Halo Co-Creator Critiques the New Ring Design in Remake as ‘Unattractive’

Marcus Lehto, a key figure behind the visual identity of the Halo franchise and a former Bungie developer, has voiced his disappointment with the recent remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved, particularly criticizing the redesign of the iconic ring world. He took to social media to express that he finds the new look “ugly.”

Last month, Halo: Campaign Evolved launched on PS5, Xbox, and PC, showcasing impressive visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5. However, while some aspects shine, the remake has also veered into overly realistic territory, making significant alterations to the classic Halo aesthetic. One of the most debated changes is the appearance of the titular ring, which fans have reacted negatively to. Lehto, who served as the art director for the first three Halo titles, shares this sentiment, believing that Halo Studios missed the mark with the ring’s redesign.

On August 12, Lehto tweeted about the ring’s new look compared to the original from 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved. He criticized the updated design for being excessively “shiny,” suggesting it resembles something newly constructed rather than an ancient structure that has endured “hundreds of millennia of conflict.”

While Forerunner technology is metallic rather than stone, it carries an ancient, vast, and alive quality, serving as a tomb for the horrors within. The remake, however, presents it as a shiny metal object that appears to have been built recently.

“The main menu ring is the most offensive thing we see every time we boot up the game,” Lehto remarked in a follow-up tweet. He emphasized that the ring should evoke feelings of grandeur, darkness, mystery, and wonder, but instead, it resembles a shiny new toy—out of scale and lacking intrigue.

In another response, Lehto reiterated the concerns shared by many fans regarding the redesigned Halo ring, pinpointing its “biggest issue” as its absence of scale. “It lacks all the micro detail that should give it the epic scale it deserves,” he stated. “Lastly, it needs to feel like an ancient tomb.”

On a brighter note, Lehto praised the enemy designs in Halo: Campaign Evolved, agreeing with a fan that the aesthetics of the Flood and Covenant forces were well-executed in the remake. “Totally agree. Covenant and Flood aesthetics felt wonderful throughout,” he tweeted.

Personally, every time I launch Halo: Campaign Evolved, I can’t help but cringe a little at how the ring looks on the main menu. While I believe the remake excels in enemy and weapon designs, I hope that the ring and environmental art in the upcoming Halo 2 remake are adjusted to capture a more classic and mysterious vibe.