Microsoft today confirmed the recent rumors that former Metal Gear Solid 4 producer Ryan Payton and ex-id art director Kenneth Scott have joined Microsoft Game Studios, which the comapny says is "working on upcoming and existing Halo games."

The two join what MGS head Phil Spencer described to Edge as a "group of industry heavy hitters," which includes Scott's wife and ex-Gearbox technician Corrinne Yu along with former Bungie writer Frank O'Connor.

Microsoft is said to have at least four different teams working on projects related to the immensely popular sci-fi series, with rumors indicating that Brothers in Arms developer Gearbox is heading up Halo 4 for Xbox 720.

Series creator Bungie is working on a new campaign for Halo 3, while the soon-to-be-closed Ensemble Studios is wrapping up its strategy game Halo Wars and Microsoft Game Studios prepares the Peter Jackson-helmed episodic Halo game.

Shacknews had previously heard from a reliable source that Payton was hired as the creative director for the Peter Jackson Halo game, often referred to as Halo: Chronicles, though Microsoft has yet to confirm his exact position.