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Why Halo’s Future on Unreal Engine 5 Is More Than Just a Graphics Upgrade
October 7, 2024It’s official—Halo is moving away from its proprietary Slipspace Engine and transitioning to Unreal Engine 5. This decision isn’t just about a prettier game; it marks a fundamental change in how Halo will be developed and experienced in the years to come. With this shift, 343 Industries—now rebranded as Halo Studios—is poised to revamp its entire approach to building games, starting with something called Project Foundry. So what exactly does this switch mean for fans, and why is it such a big deal?
Table of Contents
A New Era: The Slipspace Engine’s Limitations
Halo Infinite’s development was marred by technical challenges, largely due to the Slipspace Engine, a proprietary technology built for the series that includes decades-old code. The engine struggled with modern workflows, making it hard to implement new features or iterate quickly. Slipspace’s limitations became a bottleneck, leading to delays, cut features, and overall strain on the development team.
Pierre Hintze, head of Halo Studios, explained the shift, saying, “We’re not just going to try to improve the efficiency of development, but change the recipe of how we make Halo games.” With Unreal Engine 5’s advanced rendering and lighting technologies—Nanite and Lumen—the team will be able to push visual fidelity and performance beyond what was possible with Slipspace. This move enables Halo Studios to concentrate on creativity and innovation rather than grappling with legacy code.
What Unreal Engine 5 Brings to the Table
Switching to Unreal Engine 5 offers several advantages beyond improved graphics. It allows the team to build larger, more interactive worlds and deliver experiences that Halo fans haven’t seen before. Chris Matthews, art director at Halo Studios, commented, “Nanite and Lumen offer us an opportunity to grow and expand our world so players have more to interact with and more to experience.”
The use of Unreal’s ecosystem means the team can now lean on a larger knowledge base and pool of resources. This is crucial for Halo’s future as the team aims to integrate more detailed landscapes, new mechanics, and refined gameplay systems. While Halo’s shift to Unreal Engine 5 might seem like a no-brainer for anyone who’s struggled with Slipspace’s bugs, it’s a big gamble when you consider how much Halo’s identity is tied to its gameplay feel—something intricately tied to its engine.
Project Foundry: A New Beginning
Dubbed Project Foundry, the initial foray into Unreal Engine 5 isn’t a new Halo game or even a tech demo—it’s a research and development project. It’s essentially a playground for the team to understand how Unreal will impact the Halo formula. Though it’s not a full game, Project Foundry is being built to incorporate its results into future Halo titles.
The footage from Project Foundry includes updated biomes with dense foliage and environmental elements not seen in past Halo titles. There’s also a remodelled version of Master Chief’s armour, hinting at potential redesigns and visual upgrades. The ultimate goal is to test Unreal’s capabilities and incorporate its findings into upcoming games.
Why Now? A Look Back at Halo’s Troubles
The decision to switch engines follows a tumultuous period for Halo and 343 Industries. Halo Infinite’s launch was delayed multiple times, and the game’s live-service approach struggled to deliver new content quickly. With Infinite set to continue on Slipspace for now, future projects are being built from the ground up on Unreal Engine 5. This shift also signals a fresh start for the franchise, as Halo Studios looks to move away from its struggles with Infinite’s development cycle.
A New Halo Experience
Unreal Engine 5 enables Halo Studios to deliver not only improved visuals but also a smoother, more engaging player experience. The engine’s architecture allows for quicker iteration, meaning new content and updates can be delivered more reliably. This is vital as Halo’s future will likely involve live-service elements, and the ability to rapidly address issues and deploy content is a major advantage.
By switching to Unreal, the studio can also tap into the broader Unreal community for support, plugins, and tools, accelerating development in ways that Slipspace never allowed. This could open up possibilities for crossovers, modding support, and other community-driven initiatives that have historically been a part of Halo’s legacy.
As Halo Studios continues to work on multiple projects, the switch to Unreal Engine 5 sets a new standard for the franchise. While Slipspace will still power Halo Infinite for the foreseeable future, the shift to Unreal is expected to shape all new projects moving forward. For fans, this means Halo is gearing up for a transformation that’s bigger than just a new game—it’s a new way of building the Halo universe.
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