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{{Era|RW}}
{{New Content}}
{{Upcoming}}
{{Title|''Halo 4''}}
{{Title|''Halo 4''}}
{{Game Infobox
{{Status|RealWorld}}{{Status|Featured}}
{{Game infobox
|name= ''Halo 4''
|name= ''Halo 4''
|image= [[File:Halo 4 logo.png|300px|center]]
|image= [[File:Halo 4 standard edition (ESRB).png|300px|center]]
[[File:Halo 4 condensed logo.png|250px|center]]
|primary-dev= [[343 Industries]]
|developer= [[343 Industries]]
|support-dev=[[Certain Affinity]] {{C|[[Downloadable content|DLC]] and [[Forge]]}}<br/>[[Liquid Development]] {{C|Armor models}}
|writer=[[Christopher Schlerf]]<br>[[Armando Troisi]]
|composer=[[Neil Davidge]]<br>[[Kazuma Jinnouchi]]
|publisher= [[Microsoft Studios]]
|publisher= [[Microsoft Studios]]
|engine=[[Blam engine]]
|platform= [[Xbox 360]]<ref name="Xbox 360">[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/121/1212411p1.html '''IGN''' - ''Halo 4 Will Be on Xbox 360'']</ref>
|platform= [[Xbox 360]]<ref name="Xbox 360">[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/121/1212411p1.html '''IGN''' - ''Halo 4 Will Be on Xbox 360'']</ref>
|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>
|releasedate= 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><br> October 8, [[2013]] {{C|Game of the Year Edition}}<ref name="GoTYE">[http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/26/halo-4-game-of-the-year-edition-outed '''IGN.com''' - ''Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition Outed '']</ref><ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/10/01/Halo-4-Game-of-the-Year-Edition-.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Halo 4: Game of the Year Edition'']</ref>
|genre=
|genre= [[First-person shooter]]
|modes= [[Campaign]]<br/>[[Cooperative]]<ref name="Panel 3"/><br/>[[Multiplayer]]<ref name="Panel 3"/><br/>[[Forge]]<ref name="Panel 3"/>
|modes= [[Campaign]]<br/>[[Cooperative]]<ref name="Panel 3">'''Halo 4 RTX Panel</ref><br/>[[Multiplayer]]{{Ref/Reuse|Panel 3}}<br/>[[Forge]]{{Ref/Reuse|Panel 3}}
|rating=
|rating= [[Wikipedia:Computer Entertainment Rating Organization|CERO]]: (D) Ages 17 and up<br/>[[Wikipedia:Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB]]: Mature (M) for Blood and Violence
[[Wikipedia:Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 16+ (Europe only)
}}
}}
{{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>}}
{{quote|An Ancient Evil Awakens|Official tagline{{Ref/Reuse|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 a new trilogy of games,<ref name="E3">[[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2011]]</ref> which was identified as the ''[[Reclaimer Trilogy]]'' during Halo Fest at [[Wikipedia:Penny Arcade Expo|PAX Prime 2011]].<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 endlessly towards 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 will be released worldwide on November 6th, 2012. <ref name="Waypoint 4172012"/>
'''''Halo 4''''' is the seventh installment in the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' franchise]].{{Ref/Reuse|Xbox 360}}<ref name="waypoint">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/games/halo4 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 4'']</ref> Set four and a half years after the events of ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''Halo 4'' continues 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 [[Ur-Didact|ancient evil]] within. ''Halo 4'' is the first game developed by [[343 Industries]], the management team in charge of the ''Halo'' franchise, and was published by [[Microsoft Studios]]. The first in a new series of ''Halo'' titles dubbed the [[Reclaimer Saga|''Reclaimer Trilogy'']], ''Halo 4'' was released exclusively on the [[Xbox 360]], worldwide on November 6, 2012.{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint 4172012}}
 
''Halo 4'' was first revealed by a [[Awakening|teaser trailer]] shown at [[Microsoft]]'s [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 Media Briefing]] on [[2011|June 6, 2011]], set to arrive in the holiday of 2012.<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> In the months leading into [[Wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012|E3 2012]], multiplayer for ''Halo 4'' would be unveiled. The game would then get proper coverage during [[Wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012|E3 2012]], where a [[Halo 4 E3 2012 Stage Demo|stage demo]] would be shown off, along with a trailer dubbed "''[[The Commissioning]]''", and the game's new co-operative experience, ''[[Spartan Ops]]''.
 
Upon the first day of release, ''Halo 4'' grossed $220 million, surpassing ''[[Halo: Reach]]'''s record of $200 million, and $300 million in its opening week.
 
Along with ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' and ''Halo 3'', ''Halo 4'' was released on the [[Xbox One]] as part of ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' on November 11, [[2014]]. A sequel, ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', was released for the [[Xbox One]] on October 27, [[2015]].<ref name="H5">[http://news.xbox.com/2014/05/games-halo-journey-announcement '''Xbox Wire''': ''The Halo Journey'']</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
{{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"/>}}
[[File:H4-E3-Campaign-2.jpg|250px|thumb|John-117 on Requiem.]]
{{Quote|The Master Chief returns to battle an ancient evil bent on vengeance and annihilation. Shipwrecked on a mysterious world, faced with new enemies and deadly technology... the universe will never be the same.|Official summary{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}}}
 
