Halo Developer Reveals Reasons for Transition to Unreal Engine 5

Big changes are on the horizon for the Halo franchise as the newly rebranded Halo Studios explains its decision to transition to Unreal Engine 5 for upcoming projects. Announced during the Halo World Championship tournament, this move comes alongside a complete overhaul of the studio's internal culture, workflow, and organization. The former 343 Industries has now adopted the name Halo Studios, signaling a fresh start with multiple new Halo titles in development—all powered by Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5.

This change marks a significant departure from the past, as Halo Infinite was built using the studio’s own Slipspace Engine. During its development, Halo Infinite faced multiple delays and a challenging production cycle before its eventual release in late 2021.

When Halo Infinite finally launched on PC and Xbox Series X/S, it received a mixed reception. Players praised its expansive open-world campaign, but there was also frustration over issues with its online multiplayer, the absence of fan-favorite features like Forge Mode at launch, and the controversial microtransaction-driven live service model that some believed detracted from the overall gaming experience.

Why Halo Studios Is Embracing Unreal Engine 5

In light of these challenges, Halo Studios is looking to the future, with several of its developers shedding light on the decision to embrace Unreal Engine 5 for the next generation of Halo games. During an interview with Xbox Wire, Halo Studios COO Elizabeth van Wyck explained that the way the studio has developed Halo games in the past “doesn’t necessarily work as well for the way we want to make games for the future.” The new approach focuses on game creation itself, rather than maintaining proprietary tools and engines.

Moving Away from Slipspace Engine to Streamline Development

One of the key drivers behind this shift is the aging Slipspace Engine, which has been part of the Halo series' DNA for years. Studio Art Director Chris Matthews pointed out that Slipspace's technology, with components dating back nearly 25 years, often slowed down development. Matthews emphasized that advanced features like Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite and Lumen technologies—used for highly detailed rendering and lighting—would have been too resource-intensive to replicate using the Slipspace Engine.

The industry-wide popularity of Unreal Engine also played a role in the decision. According to van Wyck, many new team members are already well-versed in Unreal Engine, which means they can dive straight into the creative process rather than spending valuable time learning how to operate a different system. Halo Studios hopes this will result in smoother and more efficient development cycles for its upcoming projects.

What This Means for the Future of Halo

Halo Studios' decision to transition to Unreal Engine 5 signals a commitment to revitalizing the Halo series with cutting-edge technology and a more streamlined development process. By leveraging a tool widely recognized for its versatility and power, the studio aims to focus on creating memorable gaming experiences without being held back by outdated software.

While these changes set the stage for a new era of Halo games, fans are left wondering how this technological shift will shape the future of the franchise. Only time will tell if the move to Unreal Engine 5 will deliver the smooth development cycles and gameplay innovations that Halo Studios envisions for its next chapter.