Editing Halo 4

{{New content}}

{{Game Infobox

|developer= [[343 Industries]]

|releasedate= November 6th, 2012 <ref name="Waypoint 4172012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/04/17/The-Halo-Bulletin-41712.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 4.17.2012'']</ref>

|modes= [[Campaign]]<br/>[[Cooperative]]<ref name="Panel 3"/><br/>[[Multiplayer]]<ref name="Panel 3"/><br/>[[Forge]]<ref name="Panel 3"/>

|rating= [[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB]]: Mature (M) for Blood and Violence<ref name="'''The Halo Bulletin''': ''9.19.12''">[http://blogs.halo.xbox.com/Headlines/post/2012/09/19/The-Halo-Bulletin-91912-.aspx '''The Halo Bulletin''': ''9.19.12'']</ref><ref name="A Hero Awakens">''The Making of Halo 4: A Hero Awakens Part I''</ref>

{{quote|Wake up, John.|Official tagline<ref name="waypoint"/><ref name="marketplace">[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Marketplace/Product/Halo-4 '''Xbox.com''': ''Halo 4'']</ref>}}

'''''Halo 4''''' is the seventh installment in the bestselling [[Halo universe|''Halo'' franchise]] for the [[Xbox 360]].<ref name="waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/titles/halo4 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 4'']</ref><ref name="Xbox 360"/> A [[Awakening|teaser trailer]] shown at [[Microsoft]]'s [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 Media Briefing]] on [[2011|June 6th, 2011]] confirmed that ''Halo 4'' is to be the first installment in the [[Reclaimer Trilogy]].<ref name="E3">[[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2011]]</ref><ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/video/halo-4-panel-opening-video/98674976-d76d-4c91-8048-084c9cf7982b '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 4 Panel Opening Video'']</ref><ref name="h4panel">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD429ZWcQ_w '''YouTube''': ''Halo Fest: Halo 4 Panel'']</ref> Set four and a half years after the events of ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''Halo 4'' will continue the story of [[John-117]] and [[Cortana]] left abandoned on the remains of the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}. The two survivors drift toward the mysterious world of [[Requiem]] and the ancient evil within. ''Halo 4'' is the first game developed by [[343 Industries]], the management team in charge of the ''Halo'' franchise, and will be published by [[Microsoft Studios]]; it was released worldwide on November 6th, 2012. <ref name="Waypoint 4172012"/>

[[File:H4-E3-Campaign-2.jpg|300px|thumb|right|John-117 on Requiem.]]

{{Quote|Set in the aftermath of [[Halo 3]], Master Chief returns to confront his own destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. Halo 4 marks the start of a new trilogy that begins with its release in 2012.|Official summary<ref name="waypoint"/><ref name="marketplace"/>}}

''Halo 4'' marks the return of [[John-117]] as a playable protagonist after three ''Halo'' games focusing on different sets of characters.<ref name="waypoint"/><ref name="marketplace"/> Having been lost in space for five years after the finale of ''Halo 3'',<ref name="gtinterview">[http://www.gametrailers.com/video/interview-story-halo-4/727566 '''Gametrailers.com''': ''Interview: Story And Vision HD'']</ref> John-117 and [[Cortana]], adrift aboard the wreckage of the aft section of the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Charon-class light frigate|frigate]] ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]'', find themselves near [[Requiem]], the [[Forerunner]] [[shield world]] first seen in the [[Legendary]] ending of ''Halo 3''.<ref>'''[[Awakening]]'''</ref><ref name="h4panel"/><ref name="CVG">[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/328204/features/halo-4-why-the-trilogy-ends-on-next-gen/ '''Computer and Video Games''' - Halo 4: Why the trilogy ends on next-gen]</ref>  

The story of ''Halo 4'' will be heavily focused on mystery, exploration and discovery, and has been described as being grand in scope and scale. Forerunner elements will be featured extensively, including elements in Halo 4's online multiplayer. It has also been suggested that the game will reveal how humanity and the UNSC have adapted to the post-war world, particularly how they have co-opted Forerunner technology into their military devices and assets.<ref name="h4panel"/> The former subject species of the [[Covenant Empire]] return in the game, in the form of [[Covenant remnant|a renegade splinter group]], consisting of Sangheili and their former Unggoy and Kig-Yar subordinates still loyal to the tenets of the [[Covenant religion]] who have banded together and engage with John-117 in combat.<ref name="bulletin1">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/03/08/The-Halo-Bulletin-30712.aspx '''Halo Official Site''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 3.07.12'']</ref><ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/> However, the Covenant are taking a backseat to an entirely new antagonist, the [[Promethean]]s,<ref name="press center">[http://press.xbox360.com/products/p51/halo-4?grp=Blockbuster+Games&event=5 '''Xbox.com''': ''Xbox Press Center - Halo 4'']</ref> an elite class of [[Forerunner]] [[Warrior-Servant|Warriors]] and their legendary leader known as the [[Didact]],<ref name="gttv promo">[http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/t3eqhy/gt-tv-gttv-halo-4-promo '''GameTrailers''': ''GTTV Halo 4 Promo'']</ref> which has been said to be a "threat beyond anything that Master Chief has faced before."<ref name="venture">[http://venturebeat.com/2012/03/05/11-things-learned-about-halo-4/ '''Venturebeat.com''': ''11 new things we’ve learned about Halo 4 (with video)'']</ref> The subject of Cortana's ongoing [[rampancy]], a year beyond her ideal functional lifespan, will also be thoroughly and prominently detailed in ''Halo 4''. <ref name="HW Characters">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/characters/8c164b48-05e7-4c13-a268-f60ec3a72938 '''Halo 4 Official Site:''' ''CHARACTERS'']</ref>

Unlike ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', ''Halo 4'' is designed to be part of a three-game arc from the beginning. In addition, 343 Industries is aiming for more complete connectivity among all of their future media than that of the original trilogy;<ref name="h4panel"/> the ''[[The Forerunner Saga|Forerunner Saga]]'' and ''[[Kilo-Five Trilogy]]'' novels,<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_005.mp3 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''343 Sparkcast 005'']</ref><ref name="bulletin1"/> and the ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' [[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|terminals]] have been stated as "definitely" having "resonant connections" to ''Halo 4'''s story.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNDQN7nwZlw&feature=related '''YouTube''': ''SDCC 2011: Halo Universe Panel Part 1'']</ref><ref name="h4panel"/> The third and final ''Forerunner Saga'' novel, [[Halo: Silentium|''Silentium'']], is expected to be released on January 8th, 2013. <ref name="Greg Bear Forum 532012">[http://www.gregbear.com/blog/display.cfm?id=6420 '''Greg Bear - Discussion Board''': ''Book'']</ref><ref name="Greg Bear Forum 542012">[http://www.gregbear.com/blog/display.cfm?id=6462 '''Greg Bear - Discussion Board''': ''PRIMORDIAL GRAVEMIND'']</ref><ref name="Silentium 7112012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/07/11/Tor-Books-Reveals-Title-Cover-Art-And-Release-Date-of-Third-Halo-Novel-By-Greg-Bear.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Tor Books Reveals Title, Cover Art, And Release Date of Third Halo Novel By Greg Bear'']</ref> Frank O'Connor noted that ''Silentium'' will be released after ''Halo 4'' for "specific strategic reasons" likely referring to the connectivity of the game and the novel. <ref name="Bulletin 372012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/03/08/The-Halo-Bulletin-30712.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 3.07.12'']</ref> A live action series, ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]'', will provide a backstory for several characters set to appear in the game; this series will consist of five episodes totaling 75 minutes. The Halo 4 Collectors Edition will include a 90 minute extended cut of the series. <ref name="Variety 4302012">[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053273 '''Variety.com:''' ''Halo Web series to bow before next game'']</ref>

Like ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'', the ''Halo 4'' campaign will contain animated [[Terminal/Halo 4|terminals]] accessible to the player.<ref name="The Halo Bulletin: 8.22.12"/><ref name="terminal"/>

{{Spoiler}}

Halo 4 begins on July 20th, 2557 <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/><ref name="Game Informer May 2012">'''Game Informer''': ''May 2012''</ref>, four years and seven months after the armistice ending the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Cortana, laying silent for years, notices that the ship's intruder alarms have activated and attempts to wake John-117 from [[Cryo chamber|cryo-sleep]]. Cortana notifies him that in his sleep, she rewrote the firmware of his MJOLNIR Mark VI armor, upgrading the HUD, armor capabilities, while giving a new overall appearance. With alarms ringing and the intruders spreading to multiple decks, John slips Cortana's chip back into his neural interface and upon opening a sealed hatch, unpressurized rooms rip him from the deck and send him into the vacuum. After climbing up an elevator shaft, suddenly, a [[Sangheili]] swordsman comes charging at the Spartan. After a brief close quarters engagement with the soldier, he kicks him down the shaft to his death. John questions the AI construct on why his once-formidable allies have attacked them, to which she has no answer. After fighting the Sangheili and their "repatriated" [[Unggoy]] subordinates, John makes his way to the aft observation deck, viewing a large [[Covenant fleet]] surrounding the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' while multiple boarding crafts dock with the heavily damaged aft section of the frigate.  

