LogInNeither the reasons for Staten's departure nor his next destination are currently clear.
Joseph Staten, a seasoned member of Bungie who contributed to the development of the first three Halo games and was recruited to assist with completing Halo Infinite, will be departing from Microsoft.
The company confirmed the news to IGN on Friday, and Staten himself confirmed this later on Twitter.
"Hey folks, I am indeed leaving Microsoft," Staten wrote. "I’ll have more info to share soon, but for now, I’d just like to thank all my Xbox colleagues for all their understanding and support as I embark on a new adventure."
Staten had been working at 343 Industries, the studio responsible for Halo, until January 2023. At that point, it was disclosed that he had departed from the studio to take on the role of creative director at Microsoft. However, only three months have passed and now Staten will be departing from Microsoft entirely.
"We’re grateful for Joseph’s contributions to the Halo franchise and Xbox as a whole," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to IGN. "We wish him all the best in his new adventure.”
It remains unclear where the developer is heading next as neither Microsoft nor Staten have disclosed this information. The reason behind his departure from Microsoft after nine years also remains unknown.
Although Halo Infinite received critical acclaim upon release, its irregular and postponed content updates have caused dissatisfaction among fans. Since then, there have been numerous prominent departures from the studio, including Bonnie Ross, the founder of 343 Industries, who left the company after 15 years.
After several high-profile departures from the studio and news that Microsoft was cutting thousands of jobs, Pierre Hintz, the head of 343 Industries, released a statement affirming the studio's dedication to the Halo franchise. Hintz declared that "343 Industries will continue to develop Halo now and in the future."
Still, the studio was reportedly severely impacted by Microsoft's round of layoffs, which led to rumors that 343 Industries will soon discontinue active game development and license the Halo franchise to other studios. This speculation arose, among other things, after reports that Halo Infinite did not meet the tech giant's financial expectations.
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