Halo 2’s Terminals Will Build Up to Halo 5

June 17, 2014 by Samantha Lienhard - Leave a comment

Remember how Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition added terminals throughout the game, which revealed new story details from the point of view of 343 Guilty Spark and provided a connection to the then-unreleased Halo 4? Well, in an interview with Eurogamer, 343 Industries’ Bonnie Ross said the remastered version of Halo 2 will contain similar terminals that build up to the story of Halo 5: Guardians. These terminals, however, will come from the point of view of Thel ‘Vadam (the Arbiter).

That’s not the only thing that will fill the gap to Halo 5, either. Nightfall, Ridley Scott’s live action series, will feature the new Spartan character, Agent Locke. It will tell Locke’s backstory, so you get to know and understand him. She hinted that the Halo TV series produced by Steven Spielberg (separate from Scott’s series) will be connected to Halo 5, as well, but we aren’t sure how.

Even with the emphasis on Locke, the Master Chief is still the main character, and Halo 5 is still his story. It’s starting to sound as though the Arbiter will have a big role, though, and we can’t wait to see what form that will take.

If all that isn’t enough content to pave the way to the next game, the Master Chief Collection will also have a new prologue and epilogue that will “tie you up and leave you on the doorstep of Halo 5.” What do you think these new scenes will be like?

Halo 2: Anniversary Edition Could Be a Reality

June 7, 2014 by Samantha Lienhard - Leave a comment

Last E3, Microsoft promised that the Xbox One Halo experience would begin in 2014. Most fans took this to mean Halo 5 would be releasing this year, but we now know that’s not the case. Other than Halo 5, the most popular guess fans have had for the 2014 Halo Xbox One game is a remake, or anniversary edition, of Halo 2.

Microsoft has been pretty quiet on the subject, but when Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb announced that new drivers will allow you to use your Xbox One controller with your PC, he included a picture of an Xbox One controller being used with a tablet…which was running Halo 2.

Now, this isn’t a definitive sign of Halo 2 Anniversary, but Major Nelson has to know the excitement surrounding that possibility. Why did he choose that game to show in the picture? Well, whatever Microsoft has planned for Halo, we’ll probably find out in just a couple of days at E3.

We also hope to learn more about Halo 5: Guardians. We still don’t know a lot about it, although we’ve been told it will feature strong female characters, despite the Spartan in the logo not being a woman.

You know, if Halo 2 Anniversary is released in 2014 and Halo 5 is released in 2015, that will match up perfectly with the statement Steve Downes officially never made. We’ll know soon enough.

Halo 5: Guardians Set for Fall 2015

May 16, 2014 by Samantha Lienhard - Leave a comment

After many rumors and much speculation, we finally have a release window (as well as an updated title) for Halo 5, although it’s one that might disappoint some fans. Halo 5: Guardians is set to release sometime in fall 2015.

Some people are understandably upset that it isn’t coming out this year, but Microsoft has repeated its earlier statements that the trailer shown at last year’s E3 was never meant to be for Halo 5 specifically, but rather to alert fans that the Xbox One Halo “journey” would begin in 2014.

However, Microsoft still isn’t going to tell us what the 2014 part of the journey entails. 343 Industries General Manager Bonnie Ross has said more information about that will be revealed at E3. Of course, the most popular rumor is that a Halo 2 Anniversary remake will be released this year, which would match previous rumors.

Rumors are flying about Halo 5, as well, so let’s take them one at a time. First, the official art (pictured above) shows another Spartan. Early reactions suggested the character would be Cortana in human form, Kelly-087, or Sarah Palmer. However, executive producer Josh Holmes shot them all down with a single message:

For everyone speculating about the mysterious Spartan in Halo 5: Guardians, he’s not Palmer (or Cortana!). He’s a NEW character. 🙂 #Halo

— Josh Holmes (@JoshingtonState) May 16, 2014

Note that this character is referred to as he, so this isn’t a female Spartan. (And since Holmes clearly calls him a “mysterious Spartan,” he probably isn’t the Bornstellar-Didact, either.) As for him being a new character, that still leaves some room for interpretation. If it merely means new to the games, rather than the entire Halo universe, he could be an existing character from other media.

Moving on to a related topic, look very closely at the breast of the armor on the right side (the Spartan’s left side). There’s a tiny emblem there, and it shows what appears to be the symbol for ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence). Therefore, this Spartan is most likely either an intelligence agent or closely linked to one.

And for the last rumor, have these “Guardians” mentioned in the title been present for the entire series? Ever since the first game, if you die in multiplayer and no player is responsible (for example, if the boundary turrets in Snowbound kill you), the game credits the death to “the Guardians.” Even Halo Waypoint acknowledges them.

Is it just a coincidence, an arbitrary word used for these occurrences now re-used in an entirely different context? We probably won’t know for sure until 2015.

Enjoy this piece of concept art, remember not to take any of our speculation and rumors too seriously, and share your own theories in the comments below.

Possible New Halo 5 Story Details

April 21, 2014 by Samantha Lienhard - Leave a comment

At this point, fans of the Halo series are probably dying for any rumors about Halo 5, which may or may not be the Halo game coming to the Xbox One sometime this year. The latest theories come to us from the Halo comics.

There is a twelve-part comic series called Halo: Escalation, set after the events of Halo 4. It deals with the UNSC Infinity, and begins with a mission to escort the Arbiter to a meeting with the Jiralhanae (the Covenant species nicknamed “Brutes”). Issue 8 was just released, and according to its description, the Master Chief enters the story with this issue:

“The Master Chief returns in “The Next 72 Hours: Part 1”! After defeating the Didact, John-117 joined the crew of Infinity . . . but why did he leave? The mystery begins here. Halo® lead writer Brian Reed (Amazing Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel) reveals the secret events that immediately follow the end of Halo 4.”

