Xbox CCO Matt Booty Announces New Halo Team Amid Microsoft Restructuring
Key Highlights
- Activision to oversee Halo IP.
- roles eliminated across Halo Studios and Xbox Game Studios management.
- New team to be separate from ongoing development and Call of Duty plans.
Mike Ybarra, the former president of Blizzard, has publicly endorsed the recent transfer of the Halo intellectual property to Activision, describing it as a significant milestone for Xbox fans. In a social media post, Ybarra highlighted the key aspects of the Xbox restructuring.
This includes the elimination of 268 positions at Halo Studios and Xbox Game Studios management. A move aimed at streamlining the gaming studio's operations.
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"Rob Kostich, Dave Stohl, Pat Kelly and team at Activision are rock star, old school game developers," Ybarra said. "Non-political, no bullshit - just flat out Halo at its best." Kostich is president of Activision, Stohl is its executive vice president and head of development, and Kelly is head of creative for Call of Duty.
Xbox CCO Matt Booty says the Activision-run Halo will be overseen by "a new, purpose-built team that is separate from ongoing development and plans for Call of Duty." In a statement to GamesRadar+, Activision says, "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."
A high-profile shake-up at Xbox has sparked widespread criticism, with Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian being absorbed into the Bethesda fold. The move has been seen as a stark illustration of the gaming industry's tendency to view studios as interchangeable assets.
Rather than vital components of game development. Microsoft's efforts to streamline its management structure have apparently been superseded by a more drastic approach. Involving the closure of studios, mass layoffs, and the rebranding of independent teams under new oversight.
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Hideo Kojima doesn't know if Physint will release on PlayStation after Xbox picked up publishing duties, and hasn't "decided" if he'll use the Sony-owned Decima engine, either.
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I write about the forces shaping business and the global economy, from startup growth and changing markets to international trade and policy. My work focuses on breaking down complex developments into clear, practical insights and understanding what they could mean for businesses, investors, and the wider economy.
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