The fact that 343 is comprised of full-time, in-house experts who work together over time enhances the team’s ability to collaborate. This is especially important for managers like Lead Audio Producer Mary Olson who coordinates between the audio director, composer and senior sound designer. “Having someone like a composer of Kazuma [Jinnouchi]’s caliber working full-time right here in the office — sitting at his desk a few feet from me and composing music on a keyboard — is super rare at a game studio,” she said.

343 Industries in Kirkland, Washington

“When you’re trying to create something like music that’s so deeply rooted in the core of the story and the gameplay and the art, it’s ideal to be working side-by-side day in and day out,” Olson continued. “Here, we’re able to discuss all of the scripts with the writers, look at the visuals with the artists and make sure everything’s understood in context.”

When you value the opinion of gamers who are as passionate about your platform as you are, and provide them a mechanism to engage, you find that those fans help you shape the future.

“The longer a team works together and creates games together, the better they get,” said Wolfkill. “How the artists and the designers and the engineers work together is really a process that requires being in the trenches together. It’s important to keep that dynamic from project to project.” The other essential element in the creative process is the fans themselves: The Halo Nation. Top of mind for 343’s writers, designers, developers and animators is crafting an experience that fans will love. “If we ever find that we’re not doing that,” O’Connor said, “we need to figure out how to change things so we are.” Spencer, the head of Xbox added, “When you value the opinion of gamers who are as passionate about your platform as you are, and provide them a mechanism to engage, you find that those fans help you shape the future.”

“Halo” fans at San Diego Comic Con 2015 “Halo 5: Guardians” panel at San Diego Comic Con 2015 (left to right: Kiki Wolfkill, Ian Kirby, Morgan Lockhart, Noah Eichen, Frank O’Connor) Members of the 405th Infantry Division suiting up for San Diego Comic Con 2015 Members of the 405th Infantry Division suiting up for San Diego Comic Con 2015 Members of the 405th Infantry Division entering San Diego Comic Con 2015 “Halo” cosplayer Jeremie Sloan with “Halo 5: Guardians” voice actor Iké Amadi (Locke)

The fans participate by making their voices heard, identifying popular trends and lobbying for the return of favorite characters. 405th Commanding Officer Yuan said, “Xbox and 343 makes sure that we feel like part of the community, that we’re kept involved, invited to panels and even to some special events at the studio.” Andy “Bravo” Dudynsky, 343’s community manager and a former competitive “Halo” player and coach himself, said, “We also do a ton of social listening and forum reading. If the fans don’t like a certain map or a certain weapon, we hear about it and get feedback to design, developers and management to put into action.” The “Halo 5: Guardians” Multiplayer Beta last December was the biggest example of fans making an impact on the game. Franchise Manager Robinson said, “We put the beta out there and asked, ‘Hey, what do you think of this?’ and dozens of design and philosophy changes were made based on fan feedback.”

343 Industries in Kirkland, WA 343 took feedback to the next level with their “Halo” Pro Team of eight of the best “Halo” players in the world. The Pro Team spent 18-months on-site, full-time, assisting with the development of the game. As Dudynsky put it, “They went over every single detail, intricacy, nook and cranny of every sandbox element, movement, weapon and map.”

Fans not only provide feedback but also inspiration. 343 brought 405th Pacific Regiment Executive Officer Benedict Choy into the studio to show off his new Athlon armor to the artists and designers. “The fact that someone built from scratch the physical reimagining of this digital armor that we drew speaks volumes to the people who work here,” said Dudynsky. “It helps us to remember what this all means to people.” Everyone at 343 knows the level of passion in the fan base and the quality bar for “Halo’s” first game on Xbox One is so high that it’s not just about meeting expectations but exceeding them. The fan reaction is especially important to 343, as they are all fans too who live, eat and breathe “Halo.” O’Connor admitted, “When I’m done with work, whether I am at home or still at my desk, I turn on my Xbox and play more ‘Halo.’ Not just me but almost everyone we work with.”

It’s got everything. It’s visually stunning, the gameplay pace is so fast that it’s unreal and I’m especially excited about the Warzone multiplayer.

405th cosplayer, Benedict Choy, gears up at San Diego Comic Con 2015