John and Cortana subsequently make a crash-landing on the Forerunner world [[Requiem]], entering the [[Dyson sphere]] via an entrance in the superstructure.<ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/> Recovering a Warthog, Master Chief and Cortana vowed to make their way back to Earth in order to find a cure for Cortan's escalating Rampancy. They set out to find a way to contact the UNSC, circumventing the powerful jamming field surrounding the world.

Fighting through numerous Covenant hunting parties, Master Chief was attacked by advanced Forerunner defense drones which Cortana identified as Prometheans. Evading or destroying pursuit, John attempted to warn the approaching UNSC Infinity of the dangerous energy field that had caused the Forward Unto Dawn to crash.

 

Narrowly escaping the collapsing command center, the Chief and Cortana returned to the planet's surface only to find their warning to the Infinity came too late. The warship crashed more than 70 kilometers away, with a massive force of Covenant and Prometheans closing on their position.

Evading capture, John was successful in regrouping with a group of SPARTAN-IVs led by Commander Thomas Lasky. Recognizing the Chief immediately, Lasky asked John and Cortana to clear a landing zone so that Infinity's ground forces could fall back to the ship which had fallen under siege. Commandeering a Scorpion tank, John led the attack to the crippled vessel alongside Commander Sarah Palmer's Spartans. Using the UNSC's latest weapon, the Mantis exoskeleton, John rallied a force of nearby Marines and regained control of the ship's interior. After reinitializing the secondary MAC guns and missile batteries, the tide turned in the UNSC's favor. Two CCS-class cruisers and dozens of dropships were destroyed in the artillery barrage, while the Didact's Cryptum was forced to retreat.

With a momentary lull in the fighting, John was called to a strategy meeting with Andrew Del Rio, Captain of the Infinity. Skeptical of the threat of the Prometheans, Rio ordered an immediate attack on a Forerunner gravity well preventing the ship from leaving. A strike force of Spartans led by John was deployed along with a Mammoth-class ultra heavy ground vehicle supporting the attack. Facing daunting odds, the UNSC was able to defeat a large armored strike force of Covenant and Promethean and disabled the gravity beam. Upon reaching his objective, John was confronted with a vision from the Librarian, who warned him of the Diact's true plans.

 

Regrouping aboard the Infinity, Captain Del Rio dismissed the threat of the Prometheans and prepared the ship to depart the system. Defying direct orders, John took the increasingly unstable Cortana and departed the Infinity. Armed with a Pelican gunship provided by Commander Lasky, John launched several attacks on support pillars providing the Didact's Cryptum with shield and power, with the goal of preventing him from leaving the planet and attacking Earth and other colonies.

This attempt ultimately proved unsucessful, as the Didact left Requiem aboard his vessel escorted by a flotilla of Covenant ships. Stowing away aboard a Covenant ship, Master Chief pursues the Forerunner to a UNSC research base orbiting Halo Installation 03 where the Composer is kept. Sandra Tillson, a lead researcher aboard the base, helped guide John to the artifact amidst a swarm of Covenant attackers. Despite reaching the artifact first, the Didact was successful in obtaining the Composer tearing it out of the station's hull with a gravity beam. Testing the weapon, the Composer burned the crew of the station to ash, assimilating their knowledge to power additional war machines. The Master Chief's genetic enhancements rendered him immune to the device's effects.

With the Composer in the Didact's possession, the Forerunner was poised to deal a deathblow to the UNSC, and by extension humanity. Racing back to Earth aboard a Broadsword fighter, the Master Chief was surprised to find the Infinity and a UNSC fleet waiting for him. Flying below the Forerunner vessel's shields, John was able to destroy the ship's point defense guns, allowing Infinity to bombard its hull. Entering through a breach in the armor, John fought his way to the Didact's location.

Despite their best efforts, the Didact began to fire on Earth with the Composer, annihilating a major population center within North America. Armed with a portable nuclear device, John confronted the Didact once again. While John was unable to hurt the Forerunner with conventional attacks, Cortana, nearing the end of her life, disabled the Didact's armor and immobilized him with hard light bindings. With the last of his strength, John used a Promethean grenade to destroy the Forerunner's armor and detonated the nuclear bomb manually.

With the last of her power, Cortana was able to teleport John to a safe distance from the vessel where he was recovered by the UNSC, but not before saying her goodbyes. Overcome with emotion, John remarked that he was supposed to have protected her. Cortana insisted that in the end, they protected each other. John later spoke with Lasky about the lost of his closest friend. Back on Earth, John rejoined Palmer and the other Spartans, preparing for their next inevitable battle.

 

The Didact, seemingly surviving the loss of his ship, gave a speech to his followers in the battle's aftermath. The Forerunner swore his vengeance against humanity would continue, and he would see the Forerunners return to power at any cost.

While their defeat at Earth proved a set back for the Promethean/Covenant alliance, it did not result in their defeat. Months later, the Infinity returned to Requiem with a compliment of Spartans, determined to reclaim the planet at any cost.

The [[campaign]] of ''Halo 4'' consists of eight playable levels.<ref name="The Halo Bulletin: 8.22.12"/>

#[[Dawn (level)|Dawn]]

#[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]

#[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]]

#[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]]

#[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]

#[[Shutdown]]

#[[Composer (level)|Composer]]

#[[Midnight]]

==Features==

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

===Characters===

*[[Andrew Del Rio]]<ref name="E3 2012 demo"/>

*[[Armstrong (sailor)|Armstrong]]<ref name="Halo 4 main site">[http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Halo-4/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024d530919 '''Xbox.com (Halo 4 promotional site):''' ''Background Audio File'']</ref> {{1st}}

*[[Austen]]

*[[Casillas]] {{1st}}

*[[Catherine Halsey]]<ref name="Magic"/><ref>'''[[:File:Halseyproof.png|Halo 4 script]]'''</ref>

*[[Demarco]] {{1st}}<ref name="Magic">[http://www.ign.com/videos/2012/08/15/making-of-halo-4?utm_campaign=ign+main+twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social '''IGN''' ''The Magic Behind Halo 4'']</ref>

*[[Dunlap]] {{1st}}

*[[Estey-Bethel]] {{1st}}

*[[Gabriel Thorne]]<ref name="MightyApe H4LE">[http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Xbox-360/Halo-4-Limited-Edition/20302628/images/13549027/ '''MightyApe.co.nz:''' ''Halo 4 Limited Edition screenshots'']</ref> {{1st}}

*[[Grant]] {{1st}}<ref name="Magic"/>

*[[Hoya]]<ref name="Magic"/> {{1st}}

*[[Jared Miller]]<ref name="'''YouTube''' - ''Halo 4: Spartan Ops Gameplay''">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTPIFWHlZ0c '''YouTube''' - ''Halo 4: Spartan Ops Gameplay'']</ref> {{1st}}

*[[Jul 'Mdama]] <ref name="terminal">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-US/Universe/detail/halo-4-terminal-jul-mdama/0f378de5-e0e3-4f31-a1e1-2a363af4094d '''"Halo Waypoint -''' ''Halo 4 Terminal - Jul 'Mdama"'']</ref>

*[[Lincoln]] {{1st}}

*[[Madsen]]<ref name="Magic"/> {{1st}}

*[[Robert Dalton]]<ref name="'''YouTube''' - ''Halo 4: Spartan Ops Gameplay''"/> {{1st}}

*[[Roland (AI)|Roland]]<ref name="Magic"/> {{1st}}

*[[Sarah Palmer]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35_pXjNsDUY&feature=channel&list=UL '''YouTube:''' ''Halo 4 Flag Stabbing and Spartan Cosplay - Comic-Con 2012'']</ref> {{1st}}

*[[Toshi]] {{1st}}

*[[M2075 Regenerative Kinetic Dispseral Field]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1rdfWjD5zU&feature=plcp '''Youtube''' ''Halo 4 Exile PAX 2012 CTF Gameplay!'']</ref>

**[[Sangheili Ranger|Ranger]] variant<ref>[http://mcfarlane.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13870 '''McFarlane''':''MCFARLANE TOYS ANNOUNCES SECOND SERIES OF ‘HALO 4’ ACTION FIGURES!'']</ref>

**[[Sangheili Warrior|Warrior]] variant {{1st}}

*[[Sentinel Aggressor]]<ref name="Return">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55zOTemj03k '''Youtube''' ''Making Halo 4: Return of the Forerunners'']</ref>

*[[Portable jump-jet|Series 12 Single Operator Lift Apparatus]]

*[[Stationary shield generator]]<ref name="youtube1">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsASUunyWhw '''YouTube''': ''Halo 4 - Spartan Ops (HD)'']</ref>

*[[Type-27 Responsive Holographic Form Emulator‎]]<ref name="Official Site">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!halo-evolved/gameplay/31afe32b-0e07-45c0-9424-3adc6e1eadca '''Halo 4 Official Site:''' ''GAMEPLAY'']</ref>

*[[Z-90 Photonic Coalescence Emitter/Aegis]] {{1st}}<ref name="Official Site"/>

*[[Z-2500 Automated Protection Drone]] {{1st}}<ref name="Game Informer October 2012"/>

*[[Z-5080 Short-Range Spectrum Augmenter/Vision]] {{1st}}<ref name="Official Site"/>

===Organizations===

**[[Promethean]]<ref name="Waypoint Weapons"/>

*[[Covenant remnant]]

*[[United Earth Government]]

