Certain Affinity, Halo Co-Studio, Acquired by Keywords Studios

Keywords Studios, a prominent video game service provider from Leopardstown, Ireland, is set to acquire Certain Affinity, a Texas-based studio known for its involvement with various Halo games and contributions to other high-profile AAA projects. Keywords Studios already encompasses several Microsoft partner studios, including Tantalus Media and Forgotten Empires, along with others like Hardsuit Labs.

Most recently, Certain Affinity collaborated with 343 Industries on Halo Infinite, and has worked on titles such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered and Doom (2016). Their relationship with the Halo franchise extends back to 2007, when they initially assisted with Halo 2, and they also played a role in the development of Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Established in 2006 by former Bungie team members, Certain Affinity has since attracted talent from top-tier companies like Microsoft, Red Storm, and Electronic Arts. The studio currently employs over 180 individuals across its locations in the United States and Canada.

In an official statement, Bertrand Bodson, CEO of Keywords, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition: “We are excited to welcome Certain Affinity into the Keywords family. We hold their business and reputation in high esteem and believe their vast knowledge and experience will greatly enhance our Create division. This move notably strengthens our presence in the US and Canada, and we look forward to collaborating with Max, Paul, and their team as we aim for growth.”

Max Hoberman, the founder and CEO of Certain Affinity, will continue to lead the studio alongside its management team. President and COO Paul Sams will also retain his role in overseeing the company’s current and upcoming projects.

“During these challenging market conditions, we are grateful to find a stable and nurturing environment for our team at Keywords. The respect they have shown for our talent and culture, along with their commitment to investing in our growth, is truly exceptional,”stated Max Hoberman. “Paul and I are eager to partner with Keywords to carefully expand our co-development efforts, enhance our lead development capabilities, and further strengthen the Create division.”

There were speculations that Certain Affinity was developing a battle royale game called Project Tatanka set within the Halo universe. However, reports indicated that the project was canceled in January after several years of development. Additionally, earlier this year, Certain Affinity experienced its first significant workforce reduction, laying off approximately 10% of its employees.

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