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[Greggy]

Bonnie Ross should go, it's obvious. I really wonder if that hasn't happened because it would have diminsihed Microsoft and Phil's woke credentials. She's not up to the job, absolutely not.
She ran to Staten and had him do her job while another guy took the fall for the humiliating Infinite reveal. The buck should have stopped with her. And if they didn't want to do it publicly, then they should do it now, while nobody's looking. Just reassign her to something else less strategic and say she "wanted to spend more time with her family".
There's a good foundation in Halo Infinite but the game deserved to be a graphical showcase on console, something it will never be on that engine. Also they just don't seem able to churn out content. Those wasted 5 years of botched development that culminated with the failed reveal will be almost impossible to just erase. Something drastic needs to happen with the team and the game.
Maybe no COD next year means one the ABK COD studios can come in and help 343. Fire Bonnie, move everything to UE5 or the COD engine, Have Raven, Infinity ward or Sledgehammer come in to help revolutionise Halo and let 343 keep putting out updates for Infinite in the meantime. Maybe 4 years from now we will have another Halo worth of the Xbox's flagship title mantle.
I wouldn't get Id on Halo. Doom and Halo are two different games that play differently and that shine for different reasons. I wouldn't want the differences to become blurred.

 

[Kiya's Guard]

It's time to disband gaming in general

 

[Umbasaborne]

Halo infinites campaign is a mess of copy paste repetitive enviroments. Plus it feels like they skipped a whole game. They talk about all of this cool stuff that happened in after halo 5 but dont show it, and we cant play it

 

[Lasha]

You don't care that its a worse product because of the way they chose to monetise it? The 95% of players that stopped playing cares.

"worse product" in what way? The gameplay is excellent and a return to form for the series. I don't like the monetisation so I play without spending money. It's free

Do you enjoy playing games or playing "progression" systems?

 

[SmokedMeat]

I’m sorry, but did you really say Halo is Microsoft’s biggest brand??

 

[Boss Mog]

Back when Halo 4 came out I was like: "well at least these guys do really good graphics", but now after Halo Infinite you can't really even say that anymore.

 

[Y0ssarian]

Get your head out of your ass 343, and do some work on Infinites multiplayer. Do you even care about your heckin game?!

 

[Sid Of Bee]

I really enjoyed Halo 4 and I'm enjoying Infinite. That sweet gunplay still seems to intact to me.

 

[Shifty]

You have to wonder when one of the big arguments for keeping them around is "but the jobs though".

It doesn't exactly speak to giving a shit about the creative work the medium is founded on if their worth is measured purely in ability to keep people fed and homed.

And MS is a big corporation. They could find work for those people if 343 did end up getting shuttered.

 

[DaedalusGrim]

"worse product" in what way? The gameplay is excellent and a return to form for the series. I don't like the monetisation so I play without spending money. It's free

Do you enjoy playing games or playing "progression" systems?

No co op, no slayer play list at launch, XP throttled, terrible challenge system, anaemic map support, desync still rampant, 6 month seasons, terrible anti cheat, the list goes on.

You don't have to buy into the system for it to affect you. No content = no players = no cash flow = no content.

 

[Hendrick's]

Kidding aside, Forge has the potential to be huge if they don't screw it up. They still have time to right the ship.

 

[jufonuk]

Everyone knows it's time to disband 343. Halo is (was, vroom Forza vroom) Microsofts biggest brand, and was among the biggest brands in entertainment in general not just n gaming. While Halo still sells, it's due to people holding out hope, hope that's not going to come because we have had 343 since 2011, so it's been 11 years, I think we have seen enough. Halo may have held out, but it can't survive anymore damage, Microsoft won't even give MAU for Halo Infinite and that was supposed to be the new sales number. The active players are dropping like Halo 4, ny other company would have done something years ago.

Microsoft has purchased several studios over the years, several of them have made some of the most acclaimed first person RPG or first person shooters in recent years before they were brought out. Combined with the 5 talented people at the whole of 343, and maybe they can get some Forza guys in there too, they can create a new studio that actually knows how to treat their customers right, get games out on time, make sure people want to play them in the long term, and not try poorly implementing features from other games that don't work with Halo.

There's no reason to keep 343 around. You can even prevent layoffs and move staff from 343 to other parts of the company. Power point needs designers, MS word can use a new UI look. working at the excess Kinect inventory recycling plant, many new exciting opportunities for 343 staff, but Halo isn't it Jak. Microsoft said that Halo Infinite is supposed to be supported longer than other games in the series, but it's clear that's a very bad idea. I also don't believe it's going to happen, I see a new Halo game announcement in 2023 or 2024, and when it is announced that's going to accelerate infinite's death until only a few hundred hardcore players are left.

I can't think of a single release where the opportunity was gold, and 343 didn't drop the gold in a pit for Sony to pick up at the bottom and walk off. Or dropped inside of a Forza car and they drove off. Every opportunity was wasted.