***[[Spartan (branch)|Spartan]] {{1st}}

****[[SPARTAN-IV Program]] {{1st}}

*****Apex Squad<ref name="H4 Unboxing">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ql0SxKSZ9c '''YouTube -''' ''Gamespot Halo 4 Limited Edition Unboxing'']</ref> {{1st}}

*****[[Castle Squad]] {{1st}}

*****[[Fireteam Crimson|Crimson Squad]] {{1st}}

*****[[Majestic Squad]] {{1st}}

*****[[Shadow Squad]] {{1st}}

****[[UNSC Fleet Command|Fleet Command]] {{Mo}} <ref name="92412 Campaign">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggBsoW5OwM4 '''YouTube —''' ''Halo 4 Campaign Footage'']</ref>

*****[[SPARTAN-II Program]]

{{col-2}}

===Species===

*[[Forerunner]]<ref name="kotaku">[http://kotaku.com/5900905/cortana-is-dying-multiplayer-sounds-very-interesting-and-other-pieces-of-halo-4-news '''Kotaku''': ''Cortana is Dying, Multiplayer Sounds Very Interesting, and Other Pieces of Halo 4 News'']</ref>

*[[Human]]

*[[Kig-Yar]]<ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>

*[[Lekgolo]]<ref name="The Halo Bulletin: 8.22.12">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/08/22/The-Halo-Bulletin-82212.aspx '''The Halo Bulletin:''' ''8.22.12'']</ref>

**[[Mgalekgolo]]  

*[[Sangheili]]<ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>

*[[Unggoy]]<ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>

===Vehicles===

*[[Covenant boarding craft|Boarding craft]]<ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>

*[[CAS-class assault carrier]]<ref name="terminal"/>

*[[CCS-class battlecruiser|''CCS''-class battlecruiser]]<ref name="HBO Cover Art 5142012">[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1138791 '''halo.bungie.org:''' ''Halo 4 Puzzle Email?'']</ref>

*[[Cyclops Mark II]] {{1st}}<ref name="metacafe">[http://www.metacafe.com/watch/8185354/frank_oconnor_halo_4_interview_at_microsoft_spring_shocase_2012/ '''MetaCafe''': ''Frank O'Connor Halo 4 Interview at Microsoft Spring Shocase 2012'']</ref>

*[[D79-TC Pelican]]<ref name="Conan 4172012"/>

*[[F-41 Broadsword]]<ref name="H4 Interactive Guide">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/halo4guide '''Halo 4 interactive guide''']</ref>

*{{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}<ref name="A Hero Awakens">''The Making of Halo 4: A Hero Awakens Part I''</ref>

**{{UNSCShip|Song of the East}}

**{{UNSCShip|Infinity}}<ref name="IGN 4/7/2012">[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/122/1222537p1.html?utm_campaign=ign+main+twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social '''IGN.com''': ''Spartan Ops and Infinity Change Halo 4 Multiplayer'']</ref>

*[[Mark IX ADS|HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX ADS]]<ref name="E3 2012 demo"/>

*[[M12 Force Application Vehicle]]

*[[M12G1 Light Anti-Armor Vehicle]]<ref>'''[[:File:H4-Exile-1.jpg|Gauss Warthog in Exile]]'''</ref>

*[[M12R Light Anti-Aircraft Vehicle]]<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/Detail/weapon-and-vehicle-renders/37d609fa-0303-4c2e-9fff-2fb79e52d9f6#imageNumber=16 '''Halo Waypoint''' ''Halo 4 Weapon and Vehicle Renders: UNSC Warthog (Rocket)'']</ref>

*[[M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle]]<ref name="E3 2012 demo">'''E3 2012:''' ''Halo 4 campaign demo''</ref>

*[[M808 Main Battle Tank]]<ref name="Press Screenshot 642012">[[:File:H4-E3-Campaign-10.jpg|''E3 2012 campaign screenshot'']]</ref>

*[[Mobile Anti-Aircraft Weapons Platform M510 Siegework/Ultra-Heavy]] {{1st}}<ref name="E3 2012 demo"/>

*[[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle]]

*[[Type-44 Troop Carrier]]<ref name="H4 Interactive Guide"/> {{1st}}

*[[Type-55 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun]]<ref name="H4 Interactive Guide"/> {{1st}}

*[[Deployment Platform Type-56 Ground Support/Ultra Heavy|Type-56 Ground Support Deployment Platform/Ultra Heavy]]<ref name="H4 Interactive Guide"/> {{1st}}

*[[UH-144 Falcon]]<ref name="Press Screenshot 642012"/>

===Weapons===

*[[ARC-920]]<ref name="GI 5202012">[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/05/02/the-arsenal-of-halo-4.aspx '''Game Informer.com:''' ''The Arsenal of Halo 4'']</ref> {{1st}}

*[[Assault cannon]]

*[[BR85 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle]]<ref>[[:File:H4 chief edit.png|John-117 holding the rifle]]</ref><ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/03/15/The-Halo-Bulletin-31412.aspx '''Halo Official Site''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 3.07.12'']</ref><ref name="GI 5202012"/> {{1st}}

*[[Combat knife]]<ref>[[:File:Halo4assassination.jpg|SPARTAN-IV killing with knife]]</ref>

*[[H-295 Forward Observer Module]]<ref name="H4 Interactive Guide"/> {{1st}}

*[[M247H Heavy Machine Gun]]<ref name="B-roll MP 642012">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frum8U3cvYg '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Halo 4 Multiplayer B-Roll'']</ref>

*[[M363 Remote Projectile Detonator]]<ref name="Waypoint Weapons"/> {{1st}}

*[[M395 Designated Marksman Rifle]]<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/Forums/yaf_postst69780p2_March-343-Sparkast-up.aspx '''Halo Waypoint Forums''': ''March 343 Sparkcast up'' ('''Jay S094''': ''"They didn't say that the DMR was in the game."'' '''Total Sellout''': ''"Yes we did."'')]</ref> <ref name="GI 5202012"/> {{1st}}

*[[M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon]]<ref name="Waypoint Weapons"/>

*[[M45D Tactical Shotgun]]<ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/><ref name="RTX Halo 4 panel">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnHPPsQFovY&hd=1 '''Rooster Teeth Expo:''' ''Halo 4 presentation'']</ref><ref name="The Halo Bulletin: 8.8.12">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/08/08/The-Halo-Bulletin-8812.aspx '''The Halo Bulletin:''' ''8.8.12'']</ref> {{1st}}

*[[M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]<ref name="Waypoint Weapons"/> {{1st}}

*[[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle]]<ref name="Waypoint Weapons"/>

*[[M6H Personal Defense Weapon System]]<ref name="Waypoint Weapons">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!an-epic-universe/ordnance-armor/cbbca9b3-5108-41aa-aa21-9b523de68266 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Ordnance + Armor'']</ref> {{1st}}  

*[[M739 Light Machine Gun]]<ref name="The Halo Bulletin: 8.8.12"/> {{1st}}

*[[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose grenade]]<ref name="RVB STD">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/rvb-save-the-date/63bab1e9-54dc-4b04-be6e-b6dcfcb4ad24 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Red vs. Blue: Save the Date'']</ref>

*[[MA5D Individual Combat Weapon System]]<ref name="GI 5202012"/> {{1st}}

*[[Sniper Rifle System 99-Series 5 Anti-Matériel]]<ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/><ref name="GI 5202012"/> {{1st}}

*[[Type-1 Antipersonnel grenade]]<ref>[[:File:Plasmaexplosion.jpg|Plasma grenade]]</ref><ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/><ref name="E3 2012 demo"/>

*[[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword]]<ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>

*[[Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer]]<ref name="The Halo Bulletin: 8.22.12"/>

*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol]]<ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>

*[[Type-27 Special Application Sniper Rifle]]<ref name="'''The Halo Bulletin''': ''9.19.12''">[http://blogs.halo.xbox.com/Headlines/post/2012/09/19/The-Halo-Bulletin-91912-.aspx '''The Halo Bulletin''': ''9.19.12'']</ref> {{1st}}

*[[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher]]<ref name="Waypoint Weapons"/>

*[[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon]]<ref name="Jada toys Halo 4 Die Cast S1">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/jada-toys-halo-4-die-cast-s1/bf493501-7d78-4e92-a64e-142604860df5#imageNumber=2 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Jada toys Halo 4 Die Cast S1'']</ref>

*[[Type-50 Directed Energy Rifle/Heavy]]<ref>[[:File:Concussion Icon.jpg|Concussion Rifle HUD Icon]]</ref>

*[[Type-51 Carbine]]<ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>

*[[Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9jDOnLgnY4 '''YouTube:''' ''Halo 4 Spartan Ops Full Mission HD Gameplay (SDCC) '']</ref>

*[[Type-55 Directed Energy Rifle/Advanced]]<ref name="Waypoint Weapons"/>

*[[Z-040 Attenuation Field Generator|Z-040 Attenuation Field Generator/Localized]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1rdfWjD5zU '''YouTube:''' ''Halo 4 Exile PAX 2012 CTF Gameplay!'']</ref><ref name="gi 102012">'''GameInformer''', ''October 2012 edition'' (digital content)</ref> {{1st}}

*[[Z-110 Directed Energy Pistol|Z-110 Directed Energy Pistol/Exotic]]<ref name="The Halo Bulletin: 8.15.12">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/08/15/The-Halo-Bulletin-81512.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' ''The Halo Bulletin 8.15.12]</ref><ref name="gi 102012"/> {{1st}}

