Image Teases New Halo Amidst 343 Industries Staff Shakeup

[Michael Epstein]

Image Teases New Halo Amidst 343 Industries Staff Shakeup

Big ship. Big base. Yeah, it looks like Halo 5.

Halo series developer 343 Industries knows you're desperate to get more information about the game that may or may not be called Halo 5, so the least they could do - almost - is release a single piece of concept art to showing a place from Master Chief's new adventure.

Ok. It's not a lot, but I'll give it to them: That's a pretty cool ship.

The image wasn't merely an attempt to feed their fans' fervor: Yesterday's post on 343's blog announced that art director Kenneth Scott will stepping down for personal reasons. Though Scott will no longer play a leadership role in the game's design, he will continue to work with the team as a consultant. Scott will be replaced by 343 lead concept artist Nicolas Bouvier.

Scott's departure is the latest in a series of high-level personnel shifts at 343 in recent months. The studio brought on Tomb Raider creative director Tim Longo last month, replacing Halo 4 creative director Josh Holmes, who will stay on as an executive producer at 343. Former executive producer Kiki Wolfkill will also remain at the studio, "developing exciting new stories, experiences and technologies that will transform the way that you experience Halo."

Source: 343 Industries [https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2014/01/09/New-Year%E2%80%99s-Revolutions-A-Bite-Sized-Peek-Behind-the-Curtain.aspx]

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[Legion]

The ship looks like the Infinite from Halo 4. Possibly the next version of it.

What I find more interesting is what is below it. It's not clear in the smaller image (there is a larger image in the link), but the curved grey thing below is actually a Covenant ship from what I can tell. Which begs the question why humans would have one, and not even in the Covenant colours. Possibly they have made their own, or maybe they are retrofitting it.

But now I have remembered that this will be an Xbox One exclusive.

 

[mattttherman3]

I wish everyone would message 343 with this: PAY THESE MEN: Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, WHATEVER THEY WANT. We need the real music back. Halo 4's track was almost entirely forgettable which made it... less fun.

 

[electric method]

Interesting. Josh Holmes was the man behind 343i's "Handicapped Spartan" image (Spartan in a wheelchair supposed to represent the "accessibility" of Halo 4) at last years GDC conference. This, of course, went over like a lead balloon and upset a number of people. Kiki Wolfkill was one of the people along side Frank O'Connor who were among those that saw "cool stuff" in other franchises and thought "We can do this better"; leading to the Codification of Halo 4.

Hopefully this signals a return to Halo's Arena roots and 343i finally getting the idea that Halo is a unique franchise that needs to remain unique. As well as not pandering to the current popular trends and trying to "steal" market share from other games. Only time will tell. That and the Halo Franchise needs a rest... it's doubtful Microsoft will allow that though.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

The ship looks like the Infinite from Halo 4. Possibly the next version of it.

What I find more interesting is what is below it. It's not clear in the smaller image (there is a larger image in the link), but the curved grey thing below is actually a Covenant ship from what I can tell. Which begs the question why humans would have one, and not even in the Covenant colours. Possibly they have made their own, or maybe they are retrofitting it.

But now I have remembered that this will be an Xbox One exclusive.

More likely it is the original Infinity.

The large thing below the Infinity is also clearly of human construction, not a Covenant ship. It appears to be part of a large building of similar design to the one on the left side of the image.

The really interesting thing about the image is the sky being divided in two. It looks like a gargantuan sphere is hovering above the settlement. Makes me think they're inside a Shield World, possibly Trevelyan.

 

[Evonisia]

Those are some very forerunner looking buildings, but I knew they were continuing with their bullshit "Forerunners hate Humans" story anyway. I hope they just go with what Halo Wars did and just feature the Forerunners in the background but I very much doubt it, the Didact still lives despite being flung off a bridge and blown up in a nuclear blast (then again, Master Chief survived the detonation of a Halo ring AND the nuclear blast... somehow). The Didact was suuuccchhh an amazing villain, right? Right?

 

[Elijah Newton]

I feel compelled to speak, if only for a minority of one (myself) : Bring back Reach's jetpacks or GTFO.

 

[An Ceannaire]

More likely it is the original Infinity.

The large thing below the Infinity is also clearly of human construction, not a Covenant ship. It appears to be part of a large building of similar design to the one on the left side of the image.

The really interesting thing about the image is the sky being divided in two. It looks like a gargantuan sphere is hovering above the settlement. Makes me think they're inside a Shield World, possibly Trevelyan.

