Halo 5 veterans create First Strike Games studio

Three veterans from Halo 5 and video game agent Jeff Hilbert have teamed up to create First Strike Games, a new Seattle studio focused on multiplayer PC and console games.

The team includes Kevin Franklin, Brian Lemon, and Doug Barnes from 343 Industries, the Microsoft studio dedicated to making Halo video games. Before Halo 5’s launch, the Halo series had sold more than 65 million units since 2001 and generated more than $4.6 billion in sales at retail for Microsoft.

Hilbert, former co-CEO and current board member at game representation agency DDM, has joined as a cofounder and business development and management advisor. Hilbert has specialized in finding publishers or investors for big games from independent game makers.

Franklin will serve as CEO and design director, Lemon as chief operating officer and executive producer, and Barnes as chief technology officer and technical director.

“Our team holds a lifelong passion for competitive multiplayer; in recent years the meteoric rise in this market has been incredibly exciting for us to experience,” said Franklin, in a statement. “This is a fabulous time to start a new studio, and we are in active discussions with potential publishing partners that share our vision for multiplayer gaming.”

The company isn’t describing what it’s working on yet.