Halo art director leaves studio after 17 years with ominous message alluding to discontent

Halo art director Glenn Israel has left Halo Studios after 17 years working on the franchise.

Israel worked on the likes of Halo 3: ODST and the most recent Halo Infinite, across both Bungie and 343 Industries (now known as Halo Studios).

He shared news of his departure on LinkedIn last week, with an ominous message that appears to allude to discontent within the studio.

“As of today and after seventeen long years, I am officially no longer contributing to the Halo universe,” wrote Israel. “There is little more I can say for the moment, though I intend to share this particular story in its entirety when it is absolutely safe to do so next year.”

Israel continued, with a message for those working in the games industry.

“I know that the state of our industry seems dire, but never forget that you are *free to choose*,” he wrote. “No illusion of security nor promise of wealth or fame or power is worth trading away your health, your dignity, your ethics or values – and no one can force you to. Stay strong, take evidence when necessary, and find where you belong.”

Of course, people leave their jobs all the time, but this is certainly an alarming message that seems to suggest Israel’s ethics and values have been compromised in some way.

Further, as YouTuber Rebs Gaming has reported, all but one of the nine-strong art team credited in Halo Infinite have now left the studio, while chief of staff Melissa Boone also recently left.

Eurogamer has contacted Microsoft for comment on Israel’s departure.

All of this is ahead of a reveal of the studio’s next projects at the Halo World Championships later this month.

The last Halo game released was 2021’s Halo Infinite, which has seen multiplayer numbers plummet. And following mass layoffs at Microsoft this year, the departure now of a veteran developer is a worrying sign for its flagship franchise.