''Halo 4'' marks the return of [[John-117]] as a playable protagonist after three ''Halo'' games focusing on different sets of characters.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint}}{{Ref/Reuse|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 glimpsed in the [[Legendary]] ending of ''Halo 3''.{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}}<ref>'''[[Awakening]]'''</ref><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'' was described as being heavily focused on mystery, exploration and discovery, as well as being grand in scope and scale. Forerunner elements are featured extensively. The game also shows 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/Reuse|h4panel}} Member species of the former [[Covenant]] return  in the game, in the form of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction]], consisting of [[Sangheili|Elites]] and most of their former subordinate species, including [[Unggoy|Grunts]] and [[Kig-Yar|Jackals]], still loyal to the tenets of the [[Covenant religion]].<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/Reuse|Game Informer May 2012}} However, the Covenant remnants 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 [[Ur-Didact|Didact]];<ref name="gttv promo">[http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/t3eqhy/gt-tv-gttv-halo-4-promo '''GameTrailers''': ''GTTV Halo 4 Promo'']</ref> this new antagonist has been described as 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, is also 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'' was originally stated to have been designed to be part of a three-game arc from the beginning; however, the scope of the then-''Reclaimer Trilogy'' (now known as the ''Reclaimer Saga'') has since been expanded to encompass an undefined number of games.<ref name="Saga">[http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/21/halo-reclaimer-trilogy-expanded-to-saga '''IGN''': ''Halo Reclaimer Trilogy Expanded to <nowiki>'Saga'</nowiki>'']</ref> In addition, 343 Industries is aiming for more complete connectivity among all of their future media than that of the original trilogy;{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}} the ''[[The Forerunner Saga|Forerunner Saga]]'' and ''[[Kilo-Five Trilogy]]'' novels,{{Ref/Reuse|bulletin1}}<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_005.mp3 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''343 Sparkcast 005'']</ref> and the ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|terminals]] all have connections to ''Halo 4'''s story.{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}}<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNDQN7nwZlw&feature=related '''YouTube''': ''SDCC 2011: Halo Universe Panel Part 1'']</ref> The third and final ''Forerunner Saga'' novel, [[Halo: Silentium|''Silentium'']], was released on March 19th, 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'' would 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]]'', provides a backstory for [[Thomas Lasky]], a major character in the game; this series consists of five episodes totaling 75 minutes. The ''Halo 4 Collector's Edition'' includes 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 contains animated [[Terminal (Halo 4)|terminals]] accessible to the player.<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> These depict the events of the [[Human-Forerunner War]] and [[Forerunner-Flood war]] from the perspective of the [[Ur-Didact]] and the [[Librarian]], and chronicle his descent into madness.
 
{{Spoiler/begin}}
===Discovery===
[[File:H4fudback.jpg|thumb|250px|The wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' floating in space.]]
Halo 4 begins on [[2557|July 21, 2557]],<ref name="Game Informer May 2012">'''Game Informer''': ''May 2012''</ref> four years, seven months and ten days after the armistice ending the [[Human-Covenant War]]. Cortana, laying silent for almost five 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 Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|MJOLNIR Mark VI armor]], upgrading the HUD and armor capabilities. With alarms ringing and the intruders spreading to multiple decks, John slips Cortana's chip back into his [[Spartan neural interface|neural interface]] and sets off to find the source of the disturbance. Suddenly, a [[Sangheili]] swordsman comes charging at the Spartan. After neutralizing the threat, 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]] and [[Kig-Yar]] subordinates, John makes his way to the aft observation deck, viewing a large [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|former Covenant]] fleet, led by [[Jul 'Mdama]], 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 inner planetary shell via an entrance in the [[Dyson sphere]]-like superstructure.{{Ref/Reuse|Game Informer May 2012}} Recovering a [[M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle|Warthog]], Master Chief and Cortana vow to make their way back to Earth in order to find a cure for Cortana's escalating Rampancy. They set out to find a way to contact the UNSC, circumventing the powerful jamming field surrounding the world. They hear a staticky signal from the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} and, finding a cartographer, are mystified to find it appears to be further down inside Requiem.
 
Descending to the core of Requiem and fighting through numerous Jul 'Mdama's Covenant hunting parties, Master Chief is attacked by advanced Forerunner combat constructs which Cortana identifies as Prometheans. Evading or destroying pursuit, John attempts to warn the approaching {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} of the dangerous artificially-induced gravity field that had caused the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' to crash.
 
===The Didact===
[[File:HTMCC-H4 ThisTombIsNowYours.png|thumb|250px|John-117 encounters the Didact.]]
After disabling two control nodes, it becomes clear to John that a great threat had once been imprisoned within Requiem. The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], the Forerunners' greatest warrior, is released from suspended animation within a [[Cryptum]]. Easily disabling John with his powerful abilities, he declares the return of the Forerunners as the galaxy's rulers and saviors. Humanity remains weak and unworthy in his eyes of inheriting the [[Mantle|Mantle of Responsibility]], a view rejected by his wife, the [[Librarian]]. Having always revered the Forerunners as gods,Jul 'Mdama's Covenant quickly swears alliance to the Didact and his Prometheans. The Didact views Jul's Covenant as mere "primitives", but permits them to serve his cause, to prevent the ascension of the human race to galactic prominence.
 
Narrowly escaping the collapsing core facility, the Chief and Cortana return to the planet's surface only to find their warning to the ''Infinity'' came too late. The warship crashes more than 70 kilometers away, with a massive force of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and Prometheans closing on their position.
 
Evading capture, John is successful in regrouping with a group of [[SPARTAN-IV Program|SPARTAN-IVs]] and Marines led by [[Commander]] [[Thomas Lasky]]. Recognizing the Chief immediately, Lasky asks John and Cortana to clear a landing zone so that ''Infinity'''s ground forces can fall back to the ship which has fallen under siege. Commandeering a Scorpion tank, John leads the attack to the crippled vessel alongside Commander [[Sarah Palmer]]'s Spartans. Using the UNSC's latest weapon, the [[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX Armor Defense System|Mantis]] exoskeleton, John rallies a force of nearby Marines and regains control of the ship's interior. After reinitializing the secondary MAC guns and missile batteries, the tide turns in the UNSC's favor. Two light cruisers and dozens of dropships are destroyed in the artillery barrage, while the Didact's Cryptum is forced to retreat.
 
With a momentary lull in the fighting, John is called to a strategy meeting with [[Andrew Del Rio]], Captain of the ''Infinity''. Skeptical of the threat of the Prometheans, Rio orders an immediate attack on a Forerunner gravity well generator preventing the ship from leaving. A strike force of Spartans led by John is deployed along with a [[Mobile Anti-Aircraft Weapons Platform M510 Siegework/Ultra-Heavy|Mammoth]] ultra-heavy ground vehicle supporting the attack. Facing daunting odds, the UNSC is able to defeat a large armored strike force of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and Prometheans and they disable the gravity beam. Before reaching his objective, John is confronted with a vision from the deceased [[Librarian]], who warns him of the Didact's true plans.
{{Clear}}
 
===The Composer===
[[File:H4 John-117 and Librarian.PNG|thumb|250px|John-117 meets the essence of the Librarian.]]
In ancient times, the human race was once a [[Prehistoric human civilization|great interstellar empire]]. Fleeing from the [[Flood]] and [[Human-Flood war|destroying]] any world tainted with their presence, they came into contact with the Forerunner [[ecumene]]. Ignoring their warnings about the dangers posed by the parasite, the Forerunner [[Warrior-Servant|warrior]]s led by the Didact [[Human-Forerunner War|defeated]] and imprisoned humanity upon their homeworld. Weakened by the struggle, the Forerunners [[Forerunner-Flood war|were easy prey]] for the resurgent Flood. Defying the Forerunners' decision to accept the [[Halo Array]] as their final resort, the Didact used a device known as the [[Composer]], capable of transferring organic consciousness to software format, to convert his warriors into mechanical Promethean Knights, in order to combat the Flood (which could only infect living tissue) more effectively and without risk of infection. Lacking the sufficient numbers to turn the tide, the Didact used the Composer to "conscript" a large population of humans into his army, leading to the confiscation of the Composer and his imprisonment on Requiem. Opposing the Didact for her own reasons, the Librarian provides John with a gift: a medical treatment to counteract the Forerunner's devolution of the human genome, and a means to resist the effects of the Composer, with which the Didact plans to enslave the human race once again.
 
