Bonnie Ross, head of Halo development studio 343 Industries, is leaving the company. She said on Twitter that she had planned to stay with 343 until the November release of Halo Infinite’s winter update, but decided to leave now to deal with a “family medical issue.”
“I am incredibly proud of the work everyone at 343 Industries has done on Halo Infinite, the Master Chief Collection, the Halo television series, and so much more.” she said. “It has been an honor to serve alongside the team for the past 15 years and to be a part of a universe that I love.”
Though Ross is moving on, she said Halo has a “bright” future ahead of her, adding that she’s excited for fans to see what the studio has in store for the future of the franchise. Ross also thanked fans for their support of her over the years.
She began her career at Microsoft in 1994 and rose to corporate vice president and director of 343 Industries in her last position. She is leaving Microsoft entirely, not just the 343 team. Pierre Hintze becomes the new head of the 343 studio, effective immediately.
“After more than 28 years in gaming at Microsoft, including 15 years leading 343 Industries and Halo through their most ambitious steps, Bonnie Ross will be leaving Microsoft and spending more time with her family,” a Microsoft spokesperson told WindowsCentral. “We are grateful for his leadership of 343 during which the team released Halo 4, Halo 5, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the Halo television series, and Halo Infinite. We wish him all the best. Chief Producer Pierre Hintze will become at Studio Head effective immediately. The team at 343 is hard at work shipping the Winter Update, the biggest update to Halo Infinite since its release.”
In connection with this, Bryan Koski will become General Manager of the Franchise team at 343, while Elizabeth Van Wyck will oversee the 343 Business and Operations teams.
The Halo Infinite Winter Update, which launches on November 8, is the game’s biggest update yet. Adds the much-requested Match XP feature, a Forge beta, an online co-op campaign, and more. Looking further afield, Season 3: Echoes Within is coming in March 2023 with the Bandit Rifle and more.
However, one feature that doesn’t make it to Halo Infinite is the split-screen cooperative campaign. Microsoft canceled the feature entirely, after earlier promising that all future Halo FPS games would support it. Instead, the company is focusing on developing Halo Infinite’s live service plans.
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