Doesn't look like Infinity to me. The Engine configuration is wrong and the rear lacks the curved deck above the engines that was so prominent in Halo 4. There are other differences too, but it is possible that this is a case of artistic licence. But it definitely doesn't look like the Infinity on closer inspection.

 

[An Ceannaire]

Those are some very forerunner looking buildings, but I knew they were continuing with their bullshit "Forerunners hate Humans" story anyway. I hope they just go with what Halo Wars did and just feature the Forerunners in the background but I very much doubt it, the Didact still lives despite being flung off a bridge and blown up in a nuclear blast (then again, Master Chief survived the detonation of a Halo ring AND the nuclear blast... somehow). The Didact was suuuccchhh an amazing villain, right? Right?

Hopefully Didact Mk.II will be a better villain than the one from Halo 4 (which is possible, given his backstory in the novels), but I'm not holding my breath. That said, since Halo 4, I'm primarily still interested in Halo just to see where the story goes, which is a bit sad considering that I used to be a huge Halo fan. I didn't dislike Halo 4, but it left me feeling rather cold, whereas Halo: Reach (despite often being panned by a flippant community) is one of the games I've sunk the most hours into.

 

[An Ceannaire]

I feel compelled to speak, if only for a minority of one (myself) : Bring back Reach's jetpacks or GTFO.

But the Jetpacks were in Halo 4......

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

I feel compelled to speak, if only for a minority of one (myself) : Bring back Reach's jetpacks or GTFO.

But the Jetpacks were in Halo 4......

In Halo 4 the jetpacks are much weaker than the ones in Reach.

 

[Evonisia]

Those are some very forerunner looking buildings, but I knew they were continuing with their bullshit "Forerunners hate Humans" story anyway. I hope they just go with what Halo Wars did and just feature the Forerunners in the background but I very much doubt it, the Didact still lives despite being flung off a bridge and blown up in a nuclear blast (then again, Master Chief survived the detonation of a Halo ring AND the nuclear blast... somehow). The Didact was suuuccchhh an amazing villain, right? Right?

Hopefully Didact Mk.II will be a better villain than the one from Halo 4 (which is possible, given his backstory in the novels), but I'm not holding my breath. That said, since Halo 4, I'm primarily still interested in Halo just to see where the story goes, which is a bit sad considering that I used to be a huge Halo fan. I didn't dislike Halo 4, but it left me feeling rather cold, whereas Halo: Reach (despite often being panned by a flippant community) is one of the games I've sunk the most hours into.

Maybe, maybe not. Well I hope it manages to not disappoint you because it will be nice to have people sticking with it at this point. I didn't really think Reach was panned much, just that it wasn't as popular as 3. To me Reach was just 'meh' to me, wasn't bad but wasn't really this grand sweeping game Bungie were hyping it up to be.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Those are some very forerunner looking buildings, but I knew they were continuing with their bullshit "Forerunners hate Humans" story anyway. I hope they just go with what Halo Wars did and just feature the Forerunners in the background but I very much doubt it, the Didact still lives despite being flung off a bridge and blown up in a nuclear blast (then again, Master Chief survived the detonation of a Halo ring AND the nuclear blast... somehow). The Didact was suuuccchhh an amazing villain, right? Right?

OK, first, some Forerunners didn't hate the Humans at all and some did. Secondly, the Didact did what he did because he couldn't stand to see his own people fall to, what he considered to be, an incredibly undeserving race. I mean, come on. I know you heard the ending speech there. As to how he survived, he's got some incredibly potent shields of his own. Part of why Chief couldn't really fight him.

 

[StormDragonZ]

Didn't Spielberg mention about a Halo series back in the summer of 2013?

This could be it.

 

[Zetatrain]

Those are some very forerunner looking buildings, but I knew they were continuing with their bullshit "Forerunners hate Humans" story anyway. I hope they just go with what Halo Wars did and just feature the Forerunners in the background but I very much doubt it, the Didact still lives despite being flung off a bridge and blown up in a nuclear blast (then again, Master Chief survived the detonation of a Halo ring AND the nuclear blast... somehow). The Didact was suuuccchhh an amazing villain, right? Right?

It's less the "The Forerunners hate humantiy" and more "The Didact hates humanity". It fact I believe his extreme hatred of humanity is what led to his imprisonment on Requiem. From what I've heard he's a better villain if you read the novels, though granted that doesn't excuse Halo 4 for failing to fill those haven't read the novels in on the details.

