Support NeoGAF

[Evangelion Unit-01]

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...o-game-loses-top-director-after-project-delay

Turbulence continues on Microsoft Corp.'s Halo Infinite video game with the departure of the project's director.

"I have stepped back from Infinite and I am looking at future opportunities," Lee said. "I believe in the team and am confident they will deliver a great game and now is a good time for me to step away."

The highly anticipated next Halo installment was originally slated to come out alongside Microsoft's launch of its next-generation Xbox Series X console in November. The game was delayed in early August, however, following poor fan reception to an early public version. Lee's role was sidelined a few weeks later, as Microsoft brought in Halo veteran Joe Staten to lead the single-player campaign and another senior executive, Pierre Hintze, to run multiplayer.

Second director to leave and one of countless leads to have left development partway through. Almost every lead role at 343 has been a revolving door since dev on Halo 4 began. Very little continuity.

My take as a long time Halo fan:

This one actually strikes me as a loss for Halo fans. Chris always struck me as one of the more passionate people at 343, a big fan of the series. It is a wonder to me that he is leaving but other longtime 343 leaders have stayed in their roles for such a long time. I think the problems at the studio are larger than the problems on this game. The game is just shining a light on the underlying issues at the studio. There is a serious leadership problem and a lack of a cohesive vision for the franchise as a whole.

In my opinion Chris was placed in a no win situation. When the inevitable happened he was the only one left standing when the music stopped. Maybe I am wrong, but just my take as someone who has watched the circus around Halo since Bungie left this franchise in Microsoft's hands.

 

[OverHeat]

WTF is going on at 343???

 

[OnThePathToWisdom]

Gee, I wonder what kind of person will replace him...

 

[Kuranghi]

Halo Infinite just keep delivering the good news!

 

[Mr. PlayStation]

Please do justice by Craig, he deserves all the care from the devs. Take your time and deliver the definitive craig experience in infinite!

 

[MiguelItUp]

Wow, I wonder if this has anything to do with the color customization that folks raged about recently? Man, Infinite has a truly interesting development period. Gotta wonder wtf is up?

 

[Concern]

Good riddance. All of 343 should follow suit.

 

[Nikana]

YIKES.

At this point I havea feeling the multi will indeed be released first and the campaign will come later.

 

[BlueXImpulse]

Cancel it.

 

[Codes 208]

At this point just give the IP to someone else and reboot the damn series

 

[Lone Wolf]

Why isn't Bonnie Ross fired yet?!

 

[BigLee74]

Did he leave, or was he pushed? Heads must have rolled for the Halo Infinite debacle!

 

[LisaMariaMartin]

343 needs some major restructuring.

 

[nyr88nyg]

And people thought Craig wasn't a big deal

 

[HarryKS]

Ah, so this is why they focus on the past so much, because the immediate future ain't too bright.

 

[wolffy71]

To be expected

 

[zwiggelbig]

and they are going to charge money for the colour purple on your gun. this game is going to bomb so fucking hard

 

[iJudged]

craig has entered the chat

 

[DonF]

Shhh who cares, have you seen the unboxing ??

 

[Arun1910]

 

[MatrixReloaded101]

Really sad to see Halo in the middle of this mess

 

[Maxwell Jacob Friedman]

in all honesty time to cut them lose, they have had 3 tries to get Halo right and they keep fucking it up. Give the Ip to a different studio now.

 

[Azurro]

The game was delayed in early August, however, following poor fan reception to an early public version. Lee's role was sidelined a few weeks later, as Microsoft brought in Halo veteran Joe Staten to lead the single-player campaign and another senior executive, Pierre Hintze, to run multiplayer.

This seems like more of a delayed firing/quitting than anything else, given that there were already new people assigned to direct the game, so not that big of a deal. Given the results, it still seems to be a shitshow though.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Give Halo to Id Tech.

 

[itsnotme]

F in the chat for Halo

 

[Agnostic2020]

These are signs of development issues . Hope they pull through

 

[-Arcadia-]

It's definitely not just a problem with the visuals. I'm inclined to believe most of what I've read about the behind-the-scenes of development.

 

[The Rain King]

What a shitshow.