This doesn’t provide us with very much to go on, but it sounds as though the Master Chief may have a secret mission. And if there are “secret events” the series protagonist is involved in immediately after the end of Halo 4, it sounds like something that will be important to the next game.

Additionally, some rumors claim the Didact is still alive–and this could tie in with the secret mission–although for fans who haven’t read the novels, this is complicated by the fact that there is more than one of him.

Whatever the case may be, we hope we hear more definitive things about Halo 5 soon. Microsoft claims to have big plans for E3, and this should be a part of them.

Halo 5 Release Window?

March 19, 2014 by Samantha Lienhard - Leave a comment

There’s been a lot of speculation about the Halo game planned for the Xbox One. Microsoft has said it will be released in 2014, but no one knows for sure if it’s Halo 5 or something else (such as an Anniversary Edition of Halo 2), and some rumors have suggested it will be delayed until 2015. Well, a retailer listing suggests it is in fact Halo 5, and will be released this year.

Walmart’s listing of Halo (Xbox One) says it will ship on 10/01/2014. Further down the page, however, it gives the title as Halo 5 and says it will release in December.

This suggests a release window sometime between October-December. Of course, Microsoft has yet to make any official announcement, so this is still just a rumor. Nevertheless, it gives us something to think about. What are your hopes for the next Halo game?

Next Halo Game Intended to Push Graphics and Audio Like Never Before

February 9, 2014 by Cheats.co Staff - Leave a comment

We know 343 Industries has a new Halo game in the works for the Xbox One, but we know next to nothing about it—not even its official title. Its job openings, however, have given us a little insight into the technological achievement it wants this game to be.

343 Industries has posted a career ad for a Graphics Engineer. The description for the position discusses “cutting edge” graphics for the next Halo game and suggests the final result will “amaze and shock” players.

It is also looking for a Software Development Engineer. This job opening is for an expert in audio technology who can use “developing technology” and “new technologies” to innovate the audio used in games.

It sounds like 343 Industries has big things in mind for the next Halo game. The Xbox One has received some criticism lately, since its graphics and power have remained behind the PS4’s, but if Halo truly lives up to this goal, it could be just the thing to revitalize the Xbox One’s image.

Halo 2 remake coming for Xbox One, or Halo 5 marketing?

January 19, 2014 by Cheats.co Staff - Leave a comment

Besides the next Halo game announced at E3 (otherwise known as Halo 5), Microsoft might have something else Halo-related in the works, and it might have something to do with Halo 2. Halo 2’s 2004 launch was preceded by an alternate reality game (ARG) known as I Love Bees. A series of puzzles, audio logs, and other clues came together as a viral marketing campaign to promote Halo 2. It was one of the first major ARGs used for a video game promotion and paved the way for future campaigns.

A little over a week ago, Microsoft’s Major Nelson tweeted the following:

I am fascinated by Bees. Their organization, resourcefulness, adaptability, navigation skills & contribution to nature is captivating

— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) January 10, 2014

Quinn DelHoyo, who works for 343 Industries, replied to the tweet with his own thoughts on bees. A fan asked if the bee conversation had something to do with I Love Bees, and what followed were joking tweets from Graeme Boyd (Microsoft’s social marketing manage, who would be in charge of such a viral campaign) and Major Nelson, which further suggested something was up.

It feels like a bit too much to be a coincidence. Add in the fact that this year marks the 10th anniversary of Halo 2’s release, and we could be looking at early hints of a Halo 2 Anniversary Edition. On the other hand, Microsoft could be launching a new ARG to promote the next Halo game. Whatever the case may be, it can’t just be a harmless conversation about bees, can it?

First concept art released for Halo 5

January 13, 2014 by Cheats.co Staff - Leave a comment

Some new concept art for Halo 5 (in fact the first that we know of!) has been released and we’re pleased to say that it should easily be large enough to become your new desktop background image….

Click the image above to download the new artwork in full resolution. Does it remind you of Halo Wars..?

Next Halo game confirmed for 2014

January 7, 2014 by Cheats.co Staff - Leave a comment

In Microsoft’s recent discussion of the sales figures for the Xbox One, they mentioned several anticipated Xbox One titles. Their list, however, did not include the upcoming Halo game, which led some fans to be concerned the game would not be released in 2014. Microsoft’s Rob Semsey responded with an assurance that it will release in 2014. It was only left off of the list because it doesn’t have an official title yet.

Although people have casually referred to the game as Halo 5 since its announcement at E3, Semsey’s statements suggest that is far from accurate. In fact, earlier in the year, Microsoft representatives said that the trailer shown at E3 was not for Halo 5, but was more of a promise that a Halo game would be coming in 2014. Later interviews made it clear Microsoft had no intention of giving away details about their upcoming Halo game. This raises questions about whether or not it will be the second installment in the Reclaimer Trilogy.

The Reclaimer Trilogy began with Halo 4 in 2012 and tied the series in more closely with the Extended Universe told through other media, particularly Greg Bear’s Forerunner Saga of novels. However, shortly after E3, Microsoft revealed that the Reclaimer story was no longer going to be a trilogy, but a saga. This, combined with the mystery game not being officially titled Halo 5, suggests that it could be a game set in between Halo 4 and 5, or that the Reclaimer Saga plans to drift away from numbered titles.

Whatever it is, however, fans can look forward to playing the new addition to the popular FPS franchise this year.