343 Industries has stated it is committed to continuing the Halo franchise's development.
On Sunday, Halo developer 343 Industries issued a brief statement reaffirming its commitment to creating new entries in the renowned military sci-fi series.
In a short message posted on the Halo Twitter account, the head of 343 Industries Pierre Hintze stated that Halo and Master Chief are "here to stay" and that the studio will keep creating content for the franchise in the present and future.
"Halo and Master Chief are here to stay," Hintz wrote. "343 Industries will continue to develop Halo now and in the future, including epic stories, multiplayer, and more of what makes Halo great."
The statement comes after several high-profile departures, including key members of the Halo Infinite team, and a major round of layoffs at Microsoft that reportedly affected several Xbox studios, including the campaign team for Halo Infinite at 343 Industries.
Most recently, it was reported that Halo veteran Joseph Staten who worked on the game at both Bungie and 343 Industries departed from the studio. In early December, Halo multiplayer creative director Tom French left 343 Industries after nearly 12 years of work. Other significant departures from the studio include the studio's founder Bonnie Ross, engineering director David Berger, art director Nicolas Bouvier, and design lead Jerry Hook.
The statement from 343 Industries has been met with mixed reactions, with some being supportive and others being concerned about the future of the franchise and regretting that the first-person shooter series will not be passed on to another studio.
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