**343 Industries**, now rebranded as **Halo Studios**, is a Microsoft-owned video game developer specializing in the iconic *Halo* franchise, headquartered in Redmond (or formerly Kirkland), Washington.[1][3][4][5] Tasked with stewarding *Halo* after Bungie's 2007 independence, it oversees games, media, and expansions for Xbox and PC platforms.[2][3] Founded in late 2007 by Microsoft executive Bonnie Ross—named after the *Halo* AI 343 Guilty Spark—the studio began with about a dozen ex-Bungie staff, including Frank O'Connor as franchise director.[1][2][3][4] Ross pitched it as a "George Lucas"-style creative hub to revive the franchise, amid doubts it was fading.[1][5][6] Early efforts built a unified lore via interviews with Bungie veterans and projects like the 2009 *Halo: Waypoint* app for player stats and the anime anthology *Halo Legends*.[2][3] Key achievements include launching the **Reclaimer Trilogy**: *Halo 4* (2012), which grew the team from 12 to 200+ with upgraded graphics and co-op multiplayer; *Halo 5: Guardians* (2015); and *Halo: Infinite* (2021).[1][2][3] They also delivered remasters like *Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary* (2011), *Halo: The Master Chief Collection*, and *Halo Wars: Definitive Edition*, plus mobile titles and spin-offs.[1][3] These solidified *Halo* as a Xbox tentpole, crediting diverse talent for success.[2][5] Currently, as of late 2024, **Halo Studios**—under Pierre Hintze—marks "Chapter 3" with a new development "recipe," addressing past technical debt from outdated engines via S