Regrouping aboard the ''Infinity'', Captain Del Rio dismisses the threat of the Prometheans and prepares the ship to depart the system. Defying direct orders, John takes the increasingly unstable Cortana and departs the ''Infinity''. Armed with a [[D79-TC Pelican|Pelican]] gunship provided by Commander Lasky, John launches several attacks on support pillars providing the Didact's Cryptum with shields and power, with the goal of preventing him from leaving the planet and attacking Earth.
 
[[File:H4-ComposerFiringOnPhoenix.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Composer fires on New Phoenix.]]
This attempt ultimately proves unsuccessful, as the Didact leaves Requiem aboard his massive vessel, the ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', escorted by a flotilla of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant ships. Stowing away aboard a [[Lich]], Master Chief pursues the Forerunner to [[Ivanoff Station]], a UNSC research base orbiting Halo [[Installation 03]] where the Composer is kept. Dr. [[Sandra Tillson]], a lead researcher aboard the base, helps guide John to the artifact amidst a swarm of Jul's Covenant attackers. Despite reaching the artifact first, the Didact is successful in obtaining the Composer, tearing it out of the station's hull with a gravity beam. Testing the weapon, the Composer burns the crew of the station to ash, harvesting their essences to power additional Prometheans. The Master Chief survives, thanks to the genetic enhancements provided by the Librarian.
 
With the Composer in the Didact's possession, the Forerunner is poised to deal a deathblow to the UNSC, and by extension humanity. Racing back to Earth aboard a [[F-41 Broadsword|Broadsword]] fighter stowed on the outer hull of the Didact's ship, the Master Chief finds the ''Infinity'' and a [[Battlegroup Dakota|UNSC battlegroup]] waiting for him. Flying below the Forerunner vessel's shields, John is able to destroy the ship's point defense guns, allowing ''Infinity'' to bombard its hull. Entering through a breach in the armor, John fights his way to the Didact's location.
 
Despite their best efforts, the Didact is able to fire the Composer at Earth, North America. Armed with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon|HAVOK portable nuclear device]], John confronts the Didact once again. While John is no match for the Forerunner's powerful abilities, Cortana, nearing the end of her life, immobilizes the Didact with [[hard light]] shackles. With the last of his strength, John defeats the Didact with a [[Z-040 Attenuation Field Generator/Localized|pulse grenade]], sending him falling into a slipspace rupture beneath the Composer, and detonates the nuclear bomb manually.


''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 [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Charon-class light frigate|frigate]] ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]'', find themselves near [[Requiem]], the [[Forerunner]] [[Dyson sphere]] 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>
===Farewells===
[[File:John and Cortana re-unite - Close shot.png|thumb|250px|The Master Chief and Cortana meet for the last time.]]
With the last of her power, Cortana is able to [[Slipspace translocation|teleport]] John away from the vessel before it was destroyed and meets with John for one last time inside a bubble of hard light. Overcome with emotion, John remarks that he was supposed to have protected her. Cortana insists that they were supposed to protect each other, and did. Using her hard light body, Cortana is able to actually touch John for the first time, which she says that she's been waiting to do for a very long time. Smiling and seeming at peace, Cortana welcomes John home, and then fades away completely. The Master Chief drifts in space amidst the debris of the Didact's ship for a time before being recovered by a UNSC search-and-rescue team. Later, John speaks with (now Captain) Lasky about the loss of his closest friend and companion.


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. 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.<ref name="h4panel"/> The [[Covenant Empire]] returns in the game, with the supposed Sangheili allies and their former Unggoy subordinates, turned enemies, 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, 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>
In the battle's aftermath, a UNSC team investigates the city of [[New Phoenix]], where the [[Composer]]'s energy beam was directed; although the infrastructure of vehicles and buildings are completely untouched, its former human inhabitants are gone. Aboard the ''Infinity'', John rejoins Palmer and the other Spartans, preparing for their inevitable next battle, and his MJOLNIR Mark VI armor is removed for the first time in years. The final scene is overlaid with a speech given by the Didact to his fellow Forerunners, after being accused of attempting to wipe out human life. In this speech, the Didact maintains his belief that only the Forerunners are worthy of the Mantle and that humanity should never be allowed to reclaim the Forerunners' accomplishments.


Beginning approximately 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]], a prologue cinematic will educate new players and refresh fans on the events leading up to the the present day. Cortana, laying silent for years, notices that the ship's intruder alarms have activated and attempts to wake John-117 from [[Cryonics|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 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 vacuum. After climbing up an elevator shaft, suddenly, a [[Sangheili]] swordsman comes charging at the Spartan supersoldier. 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 for. After fighting the Sangheili and their "repatriated" [[Unggoy]] subordinates, John makes his way to the aft observation deck, viewing a large [[Covenant Navy|Covenant fleet]] surrounding the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' while multiple boarding craft dock with the heavily damaged frigate. Shortly after, John and Cortana make a crash landing on the Forerunner Dyson sphere later to be known as Requiem.<ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
While their defeat at Earth proved a setback for the Didact's Prometheans and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, it did not result in their defeat. Months later, the Infinity returns to Requiem with a complement of Spartans, determined to claim the planet. This tour forms the background for the [[Requiem Campaign]] covered in the ''[[Spartan Ops]]'' mode.
{{Spoiler/end}}


Unlike the original trilogy, the story has been designed to be part of a three-game arc from the beginning. In addition, 343 Industries strives for more complete connectivity among all of their future media than before;<ref name="h4panel"/> therefore, the [[The Forerunner Saga|''Forerunner Saga'']] novels ''[[Halo: Cryptum|Cryptum]]'' and ''[[Halo: Primordium|Primordium]]'', the ''[[Kilo-Five Trilogy]]'' novel ''[[Halo: Glasslands|Glasslands]]'' and its sequel ''[[Halo: The Thursday War|The Thursday War]]'',<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_005.mp3 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''343 Sparkcast 005'']</ref><ref name="bulletin1"/> and the [[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|terminals]] in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', will "definitely" have "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"/>
===Campaign===
The [[campaign]] of ''Halo 4'' consists of 10 levels. {{Ref/Reuse|The Halo Bulletin: 8.22.12}}
 
