So, there we have it - Halo is about to enter "a new dawn" at Microsoft as the team switches focus to developing multiple Unreal Engine 5 Halo titles. It's a bold step for everyone involved, and it marks a massive change since the development and post-launch support of Halo Infinite. While exactly what this future looks like remains shrouded in mystery for now, but what we do know is that Halo is still very much Xbox's baby, and the team is throwing its weight behind what sounds like huge revival for the series.
Okay, revival might be pushing it a bit - Halo Infinite is still very much here and seeing chunky updates even in 2024. And yet, with that game's promotional cycle starting way back in 2018, it does feel like Infinite has dragged its feet for a good while here. Next year, it'll have been a whole decade since Halo 5 came and went, so yeah, it's safe to say Infinite has been around for a little while now as the 'new' Halo game - and we do feel ready to move on!
It's also no secret that the broader gaming community has perhaps not been as high on Infinite as us here at Pure Xbox. We can admit its failings, but we did score the title a 9/10 on day one and have enjoyed lots of what the team has brought to the title since release. Clearly though, there's improvement to be made in how the studio produces Halo content on Xbox, and this big old UE5 switcheroo is looking like it'll provide just that opportunity.
We're liking what we're hearing about it all so far, too. Multiple smaller projects on a more efficient game engine? That sounds great. "Changing the recipe" on how Halo is made? Bold, but we do think the formula is ready for a shake up. To top it off, this 'Halo Foundry' demonstration they've shown off this week looks great from a visual perspective - the tone seems to be there, which is always a good starting point for anything Halo.
We are curious to see how much of the old Halo DNA moves over, though. Will they stick to an open-world structure when the time comes for the next mainline campaign? Will the game feel like modern Halo, classic Halo, a bit of both or something entirely new? We have a lot of questions, but it's an exciting time to be a fan of the series in any case. There are also those rumours that a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved might be on the cards over at Team Green - could this be one of Halo Studios' multiple UE5 projects? That's not been confirmed yet, but it's entirely plausible as the team moves to a new era for the franchise.
Microsoft's flagship gaming IP has struggled to maintain its top dog status since the departure of Bungie after Halo: Reach, and right there in this 'New Dawn' post, the team says that this is a brand-new chapter for the franchise after the 343i era. We're feeling very positive on this at the outset - a new Halo era is about to be born, and we reckon it's time for the series to shine once again on Unreal Engine 5.