- A former Halo developer has used harsh words to describe 343 Industries.
- He recommends developers avoid working for the studio due to horrible decision-making and leadership.
- The developer also states that a simple name switch won’t be enough to save the series.
343 Industries recently confirmed a fresh start for Halo. Following the supposed cancellation of a Halo Infinite sequel, the team has confirmed a pivot to Unreal Engine and a name change to “Halo Studios.”
These initiatives highlight the team’s willingness to evolve for the betterment of Xbox’s most popular IP, but a former developer has not been too amused with the recent announcement. According to Will Waltz, small changes are not enough to solve 343 Industries’ biggest problems.
Why it matters: 343 Industries was handed a very successful franchise after Bungie’s departure, but the team has failed to do it justice. Despite the latest game’s potential, the developer has once again put its faith into a fresh start.
Will Waltz previously worked on the series for more than a decade as a top animator.
He noted that much of 343 Industries’ talent was among the industry’s finest and had a passion for the IP. However, the management’s decisions were constantly at odds with the developers’ wishes.
As per the animator, the top management created a very limiting environment. He even went as far as dubbing the leadership a “cancer.” Will Waltz also advises aspiring game creators to stay away from 343 Industries.
Steer clear and stay safe out there, they are not worth it.
-Will Waltz
Even though the team is now dubbed Halo Studios, he argues that its legacy problems will continue to hinder future development.
As an example, the animator highlighted how developers rallied to make the switch to Unreal Engine several years ago. However, the leadership was unwilling to budge and forced the team to rely on the not-so-great Slipspace Engine.
Will Waltz also described how he had to lead the charge when adding a reporting feature to Halo Infinite. This became yet another unpleasant experience for the animator due to lackluster leadership.
Ultimately, the animator’s time at the studio came to an end after he was laid off. Because of how things turned out, he does not recommend anybody join the studio.
Currently, Halo is in a tough situation. While Halo Infinite has somewhat redeemed itself, the future remains a mystery.
Recent teases have led to speculation about a remake of the very first entry, but nothing has been officially confirmed. Whatever the case may be, these projects might not turn out too great if the studio remains plagued with management issues.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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