#[[Prologue]] - ''"Catherine Halsey is interrogated deep within a secret ONI facility."'' (Cinematic)
#[[Dawn]] - ''"After four years adrift in space, Cortana awakens the Master Chief to investigate a disturbance on the Forward Unto Dawn."''
#[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]] - ''"Having survived the destruction of the Dawn, Master Chief and Cortana search for a way off of the mysterious Forerunner planet."''
#[[Forerunner (level)|Forerunner]] - ''"Master Chief tracks the Infinity's signal to Requiem's core in the hopes of returning Cortana to Earth to address her rampancy."''
#[[Infinity (Halo 4 level)|Infinity]] - ''"Following the Didact to Infinity's crash site, Chief and Cortana descend into the surrounding swamp to rescue UNSC survivors."''
#[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]] - ''"Infinity sends the Master Chief and Gypsy Company to neutralize the gravity well keeping them on Requiem."''
#[[Shutdown]] - ''"As Infinity flees Requiem and Cortana's rampancy worsens, Master Chief struggles to stop Didact from pursuing the Composer."''
#[[Composer (level)|Composer]] - ''"The Master Chief's pursuit of the Didact leads him to a UNSC science station orbiting Installation 03."''
#[[Midnight]] - ''"With the Composer in the Didact's possession, Chief and Cortana must destroy the device before he turns it on his next target."''
#[[Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue]] - ''"After the destruction of New Phoenix, and the death of Cortana, Master Chief must carry on."'' (Cinematic)


==Appearances==
==Appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{Center|Please visit [[Spartan Ops]] and [[Terminal (Halo 4)|Halo 4 Terminals]] for the dedicated appearance lists of said modes.}}
{{col-2}}
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5
===Characters===
|title-1=Characters|
'''[[Human]]'''
*[[Andrew Del Rio]]
*[[Armstrong (sailor)|Armstrong]] {{Fm}}
*[[Avery Johnson]] {{Mo}}
*[[Carlo Scudieri]] {{Fm}}
*[[Catherine Halsey]]
*[[Cortana]]
*[[Cortana]]
*[[Cox]] {{1st}}
*[[Edwards]] {{1st}}
*[[Elena Bobrov]] {{Fm}}
*[[Franklin Mendez]] {{Mo}}
*[[Frederic-104]] {{Mo}}
*[[French]] {{1st}}
*[[Jesse]] {{Fm}}
*[[John-117]]
*[[John-117]]
*[[Kelly-087]] {{Mo}}
*[[Linda-058]] {{Mo}}
*[[Marcus Stacker]]
*[[Paolo Jiminez]] {{1st}}
*[[Peters]] {{1st}}
*[[Philips]] {{1st}}
*[[Sandra Tillson]] {{1st}}
*[[Sarah Palmer]] {{1st}}
*[[Thomas Lasky]]
*[[Tim Pherson]] {{1st}} {{C|Audio logs only}}
*[[Warner]] {{1st}}


===Equipment===
'''[[Sangheili]]'''
*[[Active Camouflage]] <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
*[[Jul 'Mdama]]
*Forerunner Vision {{1st}} <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
*[[Hologram]] <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
*[[Jet Pack]] <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]] <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Upgraded Mark VI]] {{1st}} <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
**Unidentified light variant {{1st}} <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>


===Locations===
'''[[Forerunner]]'''
*[[Requiem]] <ref>[http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2011-halo-4/714846 '''GameTrailers''': ''E3 2011: Halo Returns Interview (Stream) HD'']</ref><ref name="gtinterview"/><ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
*[[Endurance-of-Will]]
**[[Wraparound|Unidentified Forerunner solar energy facility]] {{1st}}
*[[Librarian]]
*Unidentified gas giant {{1st}}
*[[Ur-Didact]]
**[[Warhouse|Civilian orbital manufacturing facility]] {{1st}}


===Organizations===
|title-2=Species and entities|
*[[Misriah Armory]]
*[[Eiyaa-Mahtuhaa]] {{1st}} {{C|Not mentioned by name}} {{C|War Games simulation only}}
*[[Sangheilian Armed Forces]] <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>
*[[Flood]] {{C|Terminals and War Games simulation only}}
*[[United Nations Space Command]]
*[[Forerunner]]
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]] <ref name="sp011"/>
*[[Human]]
**[[UNSC Navy]]
**[[UNSC Marines]]
***[[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Warfare Command]]
**[[Spartan Operations|Spartans]]
****[[SPARTAN-II Program]]
*[[Huragok]] {{Mo}}
***[[Office of Naval Intelligence]]
*[[Jiralhanae]] {{C|Prologue only}}
****[[SPARTAN-IV Program]] {{1st}}
**[[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] {{C|Prologue only}}
*[[Covenant Empire|Unidentified Covenant organization]] <ref name="bulletin1"/><ref name="sp011">[http://halo.xbox.com/Content/assets/en-us/Podcast/343Sparkast_011.mp3 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''343 Sparkcast 011'']</ref>
*[[Kig-Yar]] (''Ibie'shan'')
**[[Kig-Yar Heavy|Heavy]] {{1st}}
**[[Kig-Yar Ranger|Ranger]]
**[[Kig-Yar Sniper|Sniper]]
**[[Kig-Yar Storm|Storm]] {{1st}}
*[[Lekgolo]]
**[[Mgalekgolo]]
*[[Sangheili]]
**[[Commander (Covenant)|Commander]] {{1st}}
**[[Sangheili Ranger|Ranger]]
**[[Sangheili Storm|Storm]] {{1st}}
**[[Sangheili Warrior|Warrior]] {{1st}}
**[[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]]
*[[Unggoy]]
**[[Unggoy Heavy|Heavy]]
**[[Unggoy Imperial|Imperial]] {{1st}}
**[[Unggoy Ranger|Ranger]] {{1st}}
**[[Unggoy Storm|Storm]] {{1st}}
*[[Promethean]]
**[[Promethean Knight]]
***[[Knight Lancer]] {{1st}}
***[[Knight Battlewagon]] {{1st}}
***[[Knight Commander]] {{1st}}
**[[Promethean Crawler]] {{1st}}
***[[Crawler Snipe]] {{1st}}
***[[Alpha Crawler]] {{1st}}
**[[Promethean Watcher]] {{1st}}
*[[Sentinel]]
**[[Aggressor Sentinel]]


