In a bombshell announcement, Microsoft stated that it will lay off 10,000 people. Halo Infinite's 343 Industries has been impacted, according to reports, and veteran developer Joseph Staten is reportedly exiting to rejoin Xbox Publishing.

Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier broke the news of Staten leaving and noted that 343 Industries was "hit hard" by Microsoft's layoffs. Staten has a storied legacy in the Halo franchise. He helped pen the stories for Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, and more. In 2020, 343 Industries announced that Staten was back to help the team "get [Halo Infinite] to the finish line."

Staten's departure from Halo Infinite isn't entirely unexpected. The original 343 Industries blog post announcing Staten's support stated he would help "for a bit," suggesting that Staten's presence on Halo was temporary.