Halo Studios has experienced layoffs just over a week after the launch of its latest title, Halo: Campaign Evolved. Developers have shared on social media that they are departing the studio and seeking new employment.
Producer Nick Treitman stated on LinkedIn that after six and a half years with Halo Studios and having "dodged" previous rounds of layoffs, this one has affected him. He expressed continued affection for Halo and his colleagues, acknowledging the difficult current state of the gaming industry.
Paul Morris, a scrum master at Halo Studios, also announced his departure following the game's release. He noted the challenging job market within the industry and the uncertainty of the path ahead.
The precise number of employees affected by these layoffs has not been officially confirmed. Xbox has not yet provided a comment to Eurogamer regarding the situation.
These cuts at Halo Studios occur amidst a broader trend of job reductions within Microsoft's gaming divisions. Last month, Xbox revealed plans to eliminate 3,200 jobs across the company and its owned studios, with 1,600 of those positions cut immediately and the remaining 1,600 to be phased out over the current financial year. This broader restructuring has left studios like Halo Studios vulnerable to further reductions.
Halo: Campaign Evolved has reportedly seen a generally positive critical reception. While official sales figures remain undisclosed, Alinea Analytics estimates that the game has sold approximately 212,000 units on Steam and around 900,000 units across Xbox consoles and PC. The PlayStation version has experienced a slower start, with an estimated 351,000 units sold. The game's availability on Game Pass is likely a factor influencing its sales performance on PC and Xbox platforms.