{{col-2}}
|title-3=Organizations|
*[[Covenant]] {{C|Prologue only}}
*[[Covenant remnants]]
**[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction]]
**[[Swords of Sanghelios]] {{1st}}{{citation needed}}
*[[Ecumene]]
**[[Lifeworker]]
**[[Warrior-Servant]]
***[[Promethean]]
*[[Ancestors]]
*[[Unified Earth Government]]
**[[United Nations Space Command]]
***[[Spartan Operations]] {{1st}}
****[[SPARTAN-IV program]] {{1st}}
*****[[Fireteam Castle]] {{1st}}
*****[[Fireteam Shadow]] {{1st}}
***[[UNSC Air Force]]
***[[UNSC Army]]
***[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
****[[Gypsy Company]]
***[[UNSC Navy]]
****[[UNSC Fleet Command|Fleet Command]] {{Mo}}
*****[[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]]
******[[Battlegroup Dakota]] {{1st}}
*****[[Orbital Defense Command]] {{c|First named}}
****[[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Weapons]]
*****[[SPARTAN-II program]]
****[[Office of Naval Intelligence]]
*****[[ONI Security]] {{1st}}
 
|title-4=Locations|
*[[Carinae Station]] {{Fm}}
*[[Circinius system]]
**[[Circinius IV]] {{Mo}}
***[[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]] {{Mo}}
*[[Coalest system]]
**[[Substance]]
***[[Installation 05]] {{Mo}}
*[[Concord]] {{1st}}
*[[Epoloch system]]
**[[Requiem]]
***[[Control]] {{1st}}
***[[The Gate]] {{1st}}
***[[Haven]] {{1st}}
***[[Librarian's Rest]] {{1st}}
***[[Quarry]] {{1st}}
***[[Sniper Alley]] {{1st}}
***[[Vale Citadel]] {{1st}}
*[[Epsilon Eridani system]]
**[[Reach]] {{Mo}}
***[[Medical Facility Endurance]]
*[[Epsilon Indi system]]
**[[Harvest]] {{Mo}}
*[[Installation 00]] {{Mo}}
*[[Khaphrae system]]
**[[Doavyn]]
***[[Installation 03]]
***[[Ivanoff Station]]
*[[Soell system]]
**[[Threshold]]
***[[Installation 04]] {{Mo}}
*[[Sol system]]
**[[Earth]]
***[[Africa]]
****[[East African Protectorate]]
*****[[Kenya]]
******[[Mombasa]]
*******[[New Mombasa]] {{Mo}}
******[[Voi]] {{Mo}}
*******[[Portal at Voi]] {{Mo}}
***[[United Republic of North America]]
****[[New Phoenix]] {{1st}}
***[[Luna]]
**[[Mars]]
***[[New Harmony (city)|New Harmony]] {{Mo}}
 
|title-5=Events|
*[[Conservation Measure]] {{Mo}}
*[[Forerunner-Flood war]] {{Mo}}
*[[Human-Forerunner wars]] {{Mo}}
**[[Siege of Charum Hakkor]] {{Mo}}
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
**[[Battle of Circinius IV]] {{Mo}}
**[[Battle for Earth]] {{Mo}}
***[[Battle of Mombasa]] {{Mo}}
***[[Battle of Voi]] {{Mo}}
**[[Battle of Installation 00]] {{Mo}}
**[[Battle of Installation 04]] {{Mo}}
**[[First Battle of Harvest]] {{Mo}}
*[[Great Schism]] {{Mo}}
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]] {{1st}}
**[[Battle of Requiem]] {{1st}}
**[[New Phoenix Incident]] {{1st}}
**[[Raid on Ivanoff Station]] {{1st}}
*[[SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures]] {{C|Prologue only}}
*[[SPARTAN-II training]] {{Mo}}
 
|title-6=Weapons|
====UNSC====
;Usable
*[[ARC-920]] {{1st}}
*[[BR85HB battle rifle]] {{1st}}
*[[H-295 Forward Observer Module]] {{1st}}
*[[M11 combat knife]] {{1st}}
*[[M247H machine gun]]
*[[M363 sticky detonator]] {{1st}}
*[[M395 DMR]] {{1st}}
*[[M41 rocket launcher]]
*[[M410 dual heavy machine gun]] {{1st}}
*[[M45 shotgun#M45D Tactical Shotgun|M45D shotgun]] {{1st}}
*[[M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]
*[[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle]]
*[[M8C Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Cannon]] {{1st}}
*[[M68 Gauss cannon]]
*[[M6H magnum]]
*[[M79 Multiple Launch Rocket System]]
*[[M739 SAW]] {{1st}}
*[[M9 fragmentation grenade]]
*[[MA5D assault rifle]]
*[[SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle]] {{1st}}
 
;Unusable
*[[Mark 2551 Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]] {{1st}}
*[[M97 Lance]]
*[[Landmine|UNSC landmine]]
*[[M3063 deployable turret]] {{1st}}
*[[M85 Scythe]] {{1st}}
 
====Covenant====
;Usable
*[[Plasma grenade]]
**{{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}}
*[[Energy sword]]
**{{Pattern|Domotos|energy sword}}
*[[Gravity hammer (fiction)|Gravity hammer]]
**[[Paegaas Workshop gravity hammer]]
*[[Plasma pistol]]
**{{Pattern|Zo'klada|plasma pistol}}
*[[Plasma rifle]]
**{{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}} {{C|Prologue only}}
*[[Beam rifle]]
**{{Pattern|Zubo|beam rifle}} {{1st}}
*[[Needler]]
**{{Pattern|Nahle'hax|needler}}
*[[Fuel rod gun]]
**{{Pattern|Korva|fuel rod gun}}
*[[Concussion rifle]]
**{{Pattern|Elo'Nakada|concussion rifle}}
*[[Carbine]]
**{{Pattern|Mosa|carbine}} {{1st}}
*[[Plasma cannon]]
**{{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}}
*{{Pattern|Kelos'vaarda|storm rifle}}
 
;Unusable
*[[Assault cannon]]
 
====Forerunner====
;Usable
*[[Z-040 pulse grenade]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-110 Boltshot]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-130 Suppressor]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-180 Scattershot]]
*[[Z-250 Lightrifle]]
*[[Z-390 incineration cannon]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-750 binary rifle]] {{1st}}
 