Any other company would not have tolerated the years of errors made by the studio, and any chances they would have still gave 343 would have ended after the Halo Master Chief Collection debacle, which Microsoft somehow ignored. That should have been the end right there.

But now that Microsoft has acquired some of the best First-Person genre (puzzle, RPG, fps) developers out there, there's no longer a reason to not disband the studio and move the series to another studio, or create a new one. Several of which have played Halo, so you aren't starting from scratch.

I can't think of any reason why they shouldn't disband 343 and take advantage of their new acclaimed studios.

Oh do you? are you mr 343 industries? Go Into their offices and tell them all to fuck off. Go on see how it goes. Fill yer boots Yah mad cunt

 

[DeepEnigma]

Whelp, time to dust this ole chap of a gif off...

 

[Gravemind]

Nah, just give them something they can handle. No need to shut down the studio. I'm 100% in favour of taking Halo away from them, but I think they'd be more successful with a smaller project.

 

[Punished Miku]

Whelp, time to dust this ole chap of a gif off...

I think I saved that one back in the day. Legendary.

 

[Lasha]

No co op, no slayer play list at launch, XP throttled, terrible challenge system, anaemic map support, desync still rampant, 6 month seasons, terrible anti cheat, the list goes on.

You don't have to buy into the system for it to affect you. No content = no players = no cash flow = no content.

Co-op was not part of the free multiplayer offering to begin with so its irrelevant to our discussion. XP throttling, the challeng system, and season length have nothing to do with gameplay so I don't know why you think I care. You keep listing things which are not part of the game and should lack any relevance unless you enjoy the actual game in the first place. I agree the game would be better with more maps though I like most of the maps which are already present. I've only seen cheaters a handful of times though I am always for better anti-cheat.

You seem to be looking for "content" most of which are just things to grind so you can feel a sense of "progression". I look for fun games to play. I was going to buy Halo Infinite to get the multiplayer. I instead got the multiplayer for free. I enjoy playing what maps and modes are available which makes it a net win. I will quit playing if the game becomes stale. I will still have had my fun and saved 60$.

 

[onnextflix5]

With the diversity hire shit going on at ms, highly doubt ms will ever make a great halo again, next game won’t arrive for another 8 years, it’s just gonna be another good to average halo.

 

[DaedalusGrim]

Co-op was not part of the free multiplayer offering to begin with so its irrelevant to our discussion. XP throttling, the challeng system, and season length have nothing to do with gameplay so I don't know why you think I care. You keep listing things which are not part of the game and should lack any relevance unless you enjoy the actual game in the first place. I agree the game would be better with more maps though I like most of the maps which are already present. I've only seen cheaters a handful of times though I am always for better anti-cheat.

You seem to be looking for "content" most of which are just things to grind so you can feel a sense of "progression". I look for fun games to play. I was going to buy Halo Infinite to get the multiplayer. I instead got the multiplayer for free. I enjoy playing what maps and modes are available which makes it a net win. I will quit playing if the game becomes stale. I will still have had my fun and saved 60$.

Another Halo fan in denial, I give up. You won't see sense.

 

[LordCBH]

Nah. The leadership does need to be shitcanned though.

 

[Lasha]

Another Halo fan in denial, I give up. You won't see sense.

What sense do I need to see? I am playing a game that I enjoy and I am happy that I got it for free. Are you mad that I am happy?

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

These hot take threads by arm chair *jerks* who have no idea what it takes to make a game are what need to be disbanded.

*Edited* thanks Thumper

 

[PontiusFeeb]

They can’t fire Bonnie Ross because she’ s a woman. Their ideology is that women can do no wrong, and they’ll stick with it no matter how hard they fail.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

Lots of posts ignoring I said to keep the staff and move them elsewhere. But reacting as if I said MS should toss them on the highway to fend for themselves.

 

[fermcr]

I bet most people complaining about Halo Infinite never even played the game.

 

[MarkMe2525]

I don't know. I enjoyed Halo infinite.

 

[FireFly]

Can we disband these threads?

 

[Del_X]

This drama, still? Look, the engine in Halo Infinite, derived from Blam! is trash. That's why Destiny was so light on content and why Destiny 2 which was a minor iteration took like three years to develop. It is what it is. Hopefully the tooling gets better.
"Why don't they change engines?"
The engine handles a lot of things that make the game "feel" the way it does. They tried making a drastically different engine in Slipspace but rolled a lot of changes back. It didn't feel right. I haven't played or seen any Unreal title that "feels" like Halo or anything from any other dev.

 

[poppabk]

Aren't Bungie up for sale? I would like to see what they could do with a try at the Halo IP.

 

[nominedomine]

Personally I rather enjoyed seeing what they did to Halo, I hope they get even more resources to continue their work.

 

[kirby007]

might be me but for the support and supposed size, i feel it's output is lacking

 

[PendekarRajawali]

Give Halo to Arkane.

