800°

Halo Infinite Lead Producer Has Left 343 Industries – Report

An official statement on Olson’s departure has yet to be made so stay tuned for the same. In Longo’s case, Microsoft did note that, “The overall creative vision and production of the game remains led by Chris Lee, Studio Head of Halo Infinite.” We’ll have to wait and see how development pans out over the coming year.

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gamingbolt.com
NarutoFox1694d ago (Edited 1694d ago )

Hmmm interesting. Hopefully this doesn't affect them. This is Microsoft biggest franchise imo and I hope it all pans out for them.

Jin_Sakai1694d ago (Edited 1694d ago )

There’s definitely trouble in paradise.

Especially when the creative director and now the lead producer leaves before the game is finished.

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xTonyMontana1694d ago

@yawnamback Were they senior staff though like lead producers? The last game I can think of that I semi followed that had such senior figures leave midway through development was Anthem and we all know how that turned out. I sincerely hope this doesn't reflect on how Infinite turns out but it's definitely worrying.

Chris121694d ago Show
mandingo1694d ago

I think you’re in crisis mode

1694d ago
Jin_Sakai1694d ago Show
DJStotty1694d ago

Maybe they want better talent? Maybe they were poor at what they were doing?

Maybe they had completed their work on the game? Maybe they want a career change?

2 employees leaving out of the studio is not trouble in paradise, especially when they are looking to hire 21

https://www.343industries.c...

sampsonon1693d ago Show
Mopedgames1693d ago Show
DarXyde1693d ago Show
darthv721693d ago

Sounds like she was offered a better job and took it. Not saying she was a key person in this games development, Chris Lee is the one making those decisions, but she was obviously able to leave on her own accord (and not cast out over some bad blood). People come and go mid projects all the time. Why is this worrisome?

sampsonon1693d ago Show
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RpgSama1694d ago (Edited 1694d ago )

In August Tim Longo left 343 and MS fans were like "we hated halo 5 campaign, thank God he left the game in Olson hands, he will not be missed or needed", now Olson left and people are like, he didn't add anything of value, he will not be missed or needed, I guess even a goat can be the lead producer of Halo Infinite and people would still follow it blindly as if everything is alright.

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Kribwalker1694d ago

Um no one said thank god its left in Olsons hands, they all said that Chris Lee is still running the game, which is still true. No one even heard of olson until she left. True Story

BLizardXD1694d ago (Edited 1694d ago )

this is not that bad of news. gives Halo a fresh direction from Halo 5.

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TK-661693d ago (Edited 1693d ago )

@RpgSama

Or maybe you're all dumb for acting like you know how this departure affects the project and that the effects will be negative? Same for other studios.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1693d ago
Kribwalker1694d ago

Hmmm, a lot of people leaving. Hopefully it doesn’t effect the end product as Ms needs Halo Infinite to be an amazing game.

As long as Chris Lee is still running it there shouldn’t be a big change in direction of the game.

-Foxtrot1694d ago

Is there a lot of people leaving?

I didn't know there was more who have left, I assumed this was like the first person to leave. What else has happened with 343?

Kribwalker1694d ago

longo left in august, that’s when they reiterated that Chris Lee is still the head creative guy and director

bishup251694d ago (Edited 1694d ago )

official statement was already made for this -

"Mary’s role as an Executive Producer and then Lead Producer on Campaign was to help drive the game to its completion for our holiday 2020 release date –"

"To put it simply, producers are the ones tasked with making sure the studio is always moving forward – "

"Title is super misleading, there is no creative dilemma inside the studio, and there’s no writing on the walls.
Apologies for the long writeup, but I hope it helps clarify!"
https://www.reddit.com/r/ha...

so in other words Mary Olson was never in charge of the actual content but to push everyone for a release date.......why couldn't anyone piece this together in the first place?

Mopedgames1694d ago ShowReplies(9)
1694d ago Replies(4)
Obscure_Observer1694d ago

I think 343i should come up with a public statement on what´s going on with this game and reasure fans that everything is ok.

1694d ago Replies(3)
MasterCornholio1694d ago

Not to be a dick but they will never say that there's issues with development. So I don't see why that's needed.

All they need to do is release a great game simple as that.

Obscure_Observer1694d ago

@MasterCornholio

You couldn´t be more wrong.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ha...

Thank you @Paytaa

MasterCornholio1693d ago (Edited 1693d ago )

@Obscure

Why would I be wrong?

I said that they would never say that there's issues with development which is the case for any developer out there.

I didn't say that there are issues with development which is where you are wrong for not understanding me properly.

