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.

Microsoft may be looking to fill positions at its new Halo Studio to work on the Xbox 720, according to a job posting from the software and hardware giant as discovered by GameGuru.

"As part of a next generation team, you'll be instrumental in helping to lead the development of the engine that will power future experiences for the next generation of gaming platforms," reads the vacancy, which invites applications for a Program Manager at Microsoft's Redmond headquarters. The phrase "next generation of gaming platforms" likely refers to a future console to succeed the Xbox 360 alongside future developments on PC.

"You will have the opportunity to collaborate with... Read more

A Gearbox representative has confirmed with Shacknews that staff member Corrinne Yu has indeed taken a position at Microsoft, and clarified that has she served as Gearbox's director of platform technology, not technology director, for the past six months.

Word of Yu's impending departure from Brothers in Arms creator Gearbox recently emerged in unconfirmed reports, with the programmer said to have taken the role of principle engine architect on Microsoft's Halo franchise team.

"I accepted the offer to lead the team to build the engines and games for future Halo's on Xbox'es and PC's at Microsoft," read an e-mail purportedly sent by Yu that was later acquired by the press. "I assure you I will continue to help Gearbox."

Her husband, id art director Kenneth Scott, appears to have accepted a position at Microsoft at well, though his exact role is unknown.

In its communication with Shacknews, Gearbox stressed that Sean Reardon has served as its technology director for many years and oversaw Yu's platform technology work. The confusion between the two titles in recent media reports is said to have created challenges for both Yu and Reardon.

The Gearbox representative added that Yu is "an intelligent, passionate and inventive programmer" and that they are "excited about her new role at Microsoft," but did not address recent rumors that Gearbox is developing Halo 4.

Update: Gearbox has confirmed Yu's departure with Shacknews, adding that she served as director of platform technology, not technology director.

To clarify, Gearbox stressed that Sean Reardon has served as its technology director for many years, and that the confusion between the two's titles in recent media reports is said to have created challenges for them both.

Original Story: Amidst rumors and speculation that Brothers in Arms creator Gearbox has been tasked with developing Halo 4 for the Xbox 720, Kotaku reports that Gearbox technology director Corrinne Yu will soon depart to lead Halo technology development at Microsoft.

"I accepted the offer to lead the team to build the engines and games for future Halo's on Xbox'es and PC's at Microsoft," reads a message supposedly penned by Yu. "I assure you I will continue to help Gearbox."

The message further stated that Yu, pictured above, will begin her new role as "Principle (Lead) Engine Architect of Halo Franchise Team" beginning September 15, 2008.

id art director Kenneth Scott, Yu's husband, appears to have joined his wife in her move to Microsoft's Washington headquarters, as he is no longer listed among id Software's staff and is now a member of the Microsoft Facebook group.

Microsoft has been beefing up its internal Halo team in recent months, with former Bungie content designer Frank O'Connor leaving the studio to work more closely Microsoft on Halo projects.

Rumors that Gearbox was handling Halo 4 emerged earlier this week... Read more

Update: Gearbox Software has been approached by Microsoft to make a new Halo game, according to Variety.

"Gearbox has definitely had conversations with Microsoft about doing a new 'Halo' game and is very excited at the prospect," says writer Ben Fritz, relaying a conversation with an anonymous source "close to Gearbox."

Original Story: Halo 4 is in development at Gearbox Software and will launch alongside the Xbox 720, going by a rumor in the latest issue of Official Xbox Magazine, as relayed by Joystiq.

Gearbox, which helmed the PC port of the first Halo and is wrapping up the WWII shooter Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway (PC, PS3, 360) and the maraca-shaking music game Samba de Amigo (Wii), recently teased it was working on a "big" project.

"It's big. It's, like, look-at-our-line-up-and-imagine-something-even-bigger kind of big," Gearbox president Randy Pitchford wrote on the company's forum back in February. "When you find out what this is, you'll likely agree that I can't oversell this ... Read more