Microsoft studio manager Mike Ybarra announced today that former Halo writer and creative director Joe Staten has joined Microsoft Game Studios. “Thrilled to welcome back Joe Staten to the Microsoft Studios family,” Ybarra wrote on Twitter.
Staten had been working at Bungie as the design director on Destiny until September last year, when he announced he was leaving the studio to “tackle new creative challenges.”
“Over the past 15 years at Bungie, Joseph has been a key creative force behind some of gaming’s most iconic and celebrated franchises including Myth 2, Oni and virtually every Halo game leading up to Halo: Reach,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Polygon, in part. “Most recently, he spent the last four years working as a writer and creative director on the highly anticipated Destiny.”
The spokesperson also added that he will not be directly working on the next Halo game from 343 Industries. “As a senior creative director, he will help create the world’s best entertainment on Xbox, as well as help shape our franchise strategy for some Microsoft Studios titles.”
(via Polygon)