*[[Z-130 Suppressor|Z-130 Directed Energy Automatic Weapon]]<ref name="The Halo Bulletin: 8.15.12"/><ref name="gi 102012"/> {{1st}}

*[[Z-180 Close Combat Rifle|Z-180 Close Combat Rifle/Asymmetric Engagement Mitigator]] <ref name="Waypoint Weapons"/> {{1st}}  

*[[Z-250 Lightrifle|Z-250 Directed Energy Engagement Weapon]]<ref name="Waypoint Weapons"/><ref name="Guardian 632012"/><ref name="gi 102012"/> {{1st}}

*[[Z-390 High-Explosive Munitions Rifle]]<ref>[http://i.imgur.com/nGmF2.jpg '''PAX 2012''': ''Screenshot of the Incinerator Cannon'']</ref><ref name="gi 102012"/> {{1st}}

*[[Z-750 Special Application Sniper Rifle]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZCyrDbW1QE '''YouTube''': ''Binary Rifle first look - Halo 4'']</ref><ref name="gi 102012"/> {{1st}}

{{col-end}}

''Halo 4'' is being developed for the Xbox 360 console.<ref name="Xbox 360"/> The game's creative team, which comprises nearly 200 individuals who have been developing the game for nearly three years,<ref name="GTTV 612012">[http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2012-e3-2012/730801 '''GameTrailers.com:''' ''E3 2012: Halo 4 Xbox Evolved Promo'']</ref> is led by creative director [[Josh Holmes]].<ref name="h4panel"/> The game will continue the ''Halo'' series' tradition of inspiring wonder in the player while providing engaging, visceral gameplay. The game will utilize much of the "sandbox" that has been featured across all six prior ''Halo'' games and other media, in addition to introducing new characters, weapons, vehicles, and other elements.<ref name="h4panel"/> The game's "sandbox" and overall style are meant to be evocative of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' moreso than of later installments.<ref name="CVG"/> [[Dual wielding]] will not be accessible in the game.<ref name="GI podcast">[http://media1.gameinformer.com/media/audio/theshow/halo4/halo4special.mp3 '''Game Informer:''' ''Halo 4 Special Podcast'']</ref>

The narrative design team of ''Halo 4'' is headed by Armando Troisi, who previously worked on [[Wikipedia:Mass Effect|''Mass Effect'']] and its [[Wikipedia:Mass Effect 2|sequel]], along with an in-house team of writers. The original draft of the ''Halo 4'' script was written by Chris Schlerf, who has also had major influence on the script since then. Brian Reed, who wrote the 2010-2012 graphic novel adaptation ''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]'', is also part of the writing team and has made significant contributions on the story.<ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1137839 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Re: Who's the writer for Halo 4?'']</ref>

The art director for ''Halo 4'' is Kenneth Scott. He described the visual style of ''Halo 4'' as being more ingrained in the expanded universe fiction, and more "mature" than before. With the game's increased focus on the Forerunners, the artists have invested heavily on the look and feel of Forerunner technology. It has also been stated that there will be more diversity to Forerunner structures, including fully active Forerunner technology as opposed to the mostly inert and abandoned structures seen in the earlier games.<ref name="h4panel"/>

John-117's experience and the player's experience are meant to be intertwined, with the Master Chief essentially serving as the player's avatar within the ''Halo'' universe. John's character will also be explored and developed in more depth than in the prior games, and the relationship between John and Cortana will be heavily featured and greatly expanded. In addition, 343 Industries has stated that Halo 4 will feature much more athleticism, as the background of Master Chief and the SPARTAN super soldiers in general promise a feeling of "a super hero", a feeling they want to convey to the player.<ref name="h4panel"/>

With the increased focus on the character of Master Chief, the ''Halo 4'' art team has redesigned his MJOLNIR armor from the ground up. The first look into the redefined armor, which differs considerably from the suit seen in ''Halo 3'', was seen in the announcement trailer, generating a considerable amount of confusion and speculation among fans. 343 Industries later stated that the design seen in the trailer was not the final version.<ref name="h4panel"/> The final iteration was later seen alongside the first ''Halo 4'' gameplay reveal following Microsoft Spring Showcase 2012. The changes in the design are mostly cosmetic and were made with the intent of giving the suit a more functional look in order to suit the new art direction of the game.<ref name="first look">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6UL63Zo-uo&feature=player_embedded '''YouTube''': ''Making Halo 4: First Look'']</ref> In a fictional context, the difference in the suit's appearance is explained by an extensive overhaul performed by Cortana while John was in cryo-sleep.<ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/><ref name="Official Site"/>

[[Wikipedia:Motion capture|Motion capture]], first implemented in the series on ''Halo: Reach'', was used during the production of ''Halo 4''. <ref name="Bulletin 592012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/05/09/The-Halo-Bulletin-5912.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin: 5.9.2012'']</ref> Recording began prior to the release of the ''Making Halo 4: First Look'' video in [[Wikipedia:Los Angeles|Los Angeles]], [[Wikipedia:California|California]], with material for the character Cortana and a man playing an unidentified character filmed; recordings have been done as recently as the week of April 29th, 2012. <ref name="Bulletin 592012"/> Bruce Thomas and MacKenzie Mason would later be confirmed as the "cinematic performance capture actors" for John-117 and Cortana, respectively. <ref name="Bulletin 692012"/>

At a London press event for ''Halo 4'', it was announced that development of the game was completed on September 25th, 2012 after three years in development. <ref name="VG 92612">[http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/halo_4/news/halo_4_development_is_complete.html '''VideoGamer.com —''' ''Halo 4 development is complete'']</ref> The finished product has since been sent to "various certification processes" before mass production of the game begins. Coincidentally, the September 25th completion date of ''Halo 4'' also marks the fifth anniversary of the North American release of its predecessor, ''Halo 3''.

[[Sotaro Tojima]], best known for his work on [[Wikipedia:Konami|Konami's]] ''[[Wikipedia:Castlevania: Circle of the Moon|Castlevania: Circle of the Moon]]'' and ''[[Wikipedia: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots|Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'', serves as ''Halo 4'''s audio director.<ref name="h4panel"/> The team has performed many live audio recording sessions, several of which occurred in [[Wikipedia:Tasmania|Tasmania, Australia]]. Some of these recording sessions have taken place in generally inhospitable environments, such as underwater, in fire, and in ice, through the use of specially designed microphones;<ref name="h4panel"/> other recording sessions have utilized "home made" explosives.<ref name="Audio">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lci6hIWxZss'''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 4 Field Audio Recording'']</ref> Tojima intends for the game's audio to be clearly grounded in the ''Halo'' universe, though to also have a more realistic quality than in past titles.<ref name="h4panel"/> A video was released on February 23rd depicting 343i recording weapon and explosion audio alongside the [[Wikipedia:United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Army Special Forces]]. Weapons such as the [[Wikipedia:M4 carbine|M4 carbine]], [[Wikipedia:FN SCAR|Mk 17 battle rifle]], [[Wikipedia:M240 machine gun|M240 general purpose machine gun]], [[Wikipedia:Barrett M82|M107 sniper rifle]], [[Wikipedia:M2 Browning|M2 heavy machine gun]], and [[Wikipedia:M72 LAW|M72 rocket launcher]] were used in the recording.<ref name="Audio"/>

Five voice actors have so far been announced for the game. [[Jen Taylor]], voicing the AI Cortana, and [[Jeff Steitzer]], the multiplayer and firefight [[The Announcer|Announcer]], have confirmed on Facebook that they will again be reprising their roles for ''Halo 4''.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.org/images/taylors_back.png '''Facebook.com''' and '''Halo.Bungie.org''': ''Jeff Steitzer announcement on voice acting'']</ref> [[Steve Downes]], the iconic voice of John-117, was confirmed to voice the game's protagonist in the June 9th Halo Bulletin.<ref name="Bulletin 692012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/06/09/The-Halo-Bulletin-6912.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 6.9.2012'']</ref> On the April 17th, 2012 episode of the [[Wikipedia:TBS (TV channel)|TBS]] late night comedy show [[Wikipedia:Conan (TV series)|''Conan'']], hosts [[Wikipedia:Conan O'Brien|Conan O'Brien]] and [[Wikipedia:Andy Richter|Andy Richter]] announced that they'll be voicing Navy deckhands lifting crates aboard the advanced warship ''Infinity'' towards the end of the story.<ref name="Conan 4172012">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GflJB-aM0wI '''Conan''': ''Episode 245 - April 17th, 2012'']</ref> Frank O'Connor, replying to a fan's question at the Rooster Teeth Expo, stated that the cast for the upcoming episodic cooperative series ''Spartan Ops'' will have the "biggest injection" of new voice talent for ''Halo 4''.<ref name="RTX Halo 4 panel"/>