;Unusable
*[[Z-510 Focus turret]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-8060 Particle Cannon]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-8250 light artillery]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-8250 heavy artillery]] {{1st}}
*[[Hardlight blade]] {{1st}}


===Species===
|title-7=Vehicles|
*[[Human]]
====UNSC====
*[[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>
;Usable
*[[Kig-yar]] <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
*[[G79H-TC Pelican]] {{1st}}
*[[Sangheili]] <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>
*[[Mark IX Mantis ADS]]
*[[Unggoy]] <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
*[[M12 Warthog]]
**[[M12 LRV Warthog]]
**[[M12G1 Gauss Warthog]]
**[[M12R Rocket Warthog]]
*[[M274R Mongoose]]
*[[M808C Scorpion]]
*[[F-41 Broadsword]]


===Vehicles===
;Unusable
*[[Covenant boarding craft|Boarding craft]] <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
*{{Class|Autumn|heavy cruiser}}
**{{UNSCShip|Song of the East}} {{1st}}
*[[AV-14 Hornet]] {{C|War Games simulator only}}
*{{Class|Strident|heavy frigate}} {{1st}}
*{{Class|Charon|light frigate}}
*{{Class|Charon|light frigate}}
**{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}
**{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}
*[[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>
*{{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}
*[[M12 Force Application Vehicle]]
*{{Class|Springhill|mining ship}} {{1st}}
*[[M831 Troop Transport]] <ref name="screenshot">[[:File:Troop.jpg|Screenshot from Making Halo 4: First Look shows the Troop Transport.]]</ref>
**{{CAAShip|Heavy Burden}} {{1st}} {{C|War Games simulator only}}
*{{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>
*[[D79-TC Pelican]]
**[[Papa Foxtrot 766]] {{1st}}
**[[Pelican 096]] {{1st}}
**[[Pelican 595]] {{1st}}
*[[Forklift]] {{C|War Games simulator only}}
*{{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}
**{{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} {{Mo}}
*{{UNSCShip|Infinity}}
*[[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II (D) Geyrion]] {{1st}} {{C|War Games simulator only}}
*[[M510 Mammoth]]
*[[Orbital defense platform]]
**''[[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Class|Poseidon|light carrier}} {{1st}}
*[[Spade]] {{C|War Games simulator only}}
*[[Tractor unit]] {{C|War Games simulator only}}
*[[Egret Spaceliner]] {{C|War Games simulator only}}
*[[Ibis-class freighter|''Ibis''-class freighter]] {{C|War Games simulator only}}
*{{Class|Vindication|light battleship}}|
 
====Covenant====
;Usable
*[[Wraith]]
**{{Pattern|Zurdo|Wraith}}
*[[Banshee]]
**{{Pattern|Is'belox|Banshee}}
*[[Ghost]]
**{{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}
*[[Shade]]
**{{Pattern|Sho'riru|Shade}} {{1st}}


===Weapons===
;Unusable
*[[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> {{1st}}
*[[Assault carrier]]
*[[M45 Tactical Shotgun]] <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/> <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> <ref group="note">The inclusion of the M45 TS and the SRS99 AM from ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' may simply infer that these two weapon models are simply placeholders for the final shipping product as the ''Red vs. Blue'' announcement video was made some time prior to its release. As well, all returning weapons as of the release date announcement have received a cosmetic upgrade.</ref>
**{{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}} {{C|Prologue and terminals only}}
*[[Sniper Rifle System 99 Anti-Matériel]] <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/> <ref name="RVB STD"/> <ref group="note">[http://www.halopedian.com/Halo_4#cite_ref-24 See above note.]</ref>
***''[[Solemn Penance]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword]] <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
*[[Covenant cruiser|Light cruiser]]
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol]] <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>
**{{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}}
*[[Type-51 Carbine]] <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>
*[[Covenant corvette|Heavy corvette]]
*Unidentified/undesignated weapons
**{{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}
**Assault Carbine {{1st}} <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>
*[[Covenant drop pod]]
**[[DMR|Designated Marksman Rifle]] variant <ref name="sp011"/><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>
**{{Pattern|Gloto|Breaching Carapace}} {{1st}}
**[[Unidentified UNSC weapon (Halo 4)|High explosive weapon]] {{1st}}
**{{Pattern|Gloto'kef|Assault Carapace}} {{1st}}
**[[MA5 series|MA5 Individual Combat Weapon System]] variant
**{{Pattern|Gloto'kas|Assault Carapace}} {{1st}}
**[[M6 Series|M6 Personal Defense Weapon System]] variant
*[[Seraph]]
**[[Rocket launcher|UNSC rocket launcher]] variant <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/>
**{{Pattern|Morsam|Seraph}}
{{col-end}}
*[[Phantom]]
**{{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}} {{1st}}
*[[Scarab]]
**{{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}} {{Mo}}
*[[Lich]]
**{{Pattern|Kmiro'sish|Lich}} {{1st}}
 
====Forerunner====
*''[[Mantle's Approach]]'' {{1st}}
*[[War sphinx]] {{C|Eye only}}
*[[Twelfth-order escort]] {{1st}}
 
|title-8=Equipment and technology|
;[[Armor abilities]]
*[[Series 12 jetpack]] {{1st}}
*[[M2705 regeneration field]] {{1st}}
*[[M805X thruster pack]] {{1st}}
*[[Type-3 active camouflage]] {{1st}}
*[[Type-27 hologram]]
*[[Z-90 hardlight shield]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-2500 autosentry]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-5080 Promethean vision]] {{1st}}
 
;Other
*[[Activation index]]
*[[Ancilla]] {{Mo}}
*[[Artificial intelligence]]
**[[Avatar]]
*[[Constraint field]]
*[[Cryo chamber]]
*[[Cryptum]]
*[[Composer]]
*[[Plasma battery|Covenant plasma battery]]
*[[Data crystal chip]]
*[[Data pad]]
*[[Covenant watchtower]]
*[[Emergency locator beacon]]
*[[Energy shielding]]
*[[Forerunner personal armor]]
**[[Combat skin]]
*[[Power core|Forerunner power core]]
*[[Geas]]
*[[Hard light]]
**[[Light bridge]]
*[[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]
**[[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon#Mark 2556 MFDD|Mark 2556 Medium Fusion Destructive Device]] {{1st}}
*[[Holography]]
**[[Holotank]]
*[[Identification friend or foe]]
*[[Kig-Yar combat harness]]
*[[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet]]
*[[Kig-Yar targeting headgear]]
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor#First generation|MJOLNIR [GEN1]]]
***[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mark IV]] {{C|Prologue only}}
***[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V|Mark V]] {{C|John-117's service record and [GEN2] variant}}
***[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mark VI]]
****Standard variant
****Upgraded variant {{1st}}
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR [GEN2]]] {{1st}}
***[[AIR ASSAULT-class Mjolnir|Air Assault]] variant
***[[AVIATOR-class Mjolnir|Aviator]] variant {{1st}}
***[[CIO-class Mjolnir|CIO]] variant {{1st}}
***[[COMMANDO-class Mjolnir|Commando]] variant
***[[DEADEYE-class Mjolnir|Deadeye]] variant {{1st}}
***[[DEFENDER-class Mjolnir|Defender]] variant {{1st}}
***[[EOD-class Mjolnir|EOD]] variant
***[[ENFORCER-class Mjolnir|Enforcer]] variant {{1st}}
***[[ENGINEER-class Mjolnir|Engineer]] variant {{1st}}
***[[EVA-class Mjolnir|EVA]] variant
***[[FOTUS-class Mjolnir|FOTUS]] variant {{1st}}
***[[GUNGNIR-class Mjolnir|GUNGNIR]] variant
***[[HAZOP-class Mjolnir|HAZOP]] variant
***[[INFILTRATOR-class Mjolnir|Infiltrator]] variant {{1st}}
***[[LOCUS-class Mjolnir|Locus]] variant {{1st}}
***[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V#GEN2|Mark V]] variant {{1st}}
***[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI#GEN2|Mark VI]] variant {{1st}}
***[[OCEANIC-class Mjolnir|Oceanic]] variant {{1st}}
***[[ODST armor#MJOLNIR GEN2/ODST|ODST]] variant {{1st}}
***[[ORBITAL-class Mjolnir|Orbital]] variant {{1st}}
***[[OPERATOR-class Mjolnir|Operator]] variant
***[[PATHFINDER-class Mjolnir|Pathfinder]] variant {{1st}}
***[[PIONEER-class Mjolnir|Pioneer]] variant {{1st}}
***[[PREFECT-class Mjolnir|Prefect]] variant {{1st}}
***[[PROTECTOR-class Mjolnir|Protector]] variant {{1st}}
***[[RAIDER-class Mjolnir|Raider]] variant {{1st}}
***[[RANGER-class Mjolnir|Ranger]] variant {{1st}}
***[[RECON-class Mjolnir|Recon]] variant
***[[RECRUIT-class Mjolnir|Recruit]] variant {{1st}}
***[[RICOCHET-class Mjolnir|Ricochet]] variant {{1st}}
***[[ROGUE-class Mjolnir|Rogue]] variant
***[[SCANNER-class Mjolnir|Scanner]] variant {{1st}}
***[[SCOUT-class Mjolnir|Scout]] variant
***[[SOLDIER-class Mjolnir|Soldier]] variant {{1st}}
***[[STALKER-class Mjolnir|Stalker]] variant {{1st}}
***[[STRIDER-class Mjolnir|Strider]] variant {{1st}}
***[[TRACKER-class Mjolnir|Tracker]] variant {{1st}}
***[[VANGUARD-class Mjolnir|Vanguard]] variant {{1st}}
***[[VENATOR-class Mjolnir|Venator]] variant {{1st}}
***[[WARRIOR-class Mjolnir|Warrior]] variant {{1st}}
***[[WAR MASTER-class Mjolnir|War Master]] variant {{1st}}
***[[WETWORK-class Mjolnir|Wetwork]] variant {{1st}}
*[[Methane tank]]
*[[MX-1050 Quantum Plane Translocation Marker-Local/Hybrid]] {{1st}}
*[[Slipspace crate]] {{1st}}
*[[Stationary shield generator]]
*[[Storm harness]]
*[[UNSC Navy uniforms]]
**[[UNSC Navy Service Uniform]]
*[[Unggoy combat harness]]
*[[Fusion coil|UNSC fusion core]]
*[[Z-9930 Information Vector Console]]
 
|title-9=Miscellaneous|
*[[Full Disclosure Directive]] {{Fm}}
}}


==Development==
==Development==
===Gameplay and design===
===Gameplay and design===
[[File:H4 chief.png|thumb|Master Chief in ''Halo 4''.]]
[[File:Selecting ordnance - damage boost.png|thumb|A first-person view of ''Halo 4'''s multiplayer.]]
''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 two years, 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"/>
''Halo 4'' was developed for the Xbox 360 console.{{Ref/Reuse|Xbox 360}} The game's creative team, which comprised nearly 200 individuals who developed 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> was led by creative director [[Josh Holmes]].{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}} The game has been stated to continue the ''Halo'' series' tradition of inspiring wonder in the player while providing engaging, visceral gameplay. The game utilizes 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/Reuse|h4panel}} The game's "sandbox" and overall style are meant to be evocative of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' moreso than of later installments.{{Ref/Reuse|CVG}} [[Dual wielding]] is not 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> During production, Halo 4 was given the codename "Halo Onyx".<ref>[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Brwkm '''Artstation:''' ''Halo 4 - vehicles'' - concept art bears the logo "Halo Onyx".]</ref>


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.<ref name="h4panel"/>
For ''Halo 4'', 343 wanted to put more focus on narrative than previous entries. This manifested in the game's focus on Forerunner lore.<ref name = "IdentityProblem">[https://www.kotaku.com.au/2022/11/halos-identity-problem-began-with-an-admirable-mess/ '''Kotaku:''' ''Halo’s Identity Problem Began With an Admirable Mess'']</ref> The narrative design team of ''Halo 4'' was 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]]'', was also part of the writing team and 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"/>
The art director for ''Halo 4'' was [[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 invested heavily on the look and feel of Forerunner technology, including the incorporation of more "active" Forerunner technology as opposed to the mostly inert and abandoned structures seen in the earlier games.{{Ref/Reuse|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. It has been stated that 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 a complete overhaul performed by Cortana while John was in cryo-sleep.<ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/>
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 is explored and developed in more depth than in the prior games, and the relationship between John and Cortana is heavily featured and expanded. ''Halo 4'' also features more athleticism, as the background of Master Chief and the Spartan supersoldiers in general promise a feeling of "a super hero", a feeling 343 Industries wanted to convey to the player.{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}}
 