Master Chief survived because Cortana put up that light barrier around him just as he detonated the nuke, or at least that's the explanation the community came up with. As for the Didact, I have no idea and in fact I didn't even know he was still alive. Is this something that's been officially stated or is it just fan speculation?

I didn't really think Reach was panned much, just that it wasn't as popular as 3. To me Reach was just 'meh' to me, wasn't bad but wasn't really this grand sweeping game Bungie were hyping it up to be.

It was generally well received by the video game community, but there was a lot of outrage among the more hardcore Halo Community (those that follow the lore outside of the games)because Reach basically retconned the entire battle of Reach as it was depicted in the novel "The Fall of Reach" which came out years before the game.

What I find more interesting is what is below it. It's not clear in the smaller image (there is a larger image in the link), but the curved grey thing below is actually a Covenant ship from what I can tell. Which begs the question why humans would have one, and not even in the Covenant colours. Possibly they have made their own, or maybe they are retrofitting it.

Well after the Human-Covenant War the Covenant disbanded and a lot of their ships were basically up for grabs. Some fell into hands of Jackals who then tried to try to sell them. Its possible that a surviving human colony outside of Earth's control purchased one of them on the black market and that world is what we are seeing. Another possibility is that it a broken Covenant ship that has been re-purposed as a housing complex.

 

[Elijah Newton]

I feel compelled to speak, if only for a minority of one (myself) : Bring back Reach's jetpacks or GTFO.

But the Jetpacks were in Halo 4......

In Halo 4 the jetpacks are much weaker than the ones in Reach.

I appreciate the Eldritch Warlord speaking up as I can't speak from personal experience. When I read reviews of H4 - specifically to see if they'd kept jetpacks in - what I read suggested they were now an almost completely different mechanic. I don't remember the specifics of what was described, but my impression was that now they let you slide across the ground faster? Or something? (apologies to H4 fants if I'm completely off base) The idea seemed more to make jetpacks an upgradable ability rather than useful out of the box. *shrug* I dunno, I just thought that was lame and so never picked up the game.

Just watched some gameplay video of jetpacking footage, though, and they do look pretty much the same as Reach. What gives?

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

I appreciate the Eldritch Warlord speaking up as I can't speak from personal experience. When I read reviews of H4 - specifically to see if they'd kept jetpacks in - what I read suggested they were now an almost completely different mechanic. I don't remember the specifics of what was described, but my impression was that now they let you slide across the ground faster? Or something? (apologies to H4 fants if I'm completely off base) The idea seemed more to make jetpacks an upgradable ability rather than useful out of the box. *shrug* I dunno, I just thought that was lame and so never picked up the game.

Just watched some gameplay video of jetpacking footage, though, and they do look pretty much the same as Reach. What gives?

What you were describing is the Thruster Pack armor ability, which replaces Reach's Evade. Jetpacks are pretty much the same, but you get much less height and speed from a charge. Maybe about half as much as in Reach, I haven't really compared them thoroughly.

Armor abilities are not upgradable in Halo 4 by the way.

 

[Elijah Newton]

The idea seemed more to make jetpacks an upgradable ability rather than useful out of the box. *shrug* I dunno, I just thought that was lame and so never picked up the game.

Just watched some gameplay video of jetpacking footage, though, and they do look pretty much the same as Reach. What gives?

What you were describing is the Thruster Pack armor ability, which replaces Reach's Evade. Jetpacks are pretty much the same, but you get much less height and speed from a charge. Maybe about half as much as in Reach, I haven't really compared them thoroughly.

Armor abilities are not upgradable in Halo 4 by the way.

Ah, I see - I was wrong on mulitple points, then. Thank you very much for taking the time to straighten me out.

 

[BloodSquirrel]

Maybe, maybe not. Well I hope it manages to not disappoint you because it will be nice to have people sticking with it at this point. I didn't really think Reach was panned much, just that it wasn't as popular as 3. To me Reach was just 'meh' to me, wasn't bad but wasn't really this grand sweeping game Bungie were hyping it up to be.

Reach was more refined mechanically than Halo 3, but was the point where the formula was getting a little long in the tooth. Doing something a little better the second time generally isn't as well received as doing it pretty well the first.

Halo 4 was a very real decline. 343 is straight-up not as good as Bungie. I really hope they go for new enemies in Halo 5, because Halo 4's were more frustrating than anything else.