Then I ended my comment by saying that all they have to do is deliver a great game. Which shows that I do believe that they can do that.

Otherwise I would say something like "There's no way Halo Infinite will be any good".

TheColbertinator1694d ago

There might be a power struggle going on at 343 similar to the one at Sony.

purple1011694d ago

Which one at sony.? Can you link to any info?. I'm interested

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Jin_Sakai1694d ago (Edited 1694d ago )

There a rumor Shawn Layden didn’t want to push crossplay and PS Now like Jim Ryan wanted.

Whether that’s true is up in the air. Sony updated PS Now and Crossplay come out of beta after he left SIE. So who knows.

MadLad1694d ago

@c37

Much like we're watching assumed tragedy, with no real information on the situation, in this comments section because it's MS' largest franchise.

rainslacker1694d ago

@Ted

I'm pretty confident most of the "MS is doomed", and "This game is in trouble" comments are happening because we keep hearing those same things when it happens with Sony, instead of just accepting that shit happens, or people leave companies.

Or, it's just what always happens when someone leave MS or Sony, because nothing can ever just have a simple explanation like, "That person got a job elsewhere or retired" or some other such thing.

ShadowWolf7121693d ago

@Jin

Layden was promoting that too. He wouldn't have been speaking positively about either if he were so against it that he "quit out of protest".

babadivad1693d ago

The different branches are being chafed by the increasing influence of the US branch of Sony.

https://youtu.be/dxkS5b7Fek...

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THC CELL1694d ago

I think Sony situation happens with everyone
Plus there brexit that happening right now

Sony just opened up in Liverpool

1694d ago Replies(3)
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100°

Every PlayStation Studios game available now on Windows PC

Windows Central writes: "Many PlayStation Studios games that are ported to PC get dedicated PS5 DualSense support, which allows users to experience haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support without actually having to own a PS5.

According to Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, it's still the company's intent to launch the bigger single-player games on PS5 first, before later bringing the games to PC. This might not be the case for multiplayer games however, which are considered okay to launch simultaneously on console and PC."

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windowscentral.com
ocelot072d ago

My guess is after god of war. Probably last of us 2 that's a almost 4 year old game now and by the time it's released on pc it will be more than 4 years old or close to 5.

Elda1d 22h ago

Every old Playstation game that is now on PC.

shinoff21831d 13h ago

Right. I definitely see what a headlined from a website named windows central was trying to do though. It's cute little wordplay to help out the green box

Flewid6381d 11h ago

Are PlayStation games no longer good or worth playing once they are old?

Elda1d 11h ago

I'm guessing my comment went over your head.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 21h ago

Good at least they can sell hardware

220°

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie. This is something of a homecoming, as Microsoft owns Activision.

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engadget.com
Obscure_Observer2d ago

Very very early in development. Still, fantastic news!

Let´s GO!!!

Lightning772d ago

I guess.

How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )

At least it wouldn't be MS of all ppl destroying them.

MS really should let go Tango go like they did TFB here.

darthv722d ago (Edited 2d ago )

one was under Bethesda (Tango) the other under Activision (TFB). Clearly each one handled the separations of their subordinates differently.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )"

Perhaps because Zenimax and ABK handles such matters differently based on their own internal policies as "independent" publishers.

Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future. Which could also be the reason why they ensured an exclusive partnership with TFB and its new game, before anyone else.

Sad and disgusting. But it is what it is.

Lightning772d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future."

MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB.

It's inexcusable, they have options on how to handle studios they don't want anymore with killing jobs. Not just MS but the rest of the industry also.

Sad and disgusting sure how many will get shut down next year or this year even?

I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB."

Imo, MS separated from TFB because they didn´t had a game associated with Xbox yet, unlike Tango.

"I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another."

Fair enough. It was indeed an epic dumb move from them to close Tango.

Still, all to be forgotten, like always have. This is not the first time a big publisher shuts down a beloved and/or successful studio out of nowhere and certainly won´t be the last. Do you remember Lionhead? Do you remember Evolution Studios? Yeah... both were beloved studios and yet, those companies kill those studios in q blink of an eye and got away with it.

anast1d 22h ago (Edited 1d 22h ago )

The studio boss made some money from this transaction. Once the game releases, the studio will get chopped up.

-Foxtrot2d ago

Manages to buy their freedom especially after all the shit Microsoft has been doing with its studios lately

...

Goes right back to them as partners.

Okaaaaaay...

darthv722d ago

Id venture a guess that TFB working directly with MS was a better outcome than working through Activision to get to MS.

VersusDMC2d ago

From the article...

