The team behind Halo has announced a bold, new direction for the series, powered by Unreal Engine 5 and ambitious goals. Halo: Campaign Evolved is the first of many upcoming games to represent this vision, with the team also aiming for more efficient workflows to release multiple games in quick succession.
One key aspect the developer is focusing on is generative AI. New evidence highlights how artificial intelligence is expected to become a pillar of development for future Halo titles which makes sense Microsoft is going all in on AI and is one of the biggest players in the game.
Halo Studios has hired a new Chief of Staff, Angela Hession, who previously worked as the Global Head of Gaming Safety and Trust at Microsoft. However, she also started her own AI consulting company in 2024.
For context, Hession Consulting AI is said to help games, technology, and other departments integrate AI workflows for more efficient development. The new Chief of Staff’s experience with machine learning is seemingly the biggest reasons she was hired.
Moreover, a job listing for an Applied Scientist confirms that Microsoft intends to implement Machine Learning across all its major games, including Forza and Gears of War. If this wasn’t enough evidence, another job listing for a Principal Engineering Manager at Halo Studios mentions leading an AI workflow innovation team.
Moreover, several LinkedIn profiles confirm that multiple developers mention the use of AI in their portfolios. For instance, Daniel Price, the Director of Digital Engineering, highlights experience with AI-driven automation at Halo Studios.
Similarly, Senior Producer Alvin Nelson has recently acquired a certification in leveraging generative AI for projects. Multiple other developers have recently acquired similar certificates, clearly indicating how extensively the team is using the technology.
Ultimately, it seems the leadership at Xbox Studios appear to be convinced that this is the future of gaming.
Because Microsoft itself is heavily in favor of artificial intelligence, this outcome is not the most unexpected. As it stands, it’s only a matter of time before other developers under the Microsoft umbrella follow suit and implement AI workflows into their development processes.
