Halo Infinite's UE5 Switch: Will it Save the Franchise?

The Halo franchise has had a rough patch since the release of Halo Infinite. Fans were not happy about the microtransactions, and the missing content really left a mark! While the developers at 343 Industries (now Halo Studios) have tried to make things better, it's clear the series needed a huge change.

A New Dawn For Halo

Looks like Halo Studios decided to make a massive shift: ditching their old engine, Slipspace Engine, and switching to Unreal Engine 5 (UE5)! This sounds great, right? But hold on...there are some potential problems.

Also Read: PS5 Halo on? This Xbox Exclusive Release Might Transform Games Forever.

UE5 Looks Great, But...

Master Chief in Halo Infinite, looking up and over one shoulder. Image

The "New Dawn" video from Halo's YouTube channel showed off some awesome visuals using UE5. Compared to older Halo games, it looks incredible! However, switching engines means Halo loses its unique visual style, looking too similar to other games made with UE5. In fact, it may even look worse than some of those titles like Black Myth: Wukong!

The only thing that seems to be keeping it unique, at least what was presented, is Master Chief who seems to maintain the more cartoon-y aesthetic. What we're going to find though, is this visually might lack impact if these visual cues do not carry that visual fidelity to its visuals! The bland environment was highlighted, even for areas that really should be more detailed, which means we have another possibility for a missed opportunity!

Also Read: Black Myth: Wukong Graphics & Performance Guide: Which Mode Should You Choose?

Desperation Or Innovation?

This UE5 switch is probably an attempt to move past Halo Infinite's problems, which received tons of criticism for bugs and glitches! Pierre Hintze from Halo Studios basically confirmed Halo Infinite was a product of the past!

There are actually good things about using UE5. It helps when you onboard new developers and makes development easier, possibly speeding things up! Maybe the series won't have as much content removed either unlike Halo Infinite, but right now, these are all things that aren't guaranteed. Everything shown in "New Dawn" was purely speculation, just potential!

There is a pretty cool hint too. They showed the possibility of a remastered Halo: Combat Evolved that would release on PlayStation 5!

Also Read: Black Myth: Wukong Secrets: Unlocking Hidden Content and Spirits

The Big Question

Will switching to UE5 make Halo awesome again? The series certainly could really benefit. Will it actually make Halo the big hit again? That’s anyone’s guess! Right now it's just hope, and while this looks pretty solid, there's plenty that still could potentially go wrong with it.

Ultimately, changing to a new game engine is really not all that new or even surprising! It may end up robbing Halo of that incredible unique, identity. Making a Halo game that is just another pretty-looking title using a readily available engine is quite a risk! Will it be worth it for audiences in the end? And does the fact that many UE5 games are really buggy mean the possibility for another bad installment of the Halo franchise?

Halo Infinite's UE5 Switch: Will it Save the Franchise?

A New Dawn For Halo

UE5 Looks Great, But...

Desperation Or Innovation?

The Big Question

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