Phil Spencer from MGS has confirmed this in the article. It seems Payton will be part of the team working on new Halo projects and support Bungie/Ensemble projects (Halo Wars, Halo 3 expansion).

Also, it seems that Bungie will announce something at TGS 2008 in regards to the Halo 3 expansion.

Source: http://www.edge-online.com/news/mgs4s-payton-joins-microsoft-halo-crew

Fuck Halo 3 that game was the most dissapointing sequel I have ever played. Glad to hear Ryan Payton will be helping Bungie though, that man has deffinitly proven himself. I hope Bungie announces an all-new title that has nothing to do with Halo.

I doubt Bungie will announce anything new until mid 2009. Their hands are full with the Halo 3 expansion but some of their reps have said they are working on new IP, some on the horizon and some far away.

As I read it, the only thing technically confirmed was that payton had joined some MGS team that had a few high Profile members. They are still staying silent on what the project is. It is most likely some Halo thing, but just saying I don't think this technically confirms that part.

why would they announce anything halo related at TGS? and besides payton already stated if Hideo kojima had another big title in the works he no doubtedly join back up with him (forget the link ill look for it and post back later)

Although its not explicitly confirmed its a new Halo game, its almost a given Payton would be working on something in the Halo franchise. The MS rep said the team is "working on upcoming and existing Halo games".

Congratulations to Ryan Payton.

It's a shame he can't spread his wings and work on his own projects, but working on Halo isn't a bad thing at all...

I just wish someone from Sony would have snatched him up. :-/

I just really want to see how he does when he calls the shots, cause all he has under his belt right now is MGS: PO, and MGS4. Two games in a already set universe. I want to see what he can come up with. But if he's working on Halo, we won't see that.

Congrats Ryan....now that your finally close to home & have a great job I hope you will rise up & become a great developer

We will always remember you for having played apart (however small it was) in the pinnacle of gaming that is METAL GEAR SOLID 4 : Guns Of THe Patriots

hopefull bungie can start a sci fi rpg series, similar to mass effect. that would be awesome!!

OH and go cubs go cubs go cubs go

Ryan Payton should create his own series. I don't get what's stopping him. He was the one who give the idea of the control scheme in MGS4. I think he'd make us proud. Halo could use Payton to add a little more flavor to the series