 

[El Pistolero]

Or, hear me out, you could assign working on Halo to one of the many other FPS teams that they have under them, and have 343 try their luck with a new IP instead? MS own studios are badly managed, and have been since time immemorial, so why would you put the blame squarely on this developer?

 

[Kokoloko85]

I think the Gears team would be best. And some support from ID

The plan they should implement:

1. Acquire Certain Affinity
2. Give Halo to Certain Affinity
3. Close down 343
4. Let Certain Affinity hire from the cream of the 343 crop and external

Does it though? No unit sales given… dropped off NPD faster than any halo prior. No MAU as you said. Studios don’t get to support failed live service games.


Good one

They’ve more a support studio. And have worked with 343 a few times. But its risky to make a new Halo from scratch.
Halo is xbox’s premier game, it should have a tested and successful team making it.

 

[Clear]

Halo as a franchise needs a rest.

They've bled it dry over the last few years going from bundled remasters to a GaaS makeover.

 

[poppabk]

Halo as a franchise needs a rest.

They've bled it dry over the last few years going from bundled remasters to a GaaS makeover.

Proceeds to buy Acti/Blizz for the CoD IP.

 

[clarky]

Congratulations Eddie you made the worst 2 threads on Gaf this week.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

The dismantling is overdue.
Make a new team with people from The Coalition and people from ID Software to handle future games.

 

[nominedomine]

Or, hear me out, you could assign working on Halo to one of the many other FPS teams that they have under them, and have 343 try their luck with a new IP instead? MS own studios are badly managed, and have been since time immemorial, so why would you put the blame squarely on this developer?

Seems like a terrible idea to tie your better and more productive studios to old decadent IPs while allowing your worst performing studios to take a shot at new IPs... but what do I know? I'll just trust Phil will make the right decision again.

 

[Roman Empire]

I'm known for beating 343I at every opportunity but I don't think disbanding the whole studio is worth it. There are clearly people talented enough there who aren't being used to their full potential. I have a feeling the studio actually needs a good direction and vision for the Halo franchise, and what really needs to go is the management.

 

[22:22:22]

Who loves the ravager

 

[Draugoth]

I was going to make a compelling argumento to no,

but after seeing 343 wanting $20 for some Mister Chief emojis i have to agree

 

[YOU PC BRO?!]

343 should of never been given Halo before establishing themselves as a top studio.

It's absurd considering their budget how completely lacklustre their offerings have been. Halo 4 was short, forgettable and retconned huge swathes of the lore. Halo 5 story sucked and took time away from the chief to spend on a character no-one cared about. Halo Infinite was an infinite bore. Anyone kidding themselves into thinking that these games are in any way on par with previous Bungie entries is a complete fool and obviously didn't play them. They had actual innovation that moved the industry forward, did things with online play that had never been done before and were system sellers through and through.

Microsoft should move to a different system when it comes to who works on what within their ensemble of studios. If a developer distinguished themselves then they get a crack at one of the big franchises. Kinda like what they did with Playground and Fable. You should have to earn the right to work on a big game.

 

[Naz93]

Halo infinites campaign is a mess of copy paste repetitive environments. Plus it feels like they skipped a whole game. They talk about all of this cool stuff that happened in after halo 5 but dont show it, and we cant play it

This, infinite should've been linear. The open world drags out the game unnecessarily.

 

[Syphon Filter]

I agree, 343 is by far the most incompetent game developers of all time. It's absurd that Microsoft doesn't realize this and hasn't shut them down a long time ago. They literally never made a single good game.

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

343 is my least favorite dev of all time. I used to LOVE Halo. Did LAN parties, beat them on every difficulty multiple times, freakish amount of hours in MP, etc. The series has been a shell of its former self since 343 took over. It's absolutely tragic. The fact that MSFT keeps dragging this shit out for years with little to no improvement is shocking. Why are they embracing the Craig meme? That should be embarrassing to them. How the **** did they end up delaying Infinite a full year, then take an additional year to add co-cop, which has been a staple for the Bungie Halos (on day one). Why was MC Collection broken for, what, 3 years? Is it even fixed completely?

So, yeah, normally I'm not for completely disbanding a team; people work there, they have families. But with 343? Nuke that shit from orbit. Give people severances if you need to let people go. Just stop the madness already.

 

[GloveSlap]

I think i lost my last shred of faith and patience in them when they launched Infinite without slayer. That is a special level of cluelessness.

 

[MScarpa]

I couldn't care less. I really liked Infinite.

 

[lostinblue]

I'm sure Microsoft is buying Activision just so they can put 343 Industries on the task of making Call of Duty: Spartan Ops (also grunt work for map and online matchmaking code for every other CoD game).

 

[Danjin44]

No offence but who are you to decide if a developer company needs to disband or not.

 

[xiseerht]

Honestly , I am a huge Xbox fan and the only studio that I worry about is 343 studios with them. I should not have to be defending Halo to people in 2022. I just want great Halo games. Let 343 Studios make a brand new thing. And of all the companies you own under Xbox Game Studios , let someone who really wants to make Halo games , do it.