Halo veteran Joseph Staten has joined Netflix to make an original AAA game

Halo veteran Joseph Staten has joined Netflix Games to work as the creative director on an original, multiplatform triple-A game.

“In my work life, there’s nothing I love more than collaborating with others to build worlds filled with iconic characters, deep mysteries, and endless adventures,” he tweeted on Monday.

“So today, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve joined Netflix Games as Creative Director for a brand-new AAA multiplatform game and original IP. Let’s go!”

Microsoft confirmed earlier this month that Staten was to leave the company, where he recently served as head of creative on Halo Infinite at 343 Industries.

Staten was at Halo creator Bungie when Microsoft acquired the studio in 2000, and he served as a writer and cinematic director on the first two entries in Xbox’s flagship shooter series.

He was also a writer on Halo 3 and Halo Reach, and a creative consultant on the RTS spin-off Halo wars.

After Bungie split from Microsoft in 2007, Staten worked as writer and creative director on Halo 3: ODST, and as writer and co-creative director on Destiny.

He returned to Microsoft in 2014 to work as senior creative director at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, which partners with indie studios to create Xbox franchises.

He left the publishing division in 2020 to help 343 ship the troubled Halo Infinite as the game’s head of creative.

In January, it was reported that Staten was to leave 343 to rejoin Xbox Game Studios Publishing.

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Netflix says it has 40 more game releases lined up for 2023

Including Ubisoft's Mighty Quest: Rogue Palace and a new Too Hot To Handle game

Netflix said last month that it was planning to release another 40 games in 2023, taking its offering to 95 by the end of the year.

The company, which began offering Netflix subscribers access to a library of mobile games through the Android and iOS versions of its app in late 2021, also said it had 16 first-party games in development and a further 70 in the works with third-party studios.

Netflix recently announced that Academy award-nominated screenwriter Jon Spaihts had signed up to pen its Gears of War live-action movie.

Most recently, Spaihts was Oscar-nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for Dune, which he co-wrote with director Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth. He’s also co-wrote the upcoming sequel, and his previous credits include Prometheus, Doctor Strange, Passengers and The Mummy.