On April 11, 2012, the composer for ''Halo 4'' was announced to be [[Neil Davidge]], best known as the co-writer and producer for the British electronica duo [[Wikipedia:Massive Attack|Massive Attack]]. <ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/04/11/Neil-Davidge.aspx '''Halo Official Site''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 4.11.12'']</ref> Davidge first started in his role as the future composer in late 2010, eventually having his first meeting with 343i laying out his ideas for the music of the game. <ref name="Edge 582012">[http://www.edge-online.com/features/scoring-halo-4?page=2 '''Edge Magazine:''' ''Scoring Halo 4'']</ref> After the meeting, Davidge began writing 20 to 30 pieces that would be the base of the ''Halo 4'' score, which he officially began working on in August of 2011. Davidge has since stated that over four hours and an estimated 300 pieces had been written as of May 8, 2012. <ref name="Edge 582012"/> Composing ''Halo 4'' is noted as being split into four distinct "tiers," each consisting of central themes for a handful of missions. Many of the key compositions were recorded and completed in January 2012 ahead of 343i's completion deadline. <ref name="Edge 582012"/> Though still grounded in the ''Halo'' universe, the score for ''Halo 4'' will be taking a new direction from [[Martin O'Donnell]]'s composition in previous ''Halo'' titles. <ref name="bulletin1"/> Orchestral and composition for the score was done at the famed [[Wikipedia:Abbey Road Studios|Abbey Road Studios]] in [[Wikipedia:City of Westminster|Westminster]], [[Wikipedia:London|London]], [[Wikipedia:England|England]], mostly notably known for their work with [[Wikipedia:The Beatles|The Beatles]] during the 1960's. <ref name="Composing Worlds">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmfGsuOacMA&hd=1 '''YouTube:''' ''Making of Halo 4: Composing Worlds'']</ref>

 

The competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes of ''Halo 4'' are grouped together into a mode known as ''Infinity'', which is tied to the ''Halo'' series fiction and runs parallel to the campaign story. In ''Infinity'', players take control of [[SPARTAN-IV Program|SPARTAN-IV supersoldiers]] serving aboard the advanced warship, UNSC ''Infinity''.<ref name="mp1">[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/interviews/a369211/halo-4-interview-343-industries-on-multiplayer-new-forms-of-story.html '''Digitalspy.co.uk''': ''Halo 4 interview: 343 Industries on multiplayer, new forms of story'']</ref> Prior to the beginning of development on ''Halo 4'', 343i General Manager [[Bonnie Ross]] and Frank O'Connor set the framework of the new studio's mission which entailed that all pieces of existing and future fiction from the games, novels, comics, etc. would be interwoven and share content from each other. <ref name="Guardian 632012">[http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2012/jun/04/e3-2012-halo-4-interview '''The Guardian:''' ''E3 2012: Frank O'Connor on Halo 4 – Spartan Ops could run for years'']</ref> Among this would be the multiplayer component for ''Halo 4'', which would later include the introduction of ''Spartan Ops''; "'' Wrapping the whole thing together allowed us to make sure that all the fiction in all of those pieces actually mattered – in this case, it connects directly to your career as well as the narrative experience.''" <ref name="Guardian 632012"/>

===War Games===

Competitive multiplayer, known as "''War Games''," pits players against one another in adversarial combat training in simulated environments in the advanced combat deck of the ''Infinity''.<ref name="first look"/><ref name="mp1"/> However, due to the emphasis on the SPARTAN-IV commandos, players will not have the option to use [[Sangheili]] soldiers for their multiplayer character.<ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>

343 Industries is aiming to provide a "brand new experience" in ''Halo 4'' multiplayer. This includes a reworking of the series' traditional balance system. For example, the player progression system will be more extensive, allowing players to choose between various modifications which have an effect on gameplay, in addition to aesthetic [[armor permutations]] similar to the prior games.<ref name="Official Site"/><ref name="venture"/><ref name="cod">[http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2012/mar/05/halo-4-multiplayer-details-revealed '''Guardian.co.uk''': ''Halo 4 multiplayer revealed: Master Chief meets Call of Duty?'']</ref> Players will also be able to customize their [[loadout]]s,<ref>[http://www.gamefront.com/halo-4-demo-report/2/ '''Gamefront.com''': ''Halo 4 Demo Report'']</ref> being able to choose between various [[armor abilities]] as well as new customizable features, known as [[Support Upgrades]] and [[Tactical Packages]]. Tactical Packages offer a small performance boost to a chosen gameplay feature, such as the player's shield or weapon carrying capacity. Support Upgrades function similarly, and feature such improvements as [[motion tracker]] upgrade and an increase in the player's maximum ammunition.<ref name="Official Site"/> ''Halo 4'' also introduces a new gameplay enhancement feature referred to as "[[Specializations]]". Specializations unlock different armor sets, emblems, visor colors, weapon and armor skins, and armor mods, which work similar to tactical packages and support upgrades.<ref name="The Halo Bulletin: 8.15.12"/>

It has also been stated that multiplayer gameplay will be "much more fast-paced, more intense and visceral" than in the prior games.<ref name="cod"/> Weapon pickups on maps will be marked on the player's [[heads-up display]],<ref name="venture"/> and players will be able to call in ordnance drops, containing power-ups or weapons, during War Games or Spartan Ops matches.<ref name="Official Site"/> Some multiplayer gametypes include [[Slayer]], Infinity Slayer, and [[Regicide]]. Power-ups available in Infinity Slayer include [[Overshield]], [[Damage Boost]], and [[Speed Boost]].<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/07/06/The-Halo-Bulletin-7612.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 7.6.12'']</ref>

Unlike ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', where the original multiplayer maps were shared in the campaign as gameplay spaces, all multiplayer maps in ''Halo 4'' will be purpose-built for multiplayer alone much like in the first three ''Halo'' games.<ref name="cod"/> Frank O'Connor at the time had stated that the names of the two previously known multiplayer maps were only placeholders and would be revealed at a later date.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/05/02/The-Halo-Bulletin-5212.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 5.2.12'']</ref> 343 Industries cooperated with [[Certain Affinity]] in the production of the multiplayer maps for ''Halo 4''.<ref name="Certain Affinity">[http://www.oxmonline.com/343-industries-halo-4-will-re-inject-some-new-life-halo-multiplayer '''Official Xbox Magazine online.com''' ''343 Industries: Halo 4 will "re-inject some new life" into Halo multiplayer]''</ref><ref name="gsforge">[http://www.gamespot.com/halo-4/videos/exclusive-halo-4-forge-mode-details-6397629/ '''GameSpot''': ''Exclusive Halo 4 Forge Mode Details'']</ref>

{{Halo 4 War Games Main}}

[[File:H4 SOS1E1 Spartan IV Hologram.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A Spartan team aboard ''Infinity''.]]

''Spartan Ops'' is a secondary campaign that replaces the [[Firefight]] mode featured in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' and ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.<ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/> Much like traditional campaign cooperative play, ''Spartan Ops'' will allow up to four players to participate in weekly objective-based episodic missions;<ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/> <ref name="GI podcast"/> Missions will intertwine directly with events in the main ''Halo 4'' campaign, expanding on the story of the UNSC ''Infinity'' and her crew, who will interact with John-117 during the series;<ref name="GI podcast"/> this new mode is being likened to a second full-scale campaign for the game.<ref name="Guardian 632012"/> Compared to a season of a television program, each "episode" of ''Spartan Ops'' will feature a pre-rendered cinematic and five playable missions complete with new events, characters, locations, and gameplay challenges, totaling up to 12 hours of new gameplay.<ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/><ref name="LEHB 6272012">[http://www.littleenglishhaloblog.com/2012/06/new-halo-4-info-blowout-via-expertzone.html '''Little English Halo Blog:''' ''New Halo 4 Info Blowout via ExpertZone!'']</ref> The development of ''Spartan Ops'' will see the largest influx of new characters, along with corresponding facial and voice talent, and gameplay/sandbox elements into any property of the ''Halo'' franchise since 2001.<ref name="RTX Halo 4 panel"/> 343 Industries will be supporting additional ''Spartan Ops'' missions for months after launch of the game and unlike ''Reach'' challenges, players will have the opportunity to play from the beginning of the episodic campaign regardless of when they started playing. The first "season" will be included with the price of the game, though 343i has not ruled out charging players for additional ''Spartan Ops'' seasons.<ref name="NYDN 4302012">[http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/system-update-halo-4-preview-glimpse-return-master-chief-article-1.1068510?pgno=1 '''NYDailyNews.com:''' ''SYSTEM UPDATE: Halo 4 preview, with our first glimpse into return of Master Chief'']</ref> Frank O'Connor has stated that it will "bridge the gap" between the events of ''Halo 4'' and the future release of its sequel ''Halo 5''.<ref name="NYDN 4302012"/>

The development of ''Spartan Ops'' came to fruition under the ideals of persistent, fresh replayability and small additions to the fiction surrounding the ''Reclaimer Trilogy'' and ancillary content. <ref name="Guardian 632012"/> Each episode of the series, gameplay-wise, is set up with meaning to enhance the significance of the events you are playing through, and as such, simplistic single-objective missions will not be a focus of ''Spartan Ops''. Frank O'Connor in an interview with The Guardian states that the stories and events have been loosely laid out for "a few years"<ref name="Guardian 632012"/>; the success or failure of ''Spartan Ops'' may lead to a continuation of the series past 2012-2013 with a "''known beginning, a middle, and an end.''" <ref name="Guardian 632012"/> The first season of ''Spartan Ops'' as of June 2012 has been noted as being "''very rigid''" with the direction of the story having already been mapped out from beginning to end.