 

[Vawn]

Good. Because there were too many CIS-gender males at 343 on this game.

 

[CrysisFreak]

Where can I apply to be a dev for 343?
I believe I am talented enough to deliver on Craig's vision. My boy he's such a legend.

 

[BabyYoda]

Please tell me Bonnie Ross is next, I know they'll never dare to fire a diversity hire though. If she has any sense of decency and love for the ip, she'll leave ASAP.

Replace her with someone who actually knows what they are doing and has real experience doing that job well. Even if the candidate is a straight white make /gasp!

 

[Dabaus]

Phil cant even manage the one franchise that put xbox on the map but sure, lets cheer that he has a blank check to buy out the industry. I never liked gaming that much anyways amirite?

 

[Noctis114]

You had FIVE years and half a billion dollars in budget and you gave us Craig

This is a good thing for MS, 343 needs a good management shake up after that mess of a trailer.

 

[01011001]

now the rest of 343i can also leave and please never touch Halo again... k thx.

 

[BigLee74]

Halo thread. 90% Sony boys, Craig avatars, and Craig memes.

Checks out.

 

[master0fdeception]

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...o-game-loses-top-director-after-project-delay


Second director to leave and one of countless leads to have left development partway through. Almost every lead role at 343 has been a revolving door since dev on Halo 4 began. Very little continuity.

This one actually strikes me as a loss for Halo fans. Chris always struck me as one of the more passionate people at 343, a big fan of the series. It is a wonder to me that he is leaving but other longtime 343 leaders have stayed in their roles for such a long time. I think the problems at the studio are larger than the problems on this game. The game is just shining a light on the underlying issues at the studio. There is a serious leadership problem and a lack of a cohesive vision for the franchise as a whole.

This is pretty crazy. Halo 1/2/3 were system sellers. I actually enjoyed halo 4. After that they lost their way IMHO.

Halo was their main thing. They really need to get it together.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

This game is turning into a funeral pyre.

 

[iJudged]

in all honesty time to cut them lose, they have had 3 tries to get Halo right and they keep fucking it up. Give the Ip to a different studio now.

was just about to say, they should have left years ago. New team new ideas, perhaps a better game?

 

[Maxwell Jacob Friedman]

Give Halo to Id Tech.

myman.gif

I know Halo is kind of "kiddy" but a mature franchise along the lines of Doom would be amazing for a new reboot. Id actually buy and Xbox for that.

 

[master0fdeception]

Halo thread. 90% Sony boys, Craig avatars, and Craig memes.

Checks out.

What's the craig reference to??

 

[Knitted Knight]

Why isn't Bonnie Ross fired yet?!

I have a theory. Some poster called it nasty.

But yes it continues to be a puzzle.

 

[Dolomite]

Never thought I'd say this...but I have as much hope for this game as I have interest at this point. Blows, because this could have been a Halo 3 moment to kick off the next Gen. At least Xbox as a whole is off to a better start this launch

 

[Bladed Thesis]

Heads rolling.

 

[Yselacrey00]

Seriously, why hasn't 343 been dissolved? They haven't released a single good game, not once. Why people believe that giving more time to an incompetent developer is a good idea? 343 must be one of the most incompetent developers alongside RARE and Infinity Ward, working in big franchises.

 

[Maxwell Jacob Friedman]

was just about to say, they should have left years ago. New team new ideas, perhaps a better game?

that or if their own studios are not of caliber, i totally would understand if they outsourced it to a studio that was capable of making a solid game for a franchise that deserves so much better

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

I'm way more pro XBox than most of NeoGAF but eventually we have to start looking at Phil Spencer.

What a trainwreck start to a new generation. Had all the time in the world to get this right.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Halo would be a much better game if it was designed by a bunch of frat bros from college rather than the....forced hires they currently have

 

[cireza]

Guy is leaving after completion of the game (remaining are essentially technical adjustments, and post launch content), how can we turn this into a concern news ?

 

[JonnyMP3]

We've found our new Duke Nukem Forever now boys!
This year hasn't been kind to Halo ever since Craig...
Poor sweet innocent Craig.

 

[OverHeat]

Bonnie Ross next pls