Ex-Halo dev believes those who pushed for a better game ‘got laid off for it’
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Following the announcement that Microsoft plans to cut thousands of jobs, the former Senior Multiplayer Designer for Halo has taken to Twitter to criticize the tech giant.
In a Twitter message (opens in new tab)Patrick Wren claimed that Microsoft’s “incompetent leadership” caused developer stress during the making of Halo Infinite and also resulted in the recent layoffs.
“The layoffs at 343 should not have happened, and Halo Infinite should be in better shape,” Wren wrote. “The reason for both things is incompetent leadership at the top during the development of Halo Infinite, which is causing tremendous stress for those who work hard to make Halo the best it can be.”
“The people I worked with every day were passionate about Halo and wanted to make something great for the fans,” Wren continued. “They helped push for a better Halo and got fired for it.”
Microsoft recently announced plans to cut more than 10,000 jobs amid fears of a slowing global economy. 343 Industries isn’t the only game studio affected by the cuts, and Starfield developer Bethesda Game Studios is also reporting significant layoffs.
More to come
Despite Halo Infinite being released in November 2021, developer 343 Industries has still put time and effort into patching Master Chief’s latest adventure post-launch. The final Halo Infinite update for 2022, released in December, was one of the biggest in recent memory, adding a new Arena multiplayer map called Empyrean, based on the Halo 3 map, The Pit. The close range arena had two hut-style bases for flags on each side, with opposing towers for snipers and a central hall in the middle. However, 343 changed some elements of the original map to fit Halo Infinite’s style. Scrap cannons have replaced the machine gun turrets on each base and weapon spawns have been updated to use Halo Infinite’s weapon racks.
In addition to several new armor core unlocks and new cadet coatings, 343 Industries has also made network improvements. These updates ensure that damage dealt and received by players is now more consistent and manageable, as in previous builds it was possible for some Spartans to avoid damage by sliding.
While the future of this beloved series is still uncertain following Microsoft’s layoffs, Bloomberg reported that 343 Industries studio head, Pierre Hintze, reassured colleagues in an email that support for Halo Infinite’s multiplayer will continue. What that support will look like, however, remains to be seen.