Season One will consist of ten episodes and a total of fifty missions (five missions per episode) released following the launch of ''Halo 4''.<ref name="LEHB 6272012"/> If the episodes are released consistently, ''Spartan Ops Season One'' will actively run from its premiere alongside ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> worldwide release on November 6th, 2012 to the finale on January 15th, 2013.

Forge, the multiplayer map editing feature first included in ''Halo 3'', is confirmed to be in-development and will be returning for ''Halo 4''. <ref name="GI podcast"/><ref name="RTX Halo 4 panel"/> It was first shown to public audiences at the Rooster Teeth Expo on July 7th, 2012 in a presentation highlighting various new features included with this newest iteration of Forge mode.<ref name="RTX Halo 4 panel"/> Co-developed with [[Certain Affinity]], the ''Halo 4'' Forge mode will have three dedicated maps with unique object palettes and a number of improvements over its predecessors, including the ability to use "magnets" to snap objects to one another or duplicate any object at will.<ref name="gsforge"/>

 

{{Main|The Commissioning}}

Microsoft Studios, the game's publisher, has plans to put millions of dollars into marketing ''Halo 4'' through the various mediums. <ref name="Games Thirst">[http://www.gamesthirst.com/2012/04/17/halo-4-to-be-released-on-november-6th-report/ '''Games Thirst:''' ''Halo 4 To Be Released On November 6th – Report'']</ref> Television advertisements, including Fincher's ''Scanned'' and general gameplay trailers, will be tailored to individual shows such as [[Wikipedia:Sons of Anarchy|''Sons of Anarchy'']], [[Wikipedia:Fringe (TV series)|''Fringe'']] and across many channels in the game's targeted demographic. <ref name="TDB 10102012">[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/10/david-fincher-and-conan-o-brien-halo-4-s-secret-weapons.html '''The Daily Beast —''' ''David Fincher and Conan O’Brien: Halo 4’s Secret Weapons'']</ref>

 

Marketing for ''Halo 4'' began in June 2012 with the release of the live-action trailer ''[[The Commissioning]]'' at E3 2012. It would subsequently be released in an extended format during the seventh match of the [[Wikipedia:UEFA Euro 2012|2012 UEFA European Football Championship]] between England and France, effectively beginning the pre-release worldwide public advertisement of ''Halo 4''. ''The Commissioning'' simultaneously depicts the ceremony that formally placed the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} in active duty within the Fleet, during operations in deep space with its battlegroup, and eventually during the Promethean's assault on its systems, dragging it into the shield world of Requiem. Days later, what appeared to be an [[Wikipedia:Alternate reality game|alternate reality game]] (ARG), first used for the series in ''[[Halo 2]]'', had shown up on the [http://espn.go.com/ ESPN website] alongside two standard flash advertisements presenting ''The Commissioning''. <ref name="HBO 6152012 ARG">[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1143587 '''halo.bungie.org:''' ''ESPN.com taken over by Halo 4 entity?'']</ref> This potential ARG campaign for ''Halo 4'' predominantly features fragmented coding and an assortment of words in [[Wikipedia:Latin|Latin]], along with an [[Forerunner symbols|glyph]] similar in appearance to that of [[the Didact]], the Promethean supreme commander of the [[Warrior-Servant|Ecumene's military]]. <ref name="HBO 6152012 ARG"/>

 

{{Main|Scanned}}

On October 10th, film director [[Wikipedia:David Fincher|David Fincher]], highly praised for films such as [[Wikipedia:Fight Club|''Fight Club'']] and [[Wikipedia:The Social Network|''The Social Network'']], was announced as the executive producer for the launch trailer for ''Halo 4'' titled "''Scanned.''" <ref name="TDB 10102012"/> Filmed in [[Wikipedia:Prague|Prague, Czech Republic]], <ref name="MTV 10102012">[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2012/10/10/david-fincher-produces-halo-live-action-launch-trailer/ '''MTV.com —''' ''David Fincher Produces 'Halo 4' Live-action Launch Trailer'']</ref> ''Scanned'' is a two-minute teaser to the game that seamlessly blends computer-generated and live action imagery, developing on the history of the character of John-117 as his adversary, the [[Didact]], scans his memories.<ref name="THR 10102012">[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-fincher-halo-4-trailer-microsoft-377822 '''The Hollywood Reporter —''' ''David Fincher Produces 'Halo 4' Launch Trailer for Microsoft'']</ref> Tim Miller, whom Fincher worked with on his 2011 American adaptation of ''[[Wikipedia:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]'' as its visual effects lead, teams up again with Fincher as the director on the project, who he refers to Miller as as being "''at the visual and technical forefront of hybridized live-action/CGI – not only pushing the boundary but defining it.''" <ref name="THR 10102012"/> Conan O'Brien and Andy Richter, who have been previously revealed to lending their talents as ''Infinity'' crewmen, will reprise their roles from the game's campaign for the upcoming teaser.<ref name="TFS 10102012">[http://thefilmstage.com/news/david-fincher-finds-next-directing-gig-with-halo-franchise/ '''The Film Stage —''' ''David Fincher Finds Next Directing Gig With ‘Halo’'']</ref> ''Scanned'' premiered during the airing of the October 18th, 2012 episode of NBC's evening talk show [[Wikipedia:Late Night with Jimmy Fallon|''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'']] and was subsequently released on various other media outlets and platforms following the broadcast.<ref name="THR 10102012"/>

{{Main|Halo 4 Launch Gameplay Trailer}}  

On October 24th, 343 Industries shows a gameplay trailer of ''Halo 4'' on the TV show Sons of Anarchy, and shows several gameplay of the campaign and multiplayer.

The public had their first opportunity to play ''Halo 4 War Games'' at the [[Rooster Teeth|Rooster Teeth Expo]] in [[Wikipedia:Austin, Texas|Austin, Texas]] on July 7th and 8th, 2012. <ref name="RTX announcement">[http://roosterteeth.com/viewEntry.php?id=9385 '''Rooster Teeth''': ''Play Halo 4 at RTX!'']</ref>

[[Wikipedia:Mountain Dew|Mountain Dew]] and [[Wikipedia:Doritos|Doritos]] will be releasing specially themed ''Halo 4'' merchandise on October 1, to celebrate the game's release.<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/08/31/halo-4-mountain-dew-and-doritos-have-formed-a-fellowship.aspx '''GameInformer.com''' ''Halo 4 Mountain Dew and Doritos Have Formed a Fellowship'']</ref>

{{Halo 4 Versions}}

The North American (ESRB) and European (PEGI) cover art for ''Halo 4'', [[:File:Halo 4 cover art ESRB (without Xbox 360 logos).jpg|seen here]], was unveiled on May 14th, 2012 through a series of 32 "puzzle pieces" given to various community members by 343 Industries.<ref name="NeoGAF 5142012">[http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=37869368&postcount=607 '''NeoGAF:''' ''Halo |OT4| Trust's a Tough Thing to Come by These Days'']</ref><ref name="HBO Cover Art 5142012">[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1138791 '''halo.bungie.org:''' ''Halo 4 Puzzle Email?'']</ref> It depicts John-117 kneeling in his upgraded MJOLNIR armor with an MA5D assault rifle at the entrance to the Requiem Dyson sphere. To his sides, the crashing remains of the UNSC ''Forward Unto Dawn'', which is visually upgraded from its previous incarnation in ''Halo 3'', and a [[CCS-class battlecruiser]] with other debris surround him.<ref name="HBO Cover Art 5142012"/>

Announced on May 16th, 2012, 343 Industries revealed a collector's edition for ''Halo 4''.<ref name="Bulletin 51612">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/05/16/The-Halo-Bulletin-51612.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 5.16.12'']</ref> The ''[[Halo 4 Limited Edition]]'' has been noted as "maximizing your multiplayer experience," which in-turn will expand on the fiction of the ''Halo'' universe like many aspects of the game as a whole.<ref name="Bulletin 51612"/> The Limited Edition is presented in a large, minimalistic grey case that is adorned with an updated United Nations Space Command insignia; the game itself will be included in a smaller silver tin case that features similar artwork to the larger case and is embossed with futuristic artwork. It is currently available for pre-order alongside the standard edition and will be available for purchase worldwide on November 6th, 2012 starting at $99.99 ([[Wikipedia:United States Dollar|USD]]).<ref name="Bulletin 51612"/> 343 Industries has confirmed that there will not be a "''Legendary Edition''" for ''Halo 4'', citing that they didn't want consumers to have to choose what version-specific ancillary items they'd receive.<ref name="Bulletin 51612"/>

Many pre-order bonuses for ''Halo 4'' were revealed on May 25th, 2012. This is the first time that Microsoft Studios has introduced retailer-specific bonus items for a ''Halo'' game; preorder bonuses were offered for ''ODST'', ''Reach'', and ''Combat Evolved Anniversary'', however, not on the scale of ''Halo 4''. Helmet and armor skins and emblems are completely customizable for use in multiplayer to match the style of the individual player. Note that the armor exclusives are for the skins (design), not the armor themselves. Each bonus item and their respective retailer are listed below by availability:

''[[Awakening: The Art of Halo 4]]'' is a hardcover art book first announced on May 8th, 2012. The book will be published by [[Wikipedia:Titan Books|Titan Books]] with a release date of November 2nd, 2012. <ref name="Waypoint Book 582012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/05/08/Titan-Books-Signs-Up-Lavish-Art-Book-of-Halo-4.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Titan Books Signs Up Lavish Art Book for Halo 4'']</ref> This fourth retail art collection from the ''Halo'' universe will include 192 pages of colored illustration used during production to create the vision of ''Halo 4'' and will include commentary by [[343 Industries]] artists and developers.<ref name="Waypoint Book 582012"/>

Five novels released from January 2011 to January 2013, though not specifically game merchandise, are intertwined with the story and expanded universe introduced in ''Halo 4''. Set thousands of years in the past, the ''Forerunner Saga'' and its three novels ''Cryptum'' (Jan. 4th, 2011), ''Primordium'' (Jan. 3rd, 2012), and the upcoming ''Silentium'' (Jan. 8th, 2013 <ref name="Silentium 7112012"/>) deal with the events leading up to and during the [[Forerunner-Flood war]] up to the "present day." The ''Kilo-Five Trilogy'', consisting of ''Glasslands'' (Oct. 25th, 2011), ''The Thursday War'' (Oct. 2nd, 2012), and an unannounced third novel, chronicles the months following the end of ''Halo 3'' and will bridge the gap between the original Bungie trilogy and the ''Reclaimer Trilogy''.

