Halo multiplayer lead forms new studio

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.