Halo 5 may not feature the series’ legendary soundtrack

Shocking news greeted game soundtrack lovers today, as legendary Halo theme composer Marty O’Donnell has been laid off from Bungie. Bungie had been involved with the development of the Halo series for a considerable time, and while it’s currently working on a different project (the highly anticipated Destiny), it seems to have given up on the services of talented composer Marty O’Donnell, who broke the news via his Twitter account earlier today. The outburst from fans all over the world has been considerable, and O’Donnell’s music is still featured on Destiny’s trailer.

I'm saddened to say that Bungie's board of directors terminated me without cause on April 11, 2014.

— Marty O'Donnell (@MartyTheElder) April 16, 2014

Bungie suddenly became the villain of the gaming industry, stealing the title, at least for now, from King. Officials from Bungie were quick to respond, but their statement doesn’t seem to fit the actual facts. “For more than a decade, Marty O’Donnell filled our worlds with unforgettable sounds and soundtracks, and left an indelible mark on our fans. Today, as friends, we say goodbye. We know that wherever his journey takes him, he will always have a bright and hopeful future. We wish him luck in all his future endeavors.” states Bungie. We’re wondering how true these words are in light of things, and the move doesn’t seem to bode well for Bungie. Of course, there might be details in the background that we’re unaware of, but it’s nevertheless hard to understand why the company would renounce the services of a man who had done so much for their most popular series.

It’s known that Marty O’Donnell is loved by the Halo community, and so far, the reactions from Destiny fans are extremely hostile towards Bungie. While Destiny is unlikely to be affected by the composer’s departure (as the score is most likely finished by now), it’s still hard to see who will be able to fill in these big shoes left behind by O’Donnell. It’s unclear how this move affects the development of Halo 5, a title that has been confirmed by Microsoft but of which we have little to no information. It’s unlikely however that O’Donnell will continue to be involved with Halo 5.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the epic and well-known Halo theme-song, you can listen to it in the video below: