Editing Reclaimer Saga

{{Title|''Reclaimer Saga''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{disambig header|the second phase of the Halo series|articles of the same name|Reclaimer (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Newreclaimertrilogylogo.png|thumb|300px|A promotional image for the original ''Reclaimer Trilogy'']]
{{Quote|The journey is the important part, the growth is the important part, and so really where does [[John-117|he]] still need to go as a human? That became the key to, not just the story of Halo 4, but the entire trilogy.|[[Christopher Schlerf]], Former Lead Writer<ref>'''[[Making Halo 4: A Hero Awakens]]'''</ref>}}

The '''''Reclaimer Saga''''',<ref name="Saga">[http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/21/halo-reclaimer-trilogy-expanded-to-saga '''IGN:''' ''Halo Reclaimer Trilogy Expanded to 'Saga<nowiki>'</nowiki>'']</ref><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-4 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Games - Halo 4'']</ref> originally the '''''Reclaimer Trilogy''''',<ref name="xbox">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/video/halo-4-panel-opening-video/98674976-d76d-4c91-8048-084c9cf7982b '''Halo Official Site''': ''Halo 4 Panel Opening Video'']</ref> was set to be the next generation of the ''[[Halo]]'' video game franchise, following [[Bungie]]'s original trilogy of ''Halo'' games consisting of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Halo 2]]'', and ''[[Halo 3]]''. The ''Reclaimer Trilogy'' launched with ''[[Halo 4]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s release on [[2012|November 6, 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><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py2wB8GPygk&feature=related '''YouTube''': ''Halo Fest 2011 - Halo 4 Discussion! PART 3'']</ref> and was continued with the release of ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' on [[2015|October 27th, 2015]].<ref name="H5">[http://news.xbox.com/2014/05/games-halo-journey-announcement '''Xbox Wire''': ''The Halo Journey'']</ref>

==Development==
===Growth of the Saga===
The first installment of the then-trilogy, ''[[Halo 4]]'', was announced on [[2011|June 6th, 2011]] with a [[Awakening|teaser trailer]] presented at [[Microsoft]]'s [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 Media Briefing]].<ref name="E3">[[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2011]]</ref> The subseries was first identified as the ''Reclaimer Trilogy'' during Halo Fest at [[Wikipedia: Penny Arcade Expo|PAX Prime 2011]].{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}}<ref name="h4panel">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD429ZWcQ_w '''YouTube''': ''Halo Fest: Halo 4 Panel'']</ref>

The series marks the ''Halo'' games' first foray into the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|post]]-[[Human-Covenant War]] ''Halo'' universe. "[[Reclaimer]]" is a title given to [[human]]s by the [[Forerunner]]s, which coincides with humanity's status in the time period the ''Reclaimer Saga'' is set. Two [[Halo novels|novel]] series, [[The Forerunner Saga]] and the [[Kilo-Five Trilogy]], written by [[Greg Bear]] and [[Karen Traviss]], respectively, were created as tie-in material to more thoroughly establish the story and themes present in the new game series, particularly the extensive Forerunner elements in the case of the former. Both novel series introduce and build on many characters, technologies and locales encountered in the games.<ref name="SDCC">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNDQN7nwZlw&feature=related '''YouTube''': SDCC 2011: Halo Universe Panel Part 1]</ref> This was not a one-way process, as multiple elements were incorporated into the games after their inclusion in the novels.<ref name="kast17">[http://waypointassets.blob.core.windows.net/mobilecontent/legacysupport/content/assets/en-us/podcast/343Sparkast_017.mp3 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''343 Sparkast 017'']</ref> This is part of 343 Industries' efforts to more seamlessly integrate the ''Halo'' games with the other media exploring the ''Halo'' universe,<ref name="expanded">[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/05/10/the-future-of-halo-wars-and-halo-39-s-expanded-universe.aspx '''Game Informer''': ''The Future Of Halo Wars And Halo's Expanded Universe'']</ref> eliminating the divide between the games and the "expanded universe".<ref name="eurogamer">[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-16-343s-master-plan-for-halo-5-guardians '''Eurogamer''': ''343's master plan for Halo 5: Guardians'']</ref>

On June 21, [[2013]], Microsoft announced that the ''Reclaimer Trilogy'' would be expanded into the ''Reclaimer Saga'', which will not be limited to a trilogy format.{{Ref/Reuse|Saga}}<ref>[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/415889/halo-reclaimer-trilogy-expanded-to-a-saga-says-ms-exec/ '''Computer and Videogames.com''' - ''Halo Reclaimer Trilogy expanded to a 'saga', says MS exec'']</ref>

Starting in the fall of 2014, a multimedia project known as ''[[Halo: The Journey]]'' was intended to tie together the stories and characters of ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' and those encountered in previous ''Halo '' media. The "Journey" refers to a personal journey undertaken by [[John-117]], who has begun to question his past worldview and left the UNSC. [[Jameson Locke]], who has been dispatched to find the Master Chief, will be a pivotal character in media released during this phase of the story. 343 Industries has stated that they wanted to create a wider cast of recurring characters to appear in future media; 343 Industries General Manager [[Bonnie Ross]] stated that ''"We ... had a tendency to kill all of our characters besides Master Chief. We are not [[Wikipedia:Game of Thrones|Game of Thrones]], and we actually want to make sure going forward we have a larger cast of characters with which to tell stories."''{{Ref/Reuse|eurogamer}}

Released on November 11, 2014, ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' marked the beginning of ''The Journey''. The collection contained ancillary cinematics that ''"tie you up and leave you on the doorstep of Halo 5,"'' as well as the digital series ''[[Halo: Nightfall]]'' which introduces Jameson Locke.{{Ref/Reuse|eurogamer}} The comic series ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', particularly the final issues, also served to bridge the gap between ''Halo 4'' and its sequel.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/07/halo-escalation-comic/ '''Wired.com''': ''Dark Horse Will Turn World of Halo 4 Into Ongoing Comic Series'']</ref> ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]'' was originally slated to have ties to the ongoing story, although this changed from the series' conception, to its eventual release in [[2022]].{{Ref/Reuse|eurogamer}} Spin-off titles were also envisioned.<ref>[http://time.com/4090404/halo-5-frank-oconnor/ '''Time.com''': ''Halo‘s Frank O’Connor Reacts to Criticism of Halo 5'']</ref>

===Discontinuation of the Saga===
Early planning for ''"Halo 6"'' began shortly after ''Halo 5: Guardians'' came out in 2015,{{Ref/Site|Id=Halo6|URL=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-6-is-undergoing-serious-real-planning-microso/1100-6430903/|Site=GameSpot|Page=Halo 6 Is Undergoing "Serious, Real Planning," Microsoft Says|D=28|M=3|Y=2021}} though these plans eventually changed with the saga being discontinued in favor of a "spiritual reboot".

By February 23, 2017, [[Jeff Easterling]] introduced the term of "swimlanes" where stories will mostly remain in their own ones instead of branching into the main titles.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=TGB1Swimlanes|GrimBrotherOne|834851818513510400|Jeff Easterling|Y=2021|M=5|D=16|Quote=That's a different point, though. Stories should likely stay within their own "swimlanes."}}

By October 9, 2018, Jeff Easterling stated it was likely the safest thing not to be thinking in "____ saga" terms anymore,{{Ref/Twitter|Id=TGB1Sagas|GrimBrotherOne|1049685408928264194|Jeff Easterling|Y=2021|M=5|D=16|Quote=Probably the safest thing is to not really be thinking of it in any "____ saga" terms anymore. Just more Halo :-)}} instead preferring to just use "''Halo''".{{Ref/Twitter|Id=TGB1Callingithalo|GrimBrotherOne|1049686946509811712|Jeff Easterling|Y=2021|M=5|D=16|Quote=How about just calling it... Halo? lol}} In this, ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' is considered just "''the next chapter in the overall story''" instead of being part of the Reclaimer Saga.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=TGB1Infinite|GrimBrotherOne|1129808675630133249|Jeff Easterling|Y=2021|M=5|D=16|Quote=I wouldn't concentrate so much on "sagas/trilogies" etc. Ultimately it doesnt matter really lol. It's the next chapter in the overall story.}}

==Games==
===''Halo 4''===
{{Main|Halo 4}}
{{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/Reuse|xbox}}}}

''Halo 4'' marks the return of [[John-117]] as a playable protagonist after three ''Halo'' games focusing on different sets of characters. Having been lost in space in the finale of ''Halo 3'', John-117 and [[Cortana]] are adrift aboard the wreckage of the [[Charon-class light frigate|frigate]] ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]''. They find themselves being drawn into [[Requiem]], a [[Forerunner]] [[Shield World]] first seen in the [[Legendary]] ending of ''Halo 3''.<ref>'''[[Awakening]]'''</ref>  

They confront a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|remnant faction]] of the former Covenant Empire as they are pulled into the planet's abyss. Inside Requiem, John is determined to rescue Cortana as she struggles with her own capability and mortality, finally experiencing the effects of [[rampancy]] as she nears the end of an AI's seven-year life span. Together they face a new, seemingly unstoppable foe when they awaken the [[Ur-Didact]], an ancient Forerunner and fallen warrior hero first explored in the [[Forerunner Saga]]. After aiding the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} upon their arrival, the pair depart from ''Infinity'' and set off to battle the Didact and his army of [[Promethean]]s to prevent him from obtaining the [[Composer]], a powerful Forerunner device capable of wreaking vengeance and annihilation on the human race. 

===''Halo 5: Guardians''===
{{Main|Halo 5: Guardians}}
{{Quote|The quest of [[Jameson Locke|the hunter]] and [[John-117|the hunted]] has begun.|Official summary}}
''Halo 5: Guardians'' is the second game in the ''Reclaimer Saga''. It was released October 27, [[2015]],{{Ref/Reuse|H5}}<ref name="trailer">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/detail/111609fe-d53c-4400-b4d6-44ae3629dda3/halo-xbox-one '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Halo Xbox One'']</ref> with a [[Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta|multiplayer beta]] playable from December 27, 2014 to January 22, 2015.<ref name="amazon">[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Master-Chief-Collection-Xbox-One/dp/B00KSQHX1K/ref=zg_bs_videogames_1 '''Amazon''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'']</ref>
''Halo 5: Guardians'' continues the story of [[Master Chief]], and introduces Spartan Jameson Locke. After several human colony worlds are attacked, and John-117 goes AWOL along with [[Blue Team]], Spartan Locke and [[Fireteam Osiris]] are tasked with finding the Master Chief and solving a mystery that threatens the entire galaxy.<ref>[http://news.xbox.com/2014/12/28/games-halo-5-preorder-and-beta/ '''Xbox Wire''': ''Halo 5: Guardians Pre-Order Details Released, Multiplayer Beta Starts Today'']</ref>

===''Halo 6'' and discontinuation===
The story for ''"Halo 6"'' began its planning stage in 2015 with 343 Industries having a clear idea where the story was going to go.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo6}} Ideas were proposed such as making it a ''"Halo 5.5"'' or ''"Halo 6: ODST"'' type game according to [[Bonnie Ross]].{{Ref/YouTube|Id=Halo6ODST|VidName=How Bonnie Ross Is Shaping the Future of Halo - IGN Unfiltered #39|Code=3UcDrhWixoc|Time=55:42|Channel=IGN|Quote=Could we get another Halo out in two years, on the Xbox One, and so we did look at sort of I would call it like a "Halo 5.5" or a "Halo 6: ODST" type of thing of a smaller game.
}} These plans were scrapped as Ross described them to be "half-baked",{{Ref/Reuse|Halo6ODST}} and instead opted for creating a "spiritual reboot" of the franchise. The spiritual reboot project would eventually become ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', while also tying up major story beats from the discontinued Reclaimer Saga.

==Trivia==
* 343 Industries created a joke script for ''[[Halo Infinite|Halo 6]]'' titled ''[[Halo 6: Yabda Cuts Loose]]''. It was featured in their mannequin challenge video.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/bounty-hunters Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder: Bounty Hunters]</ref>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

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