Halo multiplayer lead forms new studio

Certain Affinity working on new Halo 2 maps for release next spring, as well as exclusive new Xbox 360 game.

Halo 2 was the most played game on Microsoft's Xbox Live service for more than two years running before it was dethroned by Gears of War last month. Now the Bungie veteran who served as multiplayer team lead on that game (and its still-in-development sequel) is striking out on his own as the president of a newly formed studio, Certain Affinity.

Max Hoberman's Certain Affinity revealed itself to the world today, along with news of the company's debut projects. The Austin, Texas-based studio is already working on a new set of multiplayer maps for Halo 2, which Microsoft Game Studios had said it would release this coming spring, and an exclusive new Xbox 360 game. Assisting Hoberman will be an experienced staff (Certain Affinity claims the staff averages a dozen years in the industry) with resumés that include companies like Bungie and a pair of defunct Austin-based studios, Digital Anvil and Origin.

Hoberman is leaving Bungie after 10 years, at least a year and a half of which was devoted to Halo 3.

62 Comments

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 11:36 am PT

    dethroned? not quite, people got tired of it after 2 years and were loking for someting else

  • dlovell

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 2:43 pm PT

    Max left on good terms, which is the same way Alex Seropian left. In fact, Wideload and Certain Affinity are very similar.

    Wideload: Used the "Halo" engine to develop Stubbs the Zombie, its founder had 11 years with Bungie, and they had a very small team.

    Certain Affinity: Using the "Halo 2" maps as a launching point, its founder had 10 years at Bungie, and they have a very small team.

    Hopefully Hoberman and company enjoy the same success Wideload and Bungie did when they first started out.

  • metal_assassin

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 4:16 am PT

    sounds awesome

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 3:56 am PT

    I wonder what the exclusive game will be!

  • makemeweak

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 8:54 am PT

    I wonder what new game they're working on?

  • fahad2mail

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 8:34 am PT

    Sounds cool.

  • Greatwasabi

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 7:32 am PT

    That sounds cool.

  • V_Zarnold_N

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 5:49 am PT

    thats cool i guess but it better be a descent game or at least have an awesome multiplayer like halo lol

  • Dreski83

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 5:29 am PT

    new maps plus a game of their own... not bad. Hopefully whatever their working on doesn't turn out to be a carbon copy of super successor Halo.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 5:22 am PT

    meh.

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:46 am PT

    In Austin? Sounds familiar... What other studios are based in Austin?

  • The1stFishBone

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 11:13 pm PT

    why has it taken so long to make a few maps yikes.

  • jazreal

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 10:18 pm PT

    May God send a team of Angels to watch over this new studio and its crew. You just have to believe that a company(bungie) with such great success had someone looking out for them, and if anyone left , i have to believe that it was in good terms. Ya, bless this new project and Certain Affinity......GET BUSY!!!

  • CheddarLimbo

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 10:11 pm PT

    Well, I guess this is good for people who are still playing Halo 2...whoever they are.

  • bigcrusha

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 9:54 pm PT

    I can tell certain affinity will go far with Hoberman as their leader...

  • Fire_Zealot

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 9:51 pm PT

    as long as he left on good terms, I'm happy.

  • JLCrogue

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 7:59 pm PT

    I'm more interested in his Xbox 360 exclusive game than the new maps for an old game. I don't see the point of coming out with new maps for Halo 2 when Halo 3 will be out so soon.

  • Fauij

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 7:58 pm PT

    gears of war isnt even that good online........too small and no vehicles, plus you cant play ranked matches with friends.

  • 7HR1LL3R

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 6:58 pm PT

    This sounds pretty interesting. Maybe we'll keep getting new maps more freguently until H3 comes out? Although it would have been nice about a year ago

  • TheThreeSeat

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 5:57 pm PT

    Awesome. While I hope that he left with as good terms as it sounds, I am excited that another great studio is being born. I look forward to playing his games.

  • Toadstool1969

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 5:33 pm PT

    Sounds like he's leaving on good terms with great support from Microsoft. That's good to hear. I look forward to hearing about his company's products.

