Phase 1 was under the creative control of Bungie. Moving forward, I believe our audience eagerly anticipates further developments, which brings us to… Phase 2, managed by 343 Industries.
-Pierre Hintze, Halo Studios
The objective is to alter the release frequency of Halo games without compromising their quality. In order to accomplish this goal, the company decided to let go of a beloved tool, the exclusive Slipspace Engine.
2021 saw Slipspace debut its first and seemingly sole title, Halo Infinite, suggesting a limited lifespan for the engine’s game releases.
During the interview, COO Elizabeth van Wyck outlined a frequent challenge that many modern game development studios encounter when using their own engine technology.
While they offer a customized development process, it’s important to note that maintaining their currency demands significant investment, and the creation of in-house games also tends to involve extended development periods.
Chris Matthews, art director at Halo Studios, demonstrated the scenario using innovative rendering and lighting methods like Nanite and Lumen.
While it’s conceivable to design a similar encounter in Slipspace, it would necessitate considerable development effort over several years. By that point, the engine might have advanced or become obsolete.
The Project Foundry Testbed
Prior to plunging Slipspace headfirst into the grinder, Halo Studios wanted to ascertain if it was feasible to create a genuine Halo game with Unreal 5 as the engine.
According to Van Wyck, this unexpected step was crucial to confirm that we were indeed proceeding correctly with the engine swap.
Project Foundry appears more like a tech showcase, but it’s important to note that this isn’t necessarily a negative aspect. Contrary to what the press release on the Xbox site suggests, it does not claim to be anything other than that.
Hintze expects most of the work in the showcase to be used on a future Halo title.
At present, Halo Studios is engaged in the concurrent creation of no less than two distinct Halo video games, free from the responsibilities of engine upkeep and enhancement.
The focus is back on the game, which might finally bring a new dawn for the franchise.
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2024-10-07 21:39