Revealed: Hidden Genius Behind Halo Set to Leave Microsoft After Two Decades

In the library of Xbox exclusives, one of the most iconic and influential franchises is none other than the sci-fi shooter, Halo. The title has a legendary status in the history of gaming. However, it has been going through a tough time recently. From studio changes to mass departures of the original team, the future seems very uncertain for the shooter.

The latest on the chopping board is the veteran director of the series, Frank O’Connor. For almost 20 years, Connor had been contributing to the series. But the latest reports, based on his official LinkedIn page, are suggesting that the longtime director of the series and one of the vital members of 343 Industries, may no longer be part of the franchise. 

Long-time Halo director makes his departure 

On April 2023, Connor’s LinkedIn had been updated with an end date for his time as the creative director of the Halo franchise. Although there hasn’t been any official announcement regarding the departure of the veteran team member, these changes suggest that Connor may no longer contribute to the IP. 

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Ever since the very first game, released in 2004, Connor had been a significant part of the development team. He was part of Bungie till the development of Halo 2. Then he left the company and joined the team behind the development of Destiny. In 2008, he returned to Halo by joining Microsoft and its news studio 343 Industries. 

After returning to the company, Connor proceeds to become the Franchise’s Creative Director and work on the “creative, narrative, and story development aspects” of almost every Halo title released after 2008. Not just games, he contributed to various books, comics, and even live-action adaptations of the series. 

So far, it is not confirmed if Connor actually left the venture. But if it’s true, he will be joining Art Director Nicolas “Sparth” Bouvier, Head of Design Jerry Hook, Lead Multiplayer Designer Andrew Witts, and many other OG team members of the franchise who have left the company during 2022-2023. 

Even the Founder and Studio Head of 343 Industries, Bonnie Ross, left the scene after spearheading the development of the Halo series for 15 years. Earlier this year, there have been some grave reports that revealed that Microsoft had cut off roughly 10,000 employees, most of which were developers in 343 Industries.

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