A Halo Veteran Leaves Microsoft With An Ominous Warning

Devs behind the sci-fi MMO Phil Spencer liked but canceled anyway form a new studio. More turnover at Halo Studios ahead of its big reveal for the future of the franchise. Would pricing GTA 6 at $100 actually be a disaster for Rockstar Games? Welcome to the latest edition of Morning Checkpoint, Kotaku‘s daily roundup of gaming news and culture. I’m doing my best to avoid the dog collar conspiracy discourse currently consuming the streaming world and pondering the deeply mysterious Earth-Romulan war instead. It’s also the first day of NYCC 2025. It’s full of toys I don’t need but desperately want.

A veteran Halo dev departs with an ominous warning

Glenn Israel has been an artist working on Halo since he was at Bungie back in 2008. After more than a decade with the franchise, including time serving as a senior concept artist on Halo Infinite, he’s suddenly leaving the studio under mysterious circumstances. The news comes amid fresh rumors of growing pains at the studio getting ready to reveal the future of Halo at the 2025 World Championships later this month.

“As of today and after seventeen long years, I am officially no longer contributing to the Halo universe,” Israel wrote on LinkedIn last week. “There is little more I can say for the moment, though I intend to share this particular story in its entirety when it is absolutely safe to do so next year. In the meantime, I have a message for anyone and everyone who needs to hear it.”

He continued, “I know that the state of our industry seems dire, but never forget that you are *free to choose*. No illusion of security nor promise of wealth or fame or power is worth trading away your health, your dignity, your ethics or values – and no one can force you to. Stay strong, take evidence when necessary, and find where you belong.”

The Simpsons are seemingly on their way to Fornite

FORTNITE SIMPSONS GLIDER LEAKED pic.twitter.com/UfWGDw1vrZ

— Shiina (@ShiinaBR) October 9, 2025

A new datamine leak shows the Kang and Kodos alien ship as a glider. It seems like good timing with the battle royale’s Halloween celebrations rolling out. The Simpsons‘ 37th Treehouse of Horror special is scheduled to air on October 19, 2025.

Laid-off devs behind Microsoft’s cancelled sci-fi MMO launch a new studio

The studio’s made of developers who had been working at ZeniMax Online Studios on Project Blackbird and it’s called, fittingly enough, Sackbird Studios. It’s employee-owned and self-funded. “With internal funding and full creative control, the studio is focused on crafting bold, character-driven experiences free from corporate compromises,” a post on the company website reads.

“We’re grateful for our time at ZeniMax Online Studios; it shaped us as developers and as people,” said Lee Ridout, Sackbird Studios’ CEO. “When I learned that Blackbird was being cancelled and a lot of people were losing their jobs, it lit a fire. We realized the best way to protect our craft—and our team—was to create a studio where creative independence isn’t negotiable.”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle gets a new secret ending in a free update

It drops October 10 and unlocks after players finish the just-added new game plus mode.

MTG head designer pushes back against Universes Beyond “slop” accusations

A pro player’s rant went viral last week as he railed against what he saw as the dilution of Magic: The Gathering‘s identity. “There’s always a line in the sand where people say ‘this is Magic‘ or ‘this is not Magic,’ but everybody’s line is different,” head designer Mark Rosewater said earlier this month, proactively responding to criticisms at MagicCon 2025 in Atlanta. “I know your line seems like the line, because it’s so clear of a line to you, but your line is just not everybody’s line. And as the guy who has to make the game, I have to respect everybody’s line.”

Rosewater also dunked on MTG’s most popular format to prove his point. “I’m not a Commander fan,” he said. “To me, Magic is a strategic game. I love it because I win when I’m outthinking my opponent. Commander is not a strategic game. It is a political game; you’re playing the people.”

Vaporwave love letter Skate Story finally gets a release date

It’s coming December 8 to PS5, Switch 2, and PC. No Switch 1 or Xbox versions.

A new report warns against pricing GTA 6 at $100

Despite speculation that Rockstar Games’ upcoming sequel could be the first game to break the $100 barrier, a MIDiA Research study claims that less than half of players interested in GTA 6 would buy it at that price point.

“Our research shows that 59 percent of consumers have some interest in purchasing GTA 6, highlighting the immense appeal and commercial potential of the game,” analyst Brandon Sutton told IGN. “This notoriety also makes GTA 6 the perfect test case to understand consumer expectations around video games pricing. Our findings should serve as a caution to game developers looking to raise game prices in the future.”

One response to these findings might be: why not try every price for the game? The increasing popularity of Deluxe Editions shows that you can milk super-fans for all they’re worth and still sell the base version to everyone else. Who’s ready for the $200 GTA 6 Ultimate Edition?