Hallo

Halo Makes an Unreal Shift: A Game-Changing Decision /  by Wade Burrell

If you’ll allow me, I need to write about something that is near and dear to my heart.

I'm a big gamer. I always have been, and I suspect I always will be. More recently, I've found myself incredibly interested in the gaming industry, looking at it from a business and marketing perspective. It fascinates me. One of my all-time favorites is Halo, and there was some interesting news from them this week.

In a surprising move, Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) has announced a major shift in their development strategy: all future Halo games will be developed using Unreal Engine 5. This decision marks a departure from their proprietary Slipspace Engine and signals a new era for one of gaming's most iconic franchises.

The announcement

Halo Studios revealed that this move will allow them to focus on creating multiple new Halo experiences simultaneously. Their goal? To accelerate content delivery and improve responsiveness to player feedback. But, in my opinion, the implications of this decision extend far beyond just faster Halo games.

Why this matters

  1. Validation at the Highest Level : By choosing Unreal Engine 5, Halo Studios is sending a clear message: UE5 is capable of handling the most demanding, high-profile projects in the industry. This may feel like a “duh” moment, but I personally feel it’s a major win for UE5.

  2. Ecosystem Benefits : There are already a ton of developers working with UE5 means a larger talent pool, more resources, and potentially faster engine improvements. Fortnite is built on UE5 and the amazing work creators already do in Fortnite Creative shows what’s capable. Imagine what this will do for Halo Forge.

  3. Tech Showcase : Halo: Combat Evolved was at the forefront of gaming technology. This move has the potential to bring Halo back as a shining example of what can be done and demonstrate the engine’s capabilities in great detail.

Benefits of Moving Away from Slipspace

While Slipspace Engine was capable of producing stunning visuals (yes, even Craig), the switch to UE5 offers several key advantages:

  1. Faster Development : By using a well-established engine, Halo Studios can speed up their development process and focus on game creation rather than engine maintenance.

  2. Larger Talent Pool : I mentioned this above but it bears repeating: The move to UE5 opens up more jobs to more Unreal devs that are looking for work right now.

  3. Focus on Core Strengths : This shift allows the team to concentrate on what makes Halo great – its gameplay, storytelling, and iconic universe.

  4. Improved Cross-Platform Development : We’ve already seen Microsoft dip their toes in cross-platform IP (Sea of Thieves anyone?). UE5's robust cross-platform capabilities could lead to more consistent experiences across different systems.

Looking Ahead

For Epic Games, landing Halo is like securing a major enterprise client in the SaaS world. It's not just about one customer – it's about the message it sends to the entire market. This move represents a potential turning point in AAA game development. As we watch this story unfold, key questions emerge:

  • Will we see more AAA franchises make the switch to Unreal?

  • How will this affect the development and release cadence of future Halo games?

  • What impact will this have on the broader gaming market and development practices?

One thing's for certain: the game development landscape is shifting. Whether you're a gamer, a developer, or just someone interested in the tech industry, this is a story worth following closely.

What are your thoughts on this move? Do you think it will lead to better Halo games? How might it impact the broader gaming market? Let me know!