New Halo Infinite Map Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Rooster Teeth’s Iconic Legacy

A new map for Halo Infinite’s Infection mode brings a heartfelt tribute to Rooster Teeth, the iconic production company. This homage is especially meaningful as Rooster Teeth officially closed its doors earlier this year. Known for pioneering Red vs. Blue, Rooster Teeth launched what began as a Halo: Combat Evolved machinima into an 18-season web series that became a cornerstone of the company's success. The series wrapped up alongside the company’s closure, yet Rooster Teeth’s legacy in the Halo community lives on, with several of its personalities having voiced cameos in various Halo titles.

The latest Easter egg was spotted by Reddit user MonkeysxMoo35 on the new Halo Infinite Infection map, Studio Fright, crafted by community member UnknownEmerald. Dedicated fans will recognize the map’s setting as the studio from the Rooster Teeth Podcast, which ran from 2008 until 2024. While the set design evolved over time, the version featured in Halo Infinite unmistakably captures the later iterations of the iconic studio, a fun detail for fans and a nod to Rooster Teeth's influence on the gaming culture.

Though Rooster Teeth’s closure marks the end of an era, its imprint on Halo and gaming culture remains evident. Machinima, a creative medium that reached its height in the mid-2000s, has waned in popularity, but Red vs. Blue endured long after. It wouldn’t be surprising to see more tributes to Red vs. Blue or Rooster Teeth appear in future Halo projects, especially since many Halo developers today grew up with the series.

Meanwhile, Halo is entering an exciting phase. This month, 343 Industries announced it would rebrand as Halo Studios and transition to Unreal Engine 5 for upcoming projects. As more studios adopt Unreal Engine 5, this move could streamline Halo’s development by allowing the studio to onboard experienced Unreal Engine developers directly. With multiple Halo titles in the works, the franchise's future promises fresh innovations for longtime fans.