Halo Infinite Head of Creative and former Bungie writer Joseph Staten is leaving Microsoft. Confirmed by IGN (opens in new tab)Staten left Bungie when problems developed with Destiny and joined Microsoft in early 2014 to help Xbox Game Studios publish a variety of games. In 2020, after his infamous Halo Infinite premiere and his year-long delay, Staten joined 343 Industries to see the project come to fruition.
Initial positive opinion surrounding Infinite’s release in 2021 quickly soured, giving the game a rough first year (opens in new tab)Just as Infinite seemed to be gaining ground, Microsoft announced it would lay off 10,000 employees. (opens in new tab), including 343 developers. At the same time, Staten left 343 to return to Xbox publishing. The move has proven to be short-lived.
In a statement to IGN, Microsoft said, “We appreciate Joseph’s contributions to the Halo franchise and Xbox as a whole. We wish him well in his new adventures.”
When Microsoft implemented massive layoffs in March, one former 343 developer tweeted: A development that puts a lot of stress on those who work hard to make Halo the best it can be.”At the time, layoffs hit his Halo Infinite single player particularly hard on his team, leading to 343 leadership.” changes in Existing plans for campaign DLC have been scrapped (opens in new tab).
Perhaps Staten was ready to do something new. However, given his history of working on the narrative side of Halo development, it seems likely that the end of his plans for 343’s single player will be the catalyst for his departure.
