Halo Studios is facing another round of layoffs, with several former employees confirming on social media that they have lost their jobs. The cuts come shortly after the release of Halo: Campaign Evolved, adding fresh uncertainty to the future of Microsoft's long-running shooter franchise.

Halo Studios, formerly known as 343 Industries, has been responsible for the Halo franchise since 2011's Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. The studio recently launched Halo: Campaign Evolved on current-generation platforms, marking the first Halo release to debut outside Microsoft's ecosystem after the game also arrived on PlayStation 5.

While Halo: Campaign Evolved received generally positive reviews, its 82 OpenCritic score and 86% critic recommendation rate place it among the lower-rated entries in the franchise. For comparison, Halo 5: Guardians holds an 84 on the same platform.

The latest job cuts follow Microsoft's much larger company-wide layoffs in July. Former Halo Studios producer Nick Treitman confirmed that he had been let go after more than six years with the studio. Treitman expressed his appreciation for his former colleagues and said he was looking for new producer or project management opportunities in the Seattle area.

Former Halo Studios scrum master Paul Morris also confirmed that Microsoft had ended his position following the launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved. Morris had worked as a contractor at the studio for two years.

Halo software engineer Caleb Lawrence has likewise indicated that he is now looking for work. However, the exact number of Halo Studios employees affected by the latest cuts remains unknown.

The layoffs are part of a broader period of disruption across Microsoft's gaming operations. Studios within ZeniMax, including Bethesda and id Software, were also hit by July's restructuring, with employees who had spent decades at their respective companies among those affected.

Despite the cuts, there is no indication that Microsoft's plans for its major franchises have been completely abandoned. Reports have suggested that Bethesda remains committed to its development schedule for The Elder Scrolls 6, while Halo Studios may also have additional projects in the pipeline.

One potential project is reportedly a Halo 2 remake. Players discovered apparent teasers after completing Halo: Campaign Evolved on Legendary difficulty, although Halo Studios has yet to officially confirm what those clues mean.

The situation reflects the broader instability affecting the video game industry, with major publishers continuing to restructure and reduce costs even around the launches of significant titles.

For Halo fans, the immediate question is whether the latest layoffs will affect the franchise's upcoming projects or simply represent another round of Microsoft's wider workforce reductions.