Additionally, the early release of the Custom Games Browser tool was a pleasant surprise for many, as was the introduction of red reticle for Windows PC players and simple cross-core armor coating customization. By all accounts, things were finally starting to look up for Halo Infinite, as the arrival of the highly anticipated Forge mapmaking tool brought a flood of community-created content to the game. Notably, Microsoft also continues its efforts to complete its $69 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard as various organizations scrutinize the deal and either throw their weight behind it or seek to stop it from closing.įor fans of the flagship Xbox franchise, news of these cuts couldn't have come at a worse time. CEO Satya Nadella also took home a $54.9 million dollar compensation package last year. The layoffs at 343 Industries, as well as cuts at The Coalition, Bethesda Game Studios, and all of Microsoft, come after a report from the firm that it raked in $198 billion in revenue in 2022. "I know many people express this exact sentiment once they left." "Morgan has a great take on how I felt upon my departure," he wrote. Michael Byron, a Senior Producer with Meta Reality Labs, echoed Lockhart's words. "It's hard to undersell the feelings I have of 'lost time,' and what it has taken to get back what my years there took from me with respect to psychological safety, trusting others, trust in the industry, and most deeply, trust & confidence in myself." I continue to grapple with the damage every day," Lockhart said. I recently had a significant trauma/panic response because of my time there. "I will lend to the voices saying that 343 Industries had deeply entrenched, harmful cultural issues. ET: Morgan Lockhart, a former Halo 4 and 5 developer, has written a Twitter thread describing 343 Industries and the "harmful cultural issues" she observed at the studio. "Having been wrung through that contractor cycle for nearly 6 years, it always felt like being gaslit to hear how much leadership cared about us & our opinions but seldom invited it where it felt like it would do the most good to make a difference & we'd get conciliatory inaction," wrote Zara Varin, a former 343 Industries Artist and Consumer Products Asset Coordinator. So many amazing people and talent that just disappeared.” Still one of my favorite jobs I have been at." Wren replied to Bird in agreement: "The contract stuff is a whole other can of worms that pisses me off. "I would have loved to stay on the team if I could of and worked my way up. "Don't forget the heavy reliance on contractors/vendors and that messed up system (though I know that's more MS)," commented Nicholas Bird, a former developer that worked on Halo Infinite. Others have zeroed in on Microsoft's reliance on and treatment of contractors specifically. "Between the contracting policies they abuse for tax incentives & layoffs in the face of gigantic profits/executive bonuses.they set Halo up for failure." "As a Halo fan I'm really tired of Microsoft business practices & policies slowly killing the thing I love," he said. "The point wasn't to shit talk, but to finally call out the lack of accountability and how that affected others."Īnother Halo developer that now works on Apex Legends at Respawn, Tyler Owens, also expressed frustration at management. I felt like I had to say something, even if that did potentially risk opportunities for me in the future," he wrote. "I was mad that friends and ex-colleagues were hurt due to a road of choices that led to this outcome outside their control. ET: Wren made additional comments in a follow-up thread, clarifying his intent and explaining the rationale behind his statements. They helped push for a better Halo and got laid off for it."īloomberg's Jason Schreier noted in a Tweet that the grievances aired by Wren echo much of what he's heard from other Halo developers. "The people I worked every day with were passionate about Halo and wanted to make something great for the fans. The reason for both of those things is incompetent leadership up top during Halo Infinite development causing massive stress on those working hard to make Halo the best it can be," wrote Respawn's Patrick Wren, who worked at 343 Industries on Halo Infinite as Senior Multiplayer Designer. "The layoffs at 343 shouldn't have happened and Halo Infinite should be in a better state.
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