[[McFarlane Toys]] have announced two waves of action figures, vehicles, toy sets, and other products for ''Halo 4''. <ref name="Waypoint McFarlane 1192012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/01/19/McFarlane-Toys-to-Create-Halo-4-Action-Figures.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''McFarlane Toys to Create Halo 4 Action Figures'']</ref> The [[McFarlane Toys/Halo 4 Series 1|first series]], set for release in August 2012, will feature four 6-inch carded figures, which include returning characters John-117 and a [[Sangheili Zealot]] and two new inclusions into the ''Halo'' universe, the Unggoy Storm and two Spartan Warriors, one red and one blue <ref name="McFarlane News 6112012">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/mcfarlane-halo-4-figures/2dad5e8b-2522-4030-b4fd-8423c52436ee#imageNumber=6 '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''MCFARLANE TOYS BRINGS THE NEXT HALO GAME TO LIFE WITH HALO 4 ACTION FIGURES!'']</ref>; a larger boxed product, featuring an up-scaled John-117 and accessories within a frozen cryopod will also be available. <ref name="Waypoint McFarlane 1192012"/> Released alongside ''Halo 4'' in November will be the second series, including a figure of Cortana and a SPARTAN-IV soldier with two new enemy types, the Crawler and the Watcher; another large boxed product regarded as being an "enemy unlike anything before" will be released in Holiday 2012.<ref name="Waypoint McFarlane 1192012"/> The [[McFarlane Toys/Halo 4 Series 2|second series]], set for release in January 2013, will feature four 6-inch as John-117 with the ARC-920, two Spartan Warriors (one orange and one purple), [[Thomas Lasky]] with a Magnum and a [[Sangheili Ranger]] with the [[Particle Beam Rifle]] and one new inclusion: the Kig-Yar Storm.<ref name="McFarlane News">[http://mcfarlane.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13870 '''McFarlane''':''MCFARLANE TOYS ANNOUNCES SECOND SERIES OF ‘HALO 4’ ACTION FIGURES!'']</ref> McFarlane will also be releasing a ''Halo 4'' series under their [[Halo Micro Ops|"Micro Ops" line]], which includes smaller non-character figures made specifically for battle recreations. <ref name="McFarlane Micro Ops 1192012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/01/19/McFarlane-Toys-Brings-the-Entire-Halo-Universe-to-Collectors-with-Halo-Micro-Ops.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' ''McFarlane Toys Brings Entire Halo Universe to Collectors with Halo Micro Ops'']</ref> [[Jada Toys]] will be producing replica figures and die cast vehicles based on content from the game, including a highly detailed 14-inch M12 Warthog vehicle. <ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/282149/20120116/halo-4-characters-vehicles-revealed-jan-24.htm '''International Business Times:''' ''Halo 4 Characters, Vehicles to be Revealed on Jan. 24'']</ref>

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., a well known manufacturing company for game products, will be releasing a licensed communication headset coinciding with the launch of ''Halo 4''. <ref name="HW Mad Catz 6152012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/06/14/Mad-Catz-and-Microsoft-Studios-Sign-Deal-for-Licensed-Halo-4-Gaming-Headsets.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Mad Catz and Microsoft Studios Sign Deal for Licensed Halo 4 Gaming Headsets'']</ref> The headset's aesthetics will have a design reminiscent of designs seen in the ''Halo'' universe. <ref name="HW Mad Catz 6152012"/>

[http://gaemspge.com/ GAEMS PGE], manufacturer of personal gaming environments, produced a [[Limited Edition Halo Exclusive Vanguard Personal Gaming Environment| UNSC-themed Personal Gaming Environment]] for the Xbox 360.<ref>[http://blogs.halo.xbox.com/Headlines/post/2012/08/29/The-Halo-Bulletin-82912.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' ''Halo Bulletin 8.29.12'']</ref>

Called "''Awakening''," this trailer was revealed for the first time on June 6th, 2011 at E3 2011, during the Xbox Press Briefing in Los Angeles, California. It effectively was the announcement of ''Halo 4'' as well of that of the ''Reclaimer Trilogy''. Developed by agencytwofifteen, Digital Domain, and Anonymous Content, with music by the game's composer Neil Davidge, ''Awakening'' showed off early assets currently in-development by 343 Industries including John-117's new armor and Cortana's makeover since their last incarnations in ''Halo 3'' and the animated short film ''[[Origins|Halo Legends: Origins]]''. It would later be revealed that the trailer is set during the opening moments of ''Halo 4'', during a Covenant boarding of the ship.

Aptly named, the trailer depicts the awakening of John-117 from [[Cryo chamber|cryo sleep]] aboard the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} by Cortana shouting for the Spartan to wake up. John-117 secures Cortana's [[Data crystal chip|data crystal]] within his neural interface and proceeds to escape a raging fire engulfing him while dodging broken-off debris from the ship. Blasting open a door preventing his escape, John-117 lays his eyes on the outer surface of an unknown alien world. Standing on the very edge of the warship being torn apart by explosions, the Spartan and his A.I. companion view this world opening itself.

Ending off the 10-year anniversary celebration of ''Halo Fest'' at PAX Prime 2011 in Seattle, Washington was the release of a trailer following the first panel discussing ''Halo 4''.<ref name="concept glimpse">[http://youtu.be/vAKmu2yn3Fk '''YouTube''': ''Halo Fest: Halo 4 Concept Art Glimpse'']</ref> Released on August 28th, 2011, it would be the first new glimpse of the game since its reveal at E3. It featured glimpses at many of the upcoming campaign's environments, including a habital terrestrial world with Forerunner glyphs on the surface, several location drafts which feature buildings and ships that follow the [[Forerunner]]s' style of architecture and design, concepts of the ''Forward Unto Dawn''<nowiki />'s wreckage, and some concepts of the then-unidentified planet. Two of these images were repurposed as the cover art for the ''Forerunner Saga'' novels, ''Cryptum'' and ''Primordium''. <ref name="h4panel"/> Following the ''Halo 4'' title card was a quick teaser of an unknown bipedal creature.

====Behind The Scenes====

''Making Halo 4'' is a documentary series covering the development of ''Halo 4'', presented and narrated by the staff of 343 Industries. A total of five videos has been released under this documentary series. The first video, titled "[[Making Halo 4: First Look|First Look]]", revealed the first in-game footage of ''Campaign'' and ''War Games'' for ''Halo 4'' along with various gameplay elements. ''[[Making Halo 4: Composing Worlds|Composing Worlds]]'' is the second video, focusing on the audio design of the development. The third video, titled "[[Making Halo 4: A Hero Awakens|A Hero Awakens]]", goes in great detail on the development of storyline and character performances. The fourth video, titled "[[Making Halo 4: Return of the Forerunners|Return of the Forerunners]]", focuses on the development of the Prometheans and their weapons. The fifth, titled "''[[Making Halo 4: Infinity Multiplayer|Infinity Multiplayer]]''", focuses on the development and inspiration of ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Infinity (mode)|multiplayer mode]].

Nearly a year after the announcement of the game, 343 Industries revealed the first proper gameplay footage of ''Halo 4'' on June 4th, 2012 at the Xbox Press Briefing for E3 2012. Headlining the show, the demonstration started off with the first viewing of the live-action trailer ''The Commissioning'' which synced perfectly into the events of the in-game portion of the reveal. The UNSC ''Infinity'', pulled down into the atmosphere of Requiem by the Prometheans, flies right above John-117 who determines that the advanced warship will crash nearly 78 kilometers from their position. This gameplay demonstration reveals the "ancient evil" that John-117 and his companions will fight during the course of the game, who would be revealed as the Prometheans, the ultimate group of the Forerunner Warrior-Servant caste. 343i's reveal concludes with a short cinematic montage of various environments across Requiem with a voiceover sequence by Cortana, revealing the first prominent display of Rampancy in the series.