  • P00M0NSTER

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 5:24 pm PT

    i cant believe people are saying that if bungie goes over 3 halo's that it will kill the series. Do you see how long final fantasy has been running and mario. The classics will never die all bungie has to do is come up with a way to bring back fans instead of making it the same game over and over

  • aRcad33

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 4:57 pm PT

    great news!

  • glitchgeeman

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 4:35 pm PT

    I just hope that MS will let Bungie lay Halo to rest after Halo 3. I mean seriously, Halo's one of those games you can't let live for too long. It's amazing and epic with a few games, but if Halo had more than 5 games, it would get stupid real quick. I love Halo, but I would love it even more if Bungie started working on a new and even better project.

  • xxgunslingerxx

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 4:04 pm PT

    halo is the new mario
    soon we will see master chief kart racing halo soccer slam

  • jackle2071

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:57 pm PT

    lets see how quick M$ can kill halo

  • ultimate_zero

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:53 pm PT

    in my opinion, Halo is a good series but it's not the best series and even though their making a lot of games, they should because people want more halo.

  • MROmeo10

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    Geez, how many different new Halo games are there?? Halo 3, Halo Wars, Peter Jackson's game, Affinity's game........ this is goin a little too far....

  • TryMe01

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:42 pm PT

    wow, i guess he was just tired of Halo, and aint we all?

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:27 pm PT

    Hoberman!

  • datniccah187

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:18 pm PT

    i just got the 360 a few weeks ago, but i can't wait to play halo online, because appearently its awesome.

  • Igwababa

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:17 pm PT

    I hope MS is smart and makes bungie not stick to halo to long since alot of them are getting kind of sick of it I heard. I just hope they continue it but also start an new project.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:11 pm PT

    Gamepro2421said why bother with more Halo 2 maps if Halo 3 is supposed to be right around the corner? playing halo2 maps gets u amped up. u'll notice a slightly ebtter looking multiplayer and be like woah they actually made it look better. then 3 will come out selling out everywhere and people will go play multiplayer no-stop till they faint after not eating due to halo3 just being launched

  • TrueReligion_

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:08 pm PT

    More good games for 360

  • HotTopFade

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 3:00 pm PT

    "why bother with more Halo 2 maps if Halo 3 is supposed to be right around the corner? "

    To sell 360s now. Many Halo 2 fans a still happy playing that game over and over. They have not jumped to 360 because of that. This will make them jump.

  • Cellien

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:59 pm PT

    More and more developers opening up shop in Austin!

  • Gamepro2421

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:48 pm PT

    why bother with more Halo 2 maps if Halo 3 is supposed to be right around the corner?

  • cmontyx49

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:34 pm PT

    Bungie is very connected to this company. I would almost say that they are branches of each other. Bungie already confirmed sending current employees to Austin to help out on the maps in an update.

  • gerrad2003

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:32 pm PT

    nice, more great online shooter coming to the 360

  • killergun

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:28 pm PT

    Well digital anvil was owned by MS, and this guy worked for MS, and MS is already going to publish their halo 2 multiplayer maps, so I think it's safe to say that Certain Affinity is a Microsoft company.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    well at least some of his influence would have been on halo 3...

  • TWOC2689

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:24 pm PT

    Nice!

  • reece590

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:21 pm PT

    Thats cool, They are definatly going to be exclusive 360 developers, I am sure MS has them in a very good contract...Plus, They all are previouse Xbox developers, I think they will stay loyal!

  • xbox_gamer1

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:18 pm PT

    I cant wait for the new maps.Keep up the good work Microsoft!!!

  • Buck_Hotep

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    As big as EA is as a gaming publisher I dont think they have the size to take on Microsoft if it came down to bidding to buy a smaller developer. And this new development studio seems to be working with MS and Bungie pretty close.

  • The_Fell_One

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:57 pm PT

    Well digital anvil was owned by MS, and this guy worked for MS, and MS is already going to publish their halo 2 multiplayer maps, so I think it's safe to say that Certain Affinity is a Microsoft company.

  • Sheiko

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:54 pm PT

    Nah EA. This little critter got away from MS so EA will eat it and with it gain access to the Halo universe.

  • Destroyeron13

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:43 pm PT

    Think it'll get bought by MS? :-P

  • sniper_99

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:43 pm PT

    can't wait

  • gta11

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 1:42 pm PT

    I hope to see some good games from them.

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