Halo Franchise Director Frank O’Connor Has Apparently Left Microsoft

It’s been a tumultuous period for 343 Industries, being one of several Xbox studios that were affected by Microsoft’s round of mass layoffs earlier in the year. Recently, it was confirmed that Joseph Staten, creative lead on Halo Infinite, had also left Microsoft, and it seems another key figure who’s strongly associated with the Halo IP has parted ways with it as well.

As reported by Windows Central, it seems Halo franchise director Frank O’Connor has left Microsoft. That’s as per his updated LinkedIn page, which says that he left the company in April.

O’Connor has been working on the Halo franchise in some capacity since 2004, having started with Halo 2 nearly two decades ago. In the years since, he went on to become a key figure in the franchise’s continued growth and development, before becoming its creative lead.

Microsoft, 343 Industries, or O’Connor haven’t yet made any official statements regarding his departure.

Reports have suggested that 343 Industries finds itself in a state of upheaval, with no single player Halo projects currently in development, even though work on Halo Infinite – Tatanka continues at Certain Affinity. Allegedly, 343 Industries has also dropped the Slipspace Engine and is shifting its entire development pipeline to Unreal Engine 5.

Microsoft and 343 Industries have both said that the studio will continue to develop future Halo games.