For many years, the engine of the Halo franchise has been a major topic of discussion for players, but apparently it was for the offices of 343 Industries. The development of Halo Infinite, in particular, faced a crucial choice of whether to use the popular Unreal Engine or to keep improving their own custom Slipspace Engine.
In the end, 343 Industries chose to stay with Slipspace for Halo Infinite. However, this seems like a bad decision since the studio is working with Unreal Engine now, so it didn’t work out.
Halo Almost Dropped Its Engine Earlier Than Expected
In 2017, when early development on Halo Infinite began, 343 Industries carefully examined Unreal Engine as a possible alternative. This was not just a quick review of the engine’s features; it was a serious effort to understand what Unreal could and could not do for Halo’s specific needs.
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A major part of this research included a visit to The Coalition, the team behind the Gears of War series, which is known for its impressive graphics and technical achievements using Unreal Engine. During this two-day visit, 343 Industries shared their early findings and had detailed discussions with The Coalition’s technical experts.
The idea of switching to Unreal Engine came with internal challenges. Early in development, some members of 343 Industries’ art team expressed concerns about Slipspace’s ability to keep up with the industry’s growing visual standards. These worries became so serious that some artists reportedly threatened to quit unless the studio seriously looked into switching to Unreal Engine.
After evaluating both engines, the team gained a deeper understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Unreal engine impressed them in some areas, especially its lighting technology. However, Slipspace was still seen as having advantages in other areas, though these were not specified at the time.
Unreal Engine Would Have Been Too Much Work
Beyond just comparing the engines’ technical features, another key factor in the decision was the time and effort needed to switch. 343 Industries estimated that rebuilding Halo Infinite in Unreal Engine would take at least two full years of work. This would not only delay the game’s release but also force them to scale back their original vision. Switching engines would affect almost every part of development, from basic gameplay mechanics to level design details.
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To make the final decision official, 343 Industries’ leadership held a vote. The result was a strong preference to keep using Slipspace, with about 85% of those involved choosing to continue with their own engine.
While Slipspace was used for Halo Infinite’s launch and updates, the future of the Halo franchise has since changed direction. Despite earlier plans to keep using Slipspace, including rumors of a direct Halo Infinite sequel being made with it, a leadership change in late 2022 led to a new strategy. The studio decided to move all future Halo games to Unreal Engine 5.
Source: RebsGaming
