Joseph Staten, a longtime creative director for the Halo franchise, has announced his departure from Microsoft. As the creative director for Halo Infinite, Staten was responsible for the cinematic scope of the game, bringing his expertise to bear on one of the most beloved franchises in gaming history.
Staten had previously worked on several installments of the Master Chief saga, including the first three titles and Halo Reach. He also had a hand in developing Halo Wars, the spinoff that took the series in a new direction by turning it into a strategy game.
Before joining Microsoft in 2014 as a senior creative director at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, Staten was one of the top managers at Bungie, where he had also worked on Destiny. In his time at Microsoft, he had led the creation of new franchises for the company’s machines.
Staten took to Twitter to announce his departure and thank his colleagues at Xbox for their support, saying, “Hey folks, I am indeed leaving Microsoft. I’ll have more info to share soon, but for now, I’d just like to thank all my Xbox colleagues for all their understanding and support as I embark on a new adventure.”
Hey folks, I am indeed leaving Microsoft. I'll have more info to share soon, but for now, I'd just like to thank all my @Xbox colleagues for all their understanding and support as I embark on a new adventure. https://t.co/oMR0LXOzZb
— Joseph Staten (@joestaten) April 8, 2023
While the reasons for his departure have not been made public, he did confirm that he has a new adventure on the horizon.
Microsoft released a statement thanking Staten for his contributions to the Halo franchise and Xbox in general. “We are grateful for Joseph’s contributions to the Halo franchise and Xbox in general. We wish him all the best in his new adventure,” the statement read.
Staten’s departure is a significant loss for the Halo franchise and for Microsoft. He was one of the biggest veterans in the Halo universe, with his work having a lasting impact on the franchise’s cinematic scope and direction. As a creative director, his work was instrumental in shaping the series into the beloved franchise it is today.
Staten’s departure also marks the end of an era for Halo, as he was one of the few remaining veterans who had worked on the series since its inception.
While his next steps remain unknown, it is clear that his contributions to the gaming industry will not be forgotten anytime soon.
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