343 Industries has officially announced the next era of Halo games. And it sounds awesome!
Halo 5: Guardians was officially announced today for the Xbox One in Fall 2015. It's a rather unconventional announcement for 343 and Microsoft, who are usually keen on revealing new Halo games during the Microsoft Press Briefing at E3. Instead, this announcement came in the form of a blog post:
In the past, “Halo” games have pushed the Xbox forward, showcasing the console and its ecosystem in entertaining and innovative ways. Making a “Halo” game that runs at 60 frames per second, on dedicated servers, with the scope, features and scale we’ve been dreaming of for more than a decade, is non-trivial. It’s a task that we, at 343 Industries, are taking very seriously to ensure we deliver the “Halo” game that fans deserve, and a game that is built from the ground up for Xbox One.
I’m happy to reveal that “Halo 5: Guardians,” the next installment in the legendary saga of the Master Chief, will launch on Xbox One in fall of 2015. In the tradition of every “Halo” game since its debut in 2001, it is a massive and exciting project.
“Halo 5: Guardians” is a bigger effort than “Halo 4.” That applies to the content and scope of the game, as well as the technology in what’s now a brand new and more powerful engine. Certainly there are some core elements carried over from prior games, but we’ve invested a huge effort in retooling our tech to take full advantage of the Xbox One’s hardware and ecosystem to create worlds and experiences worthy of next-gen.
It’s a game that will hopefully demonstrate the talent, learnings and abilities of the 343 Industries team. A game that will incorporate the things we learned from “Halo 4” about technology, aesthetics, performance and scale – and perhaps more importantly, understanding and embracing a community of gamers who love what lies at the heart of this game, and the limitless potential of the “Halo” universe.
And 2015 won’t simply be the year of “Halo 5: Guardians,” it will also be a year that offers us a unique opportunity. The opportunity to invite old friends and new audiences into that universe through the “Halo” television series, launched as a unique collaboration with Steven Spielberg and some of the finest creative minds in the business. A series that will stand alone, as well as complement and enrich the game experience. We’ll have more to share on the “Halo” television series as we near its projected fall 2015 release.
Your Journey Begins in 2014
Many fans noted that I was very deliberate with my phrasing on stage at E3 last year. I spoke about a “journey,” rather than a destination – and that journey definitely begins in 2014 with a giant leap, rather than one small step. We’ll give you much more information about our plans for this year at the Xbox E3 2014 Media Briefing on June 9, and we’re confident that “Halo” fans will be pretty excited about the special plans we have in store.
I previously wrote a speculative piece about the next Halo game, and I'm very excited to hear what the "massive" new Halo will look like. Moore keeps hinting at Halo 5 being a "giant leap" and that it will send players on a "journey." Could this mean open-world Halo? I'd love if it Halo 5 went Mass Effect with an exploration system and a spaceship to boot. Or maybe it's just one planet. Halo has been pushing planetary romance since the very first game, and I wouldn't mind exploring a new Forerunner planet more completely this time around.
Either way, whatever 343 has instore for us, it'll look great: 60 frame per second and on dedicated servers (likely for the multiplayer). Not to mention that this is Halo's Xbox One debut. With a new engine, and the capabilities of a new console, Halo 5 stands to be the best game in the franchise...as long as the story is well-told.
As far as the "journey" beginning in 2014, well, that might mean Season 2 of Spartan Ops for Halo 4. Season 2 could bridge the gap somehow. We were promised Season 2, weren't we? Maybe we're getting a Halo 4 Xbox One remaster edition, which will feature Spartan Ops Season 2. Some quick cash in their pockets, right?
Or it could be something completely different. Like a beta for the multiplayer!!!
It's speculation time. What do you think we'll see at E3, and how will Halo 5 play out? Tell us in the comments!
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