[[File:FUD-Poster.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Film poster for ''Forward Unto Dawn'']]

Announced on April 30th, 2012, ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'' is a five-episode live-action series with a total runtime of 75 minutes, making it one of the longest marketing programs for any game in history.<ref name="Variety 4302012"/> ''Forward Unto Dawn'' will chronicle the life of [[Thomas Lasky]] from his experiences at [[Corbulo Academy of Military Science|Corbulo Academy]] decades before his service aboard the UNSC ''Infinity'', alongside his "mentor" John-117. 343i's business director, Matt McCloskey, stated that ''Forward Unto Dawn'' will allow the franchise to "make ''Halo'' accessible for people who haven't played the games." Both McCloskey and [[Frank O'Connor]] noted that the series will flesh out the fiction of the universe, particularly ''Halo 4'''s. Viewers will be given background information on the various events set prior to the upcoming game and the characters set to appear in it, as well as being introduced to new elements and expanding on old ones.  

''Forward Unto Dawn'' will be released prior to the worldwide launch of ''Halo 4'' on October 5th, 2012, <ref name="Bulletin 5252012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/05/25/The-Halo-Bulletin-52512.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 5.25.2012'']</ref><ref name="Bulletin 7122012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/07/13/The-Halo-Bulletin-71212.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 7.12.12'']</ref> first as a short weekly webseries exclusively on ''[[Halo Waypoint]]'' and [[Wikipedia:Machinima.com|Machinima.com]] and later in its full 75-minute form on other devices.<ref name="Variety 4302012"/> A 90-minute extended edition is included with the limited edition for ''Halo 4''. <ref name="Bulletin 51612"/> Directed by [[Wikipedia:Stewart Hendler|Stewart Hendler]], filming on ''Forward Unto Dawn'' took place in [[Wikipedia:British Columbia|British Columbia]] throughout Spring 2012 and is currently in post-production in Los Angeles. It stars [[Wikipedia:Tom Green (Australian actor)|Tom Green]] (''[[Thomas Lasky]]''), [[Wikipedia:Anna Popplewell|Anna Popplewell]] (''[[Chyler Silva]]''), and [[Wikipedia:Daniel Cudmore|Daniel Cudmore]] (''John-117'').

The ''Halo 4: Original Soundtrack'' will be released October 22, 2012. The soundtrack features 15 tracks, though some editions come with a remix album. <ref>[http://halo4soundtrack.com/usd.html '''Halo 4 Soundtrack''']</ref><ref name="Bulletin 8.22.12">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/08/22/The-Halo-Bulletin-82212.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 8.22.12'']</ref>

{{Stub}}

Halo 4 has received extremely positive acclaim from critics, and high praise for surpassing expectations. IGN's Ryan McCaffrey gave the game a score of 9.8 out of 10, calling it "not only a success, but a bar-raising triumph for the entire first-person shooter genre,"<ref name="IGN Halo 4">[http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/01/halo-4-review ''Ryan McCaffrey'', "Halo 4 Review", IGN]</ref> and  praised most aspects of the game, ranging from graphics and design to enemy behaviour, and called the multiplayer "golden". Criticisms of the game were that the need to view the Terminal through Halo Waypoint "serves only to pull you out of the experience, literally and figuratively."<ref name="IGN_Halo_4"/>, and that "some of its fetch quest-y, flip-three-switches sequences feel like they artificially lengthen the game because of how long you can get hung up on them when the going gets tough."<ref name="IGN_Halo_4"/> The only negative of multiplayer was that the Spartan Ops mode "lacks the replayability and score-based incentives of the Firefight mode it replaces," and that the new lobby system was "a bit more cluttered and difficult to parse through than previous Halos," but otherwise praised it as "on par with what Bungie had previously established."<ref name="IGN_Halo_4"/> His overall conclusion was that "Halo has been rebuilt. It has been redefined. And it has been reinvigorated."<ref name="IGN_Halo_4"/>

Jose Otero of 1UP similarly praised the game, stating that 343 Industries have "created a worthy sequel to a blockbuster franchise that wasn't initially theirs,"<ref name="1UP_Halo_4">[http://www.1up.com/reviews/halo-4-review-laying-groundwork ''Jose Otero, "Halo 4 Review: Laying the Groundwork for a New Trilogy, 1UP]"</ref>, and that "Halo 4 demonstrates a genuine effort to either introduce new elements or simply correct old problems."<ref name="1UP_Halo_4"/> He also stated that "the sound design of Halo 4 benefits from having a punchier effect than the previous entries,"<ref name="1UP_Halo_4"/> and that the game "benefits from striking art direction that draws some inspiration from J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek while adding an impressive layer of detail."<ref name="1UP_Halo_4"/> Criticism of the campaign was that while "For the most part, the narrative does well at weaving together a big-picture conflict involving the mysterious Forerunners while telling a subtle side story about Cortana's descent into rampancy"<ref name="1UP_Halo_4"/>, "the resolution to Halo 4's story doesn't make a lot of sense."<ref name="1UP_Halo_4"/> He admitted that "the decision to adopt a perks system in Halo 4 makes sense from a gameplay perspective, since it introduces additional avenues for players to build a character that fits their distinct play style, but these same additions slightly erase elements that distinguish two of the biggest shooter franchises from one other. Halo still has the advantage of energy shields and armor abilities, but its a shame to see the series conform to another game's mold"<ref name="1UP_Halo_4"/>, and he voiced concerns that "the short length of Spartan Ops can feel odd at first -- unless you're playing on Legendary difficulty, that is -- but the promise of more content could easily erase these concerns."<ref name="1UP_Halo_4"/> He praised the addition of the Prometheans, which "add a wonderful element of enemy teamwork that complements the existing A.I. behaviors beautifully,"<ref name="1UP_Halo_4"/> and concluded that "343i has done a great job of capturing the essence of Halo, tapping into the kind of options that FPS fans love."<ref name="1UP_Halo_4"/>

Tina Amini praised the emotional impact of the campaign, stating that "I can safely say I’ve never sat through a Halo campaign quite at the edge of my seat like I have in the first title by 343 Industries,"<ref name="Kotaku Halo 4">[http://updates.kotaku.com/post/34748950516/halo-4-the-kotaku-review ''Tina Amini'', "Halo 4: The Kotaku Review"]</ref>, and praised the campaign as "beautiful. It’s cinematic, and features lovely music,"<ref name="Kotaku_Halo_4"/> and that it "humanized what was up until now mainly just a really fun, well-made series of games,"<ref name="Kotaku_Halo_4"/> though she found that "concepts and names are thrown at you in such rapid succession that it’s difficult to follow along"<ref name="Kotaku_Halo_4"/> and complained that "I found the Spartan Ops missions to be fairly boring."<ref name="Kotaku_Halo_4"/> She also admitted that "gamers are afraid of change. So the addition of ordnance drops in multiplayer—basically a bonus given to players who do well during a match—might not be desirable."<ref name="Kotaku_Halo_4"/> She also complained that "Prometheans as a new enemy class are more annoying than I expected,"<ref name="Kotaku_Halo_4"/> and that "fighting them grew stale very quickly,"<ref name="Kotaku_Halo_4"/> but praised their arsenal as "trump[ing] even the Covenant’s stock."<ref name="Kotaku_Halo_4"/> Overall, she recommender players "keep an open mind for Halo 4, because you just may enjoy it as much as I did."<ref name="Kotaku_Halo_4"/>

When recording dialogue as [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery Johnson]] for ''[[Halo 2]]'', [[David Scully]] humorously said, "In ''Halo 4'', I get a woman!"<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/Media.aspx?mid=13890&age_verify=0 '''Bungie.net''': ''Media Player - Halo 2 Audio Outtakes'']</ref>

File:Halo 4 cover art ESRB (without Xbox 360 logos).jpg|North American/ESRB cover art without Xbox 360 branding. Released on 5/14/2012.

File:Halo 4 cover poster.jpg|High resolution covert art poster.

File:H4-Menu-Alpha.jpg|The current main menu of ''Halo 4''.

File:H4-FUD John Minor battle.jpg|John-117 and a Sangheili Minor in a close quarters fight.

File:H4-E3-Campaign-4.jpg|The Chief watches as the {{UNSCship|Infinity}} crash-lands.

File:AdriftInfoBox.png|A [[Cyclops Mark II]] under construction in a UNSC factory in the multiplayer map ''[[Adrift]]''.

File:Halo4conceptart1.jpg|A general view of Requiem.

File:Halo4conceptart2.jpg|The wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' entering an iris-like opening on Requiem.

File:Halo4conceptart14.jpg|UNSC ships entering the structure through what appears to be the same or similar opening.

File:GravityWellConcept.JPG|Concept art of a Forerunner gravity field generator.

File:Halo4conceptart9.jpg|A valley with massive Forerunner towers suspended in the air.

File:Wraparoundbetter.jpg|Concept art of the Forerunner skyscrapers that serves as the setting for ''[[Haven]]''.

File:WarhouseLandingPad.jpg|Concept art of a [[Pelican]] landing at the orbital manufacturing facility that serves as the setting for [[Adrift]].

File:UNSC Infinity.jpg|Concept art of the prototype warship {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.

File:H4- Ancient threat.jpg|A compilation of screen captures from the end of the concept art trailer, depicting an early version of a Promethean Knight.<ref name="concept glimpse"/>

File:Cov_229_l.jpg|Concept art of Master Chief and Cortana.

File:DawnCryoConcept.jpg|Concept art of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'''s cryo bay.

File:chief_ARC.jpg|Concept art of Master Chief with the [[ARC-920]].

File:MultiplayerConcept1.jpg|Concept art of a [[Forerunner]] artifact in a UNSC facility.