Microsoft brings back Halo veteran to get delayed game back on track

Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox unit is shifting more senior talent to its delayed Halo Infinite, including a well-regarded veteran of the multibillion-dollar series, to help get the most important game for the new Xbox console back on track.

Joseph Staten, who played a large role in developing and writing the earliest Halo titles and had most recently been overseeing another Microsoft-published game, will move to Halo development studio 343 Industries, Bloomberg News reported earlier. He confirmed the change in a tweet, while a community update posted by 343 said he’ll be focused on improving the game’s campaign mode, aiding the existing development leaders. Microsoft’s also moving Pierre Hintze, another senior leader within 343, to focus on Halo Infinite and serve as a project lead for its free-to-play experience.

The new project leads will work with studio head Chris Lee and report to Bonnie Ross, a Microsoft vice president who oversees 343, according to a person familiar with the strategy who asked not to be named.