Microsoft has just handed over the Halo franchise to Call of Duty maker Activision in the most recent shift in Xbox, where mass layoffs have now hit Halo studios and has resulted in a total of 268 employees being let go across “other first-party studios, and the XGS management and central functions layer.”
Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty announced in a new blog post titled ‘Continuing Our Reset’: “The actions completed since July, inclusive of the studio divestitures, bring us roughly three-quarters of the way through previously announced restructuring,” while adding, “I am deeply grateful for what our colleagues have built, and I know how difficult today will be for those leaving and the teams around them.”
Activision will now be developing the next mainline title of the iconic Halo franchise, as Booty confirmed in the official post: “led by a new, purpose-built team that is separate from ongoing development and plans for Call of Duty. A small team at Halo Studios will continue supporting the Halo community and games in-market.”
Booty has also detailed all the new merging and shifts of different studios under Xbox such as now both “Playground and Turn 10 will come together as one studio focused on the Forza and Fable franchises.”
Meanwhile, Rob Kostich, president of Activision has issued the following official statement regarding the relocation of multiple franchises including Halo: “For Halo, our goal is clear: make the greatest Halo game ever, worthy of its universe and legacy, while staying true to what made players love it in the first place. It is a bold ambition, one that this franchise deserves. We have already begun assembling a purpose-built team, unique in capability and talent, ready and excited to deliver this next chapter with the community.
In addition, Xbox has also shifted Age of Empires developer World’s Edge and Sea of Thieves developer Rare under Activision which means the next titles for these franchises would be released by the Call of Duty makers as well.