"Toys for Bob spun out as an indie back in February after Microsoft instituted sweeping layoffs that impacted 86 employees, which was more than half of the staff"

I doubt those 86 employees enjoyed the Microsoft experience over Activisions.

Inverno2d ago

MS shuts down studios because of lack of resources and then helps these guys by giving em resources. Also MS is what forced them to buy their freedom in the first place? What kind of logic 😂

Chevalier2d ago

The best thing is that the company that is worth $3 trillion and owns the company instead of Xbox lacks resources. How the hell does a company worth $3 trillion making a measly $70 billion purchase they 'can't' support. Lol

romulus231d 18h ago

Stockholm syndrome, maybe?

BlindMango1d 13h ago

The reason they would need to "partner with Microsoft" is simply to make a game that's part of a franchise that Microsoft owns. Meaning they're probably going to make a new Spyro game - they're still an independent studio, but are making a game in a franchise that Microsoft owns. It's kind of like Remedy partnering with Rockstar to be able to make the Max Payne remakes.

shinoff21831d 13h ago

It was probably the deal to get released from Ms

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1d 13h ago
Sciurus_vulgaris2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Xbox’s gaming division seems to still function as 3 semi-autonomous sub-divisions, Xbox Studios, Bethesda and ABK. The three main sub-divisions can seemingly shut down or build studios and set up partnerships independently. This would explain why Bethesda can recently shutdown studios, while ABK spins off one studio, while building a new one. Plus, Toys for Bob could be spun off by ABK, only to immediately re-partner with Microsoft.

Chevalier2d ago

That's absolutely 💯 BS. Any sane 'autonomous' company would NOT put their games on Gamepass day 1 like COD will lose probably billions.

Also they're all under Xbox game studios so any autonomy is an illusion.

PhillyDonJawn1d 18h ago

No, I'm sure MS can and does step in when they want something done specifically but I'm also sure they let them also work independently

shinoff21831d 13h ago

I highly highly doubt this. Ms controls all. The guys aren't gonna be allowed to just shut something down like that without approval. No way

Elda2d ago

Either a kiddie game or something uninteresting.

Obscure_Observer2d ago

Don´t worry. You won´t be playing it anyway since their next game will possible be a next gen Xbox console game.

Elda1d 23h ago (Edited 1d 23h ago )

Don't worry about my comments.

PhillyDonJawn1d 18h ago

Right probably something like astrobot

romulus231d 18h ago

Nah he said "uninteresting", lots of people are interested in Astro Bot.

Elda1d 16h ago

Never Astro Bot. Astro Bot looks better than any exclusive released on XB this entire generation & believe there hasn't been much.

Asplundh1d 16h ago

Crash 4 was good, so I'm hopeful.

PhillyDonJawn1d 14h ago

Hey you said that about SOT and looks like many ppl on PS is playing it. You also found bugsnax interesting ffs your opinion hold no weight lol.

Elda1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h ago )

Bugsnax is BS, tried it & quickly deleted it. It's a game that fits right on Gamepass. PS5 owners that are probably playing the boring SOT you could count on one hand. LMAO!!...don't try to come for me.

PhillyDonJawn1d 12h ago

So you admit bugsnax interested you enough to try? 😂 someone gotta call you out on the foolishness.

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130°

What Happens to Your Steam Account When You Die?

The Outerhaven writes: While Steam has come out recently, stating that Steam accounts can't be transferred, we need to think about it since we all will eventually kick the bucket. But if Valve is denying transferring accounts, what can be done? Plenty, actually.

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theouterhaven.net
thorstein3d ago

It goes to my kids because I gave them the passwords.

To Steam: Missio has a song that conveys my feelings about you stealing my purchase after I die. It's called "Middle Fingers"

shinoff21832d ago

Pretty much. My son knows my info.

Abear212d ago

Yeah worrying about digital ownership when you’re on the other side of the grass seems a little strange, but also on brand for these millennial journalists to worry about.

qalpha2d ago

I'm sure Keith will be happy to hear he's a millennial journalist.

Goodguy013d ago

I suppose if I have kids, I'd just give em my account details by retirement age. If I die young then...idk lol.

CrimsonWing692d ago

Yea, I mean just give someone the password to your account. Is that difficult to do or something? Like, I’m legit asking because I don’t know.

anast2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

It's not difficult but It's against the policy. If they find out, they will lock the account permanently.

CrimsonWing692d ago

Ah ok, I had a feeling there was something like that. It seems kind of weird that you can’t just hand your account over to a family member or friend and let them take over the account.

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