As with many other art assets, the ''Halo 4'' art team redesigned the Master Chief's iconic 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/Reuse|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/Reuse|Game Informer May 2012}}<ref name="Official Site">[http://halo.xbox.com/halo4#!halo-evolved/gameplay/31afe32b-0e07-45c0-9424-3adc6e1eadca '''Halo 4 Official Site:''' ''GAMEPLAY'']</ref>
 
[[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 were done as recently as the week of April 29, 2012.{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin 592012}} [[Bruce Thomas]] and Mackenzie Mason would later be confirmed as the cinematic performance capture actors for John-117 and Cortana, respectively.{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin 692012}}
 
While most cutscenes in the game are rendered in real-time in the game engine, ''Halo 4'' is the second game in the series (along with ''[[Halo Wars]]'') to use pre-rendered cinematics. Except for ''Spartan Ops'', three scenes from the game (along with the introduction of the ''Infinity'' mode) were computer animation produced by Digic Pictures<ref>[http://www.digicpictures.com/ '''Digic Pictures''']</ref> and one scene produced by [[Sequence]].<ref>[http://thesequencegroup.com/work/2/halo-4 '''The Sequence Group''']</ref>
 
At a London press event for ''Halo 4'', it was announced that development of the game was completed on September 25, 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 was then sent to "various certification processes" before mass production of the game began. Coincidentally, the September 25 completion date of ''Halo 4'' also marks the fifth anniversary of the North American release of its predecessor, ''Halo 3''.


===Audio===
===Audio===
[[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:M240 machine gun|M240 general purpose machine gun]], [[Wikipedia:Barrett M82|M107 sniper rifle]], [[Wikipedia:M2 Browning|M2 heavy machine gun]], and the [[Wikipedia:M72 LAW|M72 rocket launcher]] were used in the recording.<ref name="Audio"/>
[[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]]'', served as ''Halo 4'''s audio director.{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}} The team has performed many live audio recording sessions, several of which occurred in [[Wikipedia:Tasmania|Tasmania, Australia]]. Some of these recording sessions took place in generally inhospitable environments, such as underwater, in fire, and in ice, through the use of specially designed microphones;{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}} other recording sessions utilized "homemade" explosives.<ref name="Audio">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lci6hIWxZss'''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 4 Field Audio Recording'']</ref> Tojima intended 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/Reuse|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/Reuse|Audio}}


Two voice actors have so far been announced for the game. [[Jen Taylor]], voicing the A.I. 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>
Several voice actors from previous media reprised their roles in the game. [[Jen Taylor]], voicing the AI Cortana, and [[Jeff Steitzer]], the multiplayer and firefight [[The announcer|announcer]], confirmed on Facebook that they would 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> For the first time in the ''Halo'' series, Taylor and Downes recorded the dialog for some of their scenes together in the same voicing booth, whereas previously they had not even met in person.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR2cwas3BXY '''YouTube''': ''Interview: Steve Downes and Tim Dadabo (Master Chief and 343 Guilty Spark) at Dragon Con 2014'']</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 aboard the advanced warship ''Infinity''.<ref name="Conan 4172012">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GflJB-aM0wI '''Conan''': ''Episode 245 - April 17, 2012'']</ref> Frank O'Connor, replying to a fan's question at the Rooster Teeth Expo, stated that the cast for the episodic cooperative series ''Spartan Ops'' would have the "biggest injection" of new voice talent for ''Halo 4''.<ref name="RTX Halo 4 panel">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnHPPsQFovY&hd=1 '''Rooster Teeth Expo:''' ''Halo 4 presentation'']</ref>
 
On April 11, 2012, the composer for ''Halo 4'' was announced to be [[Neil Davidge]].<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/04/11/Neil-Davidge.aspx '''Halo Official Site''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 4.11.12'']</ref> It has been stated that the music will be taken into a different direction than [[Martin O'Donnell]]'s work in the previous ''Halo'' titles, while being grounded in the ''Halo'' universe.<ref name="bulletin1"/>
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/Reuse|Edge 582012}} Composing ''Halo 4'' is noted as being split into four distinct "tiers," each consisting of central themes for a handful of missions. [[Kazuma Jinnouchi]] composed a number of additional tracks for the game.<ref>[http://www.halo4soundtrack.com/ '''Halo4soundtrack.com''']</ref> Many of the key compositions were recorded and completed in January 2012 ahead of 343i's completion deadline.{{Ref/Reuse|Edge 582012}} Though still grounded in the ''Halo'' universe, the score for ''Halo 4'' takes a new direction from [[Martin O'Donnell]]'s composition in previous ''Halo'' titles.{{Ref/Reuse|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 1960s.<ref name="Composing Worlds">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmfGsuOacMA&hd=1 '''YouTube:''' ''Making of Halo 4: Composing Worlds'']</ref>


==Multiplayer==
==Multiplayer==
{{Main|Infinity (mode)}}
[[File:H4-Ordnance Overshield.jpg|thumb|An Overshield power-up drop.]]
[[File:Halo 4 Multiplayer.jpg|thumb|A first-person view of ''Halo 4'''s multiplayer.]]
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/Reuse|Guardian 632012}}
Multiplayer for ''Halo 4'' is also meant to be tied to the ''Halo'' series fiction. Known as "''Infinity''," players will take control of [[SPARTAN-IV Program|SPARTAN-IV supersoldiers]] performing adversarial combat training aboard the advanced warship, UNSC ''Infinity''. <ref name="first look"/><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> 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 class progression system will be more extensive; unlike in the prior games where multiplayer [[armor permutations]] were simply aesthetic, in ''Halo 4'' custom armor will have an effect on gameplay.<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> 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 also be marked on the player's [[heads-up display]].<ref name="venture"/>
=== War Games ===
{{Main|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/Reuse|first look}}{{Ref/Reuse|mp1}} However, due to the emphasis on the SPARTAN-IV commandos, players do not have the option to use [[Sangheili]] for their multiplayer character.<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>
 
343 Industries aimed 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 is 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/Reuse|venture}}{{Ref/Reuse|Official Site}}<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 are 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/Reuse|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">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/08/15/The-Halo-Bulletin-81512.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''' ''The Halo Bulletin 8.15.12]</ref>
 
343 Industries has described ''Halo 4'''s multiplayer gameplay as "much more fast-paced, more intense and visceral" than in the prior games.{{Ref/Reuse|cod}} Weapon pickups on maps are marked on the player's [[heads-up display]],{{Ref/Reuse|venture}} and players are able to call in ordnance drops, containing power-ups or weapons, during War Games or Spartan Ops matches.{{Ref/Reuse|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>
 
==== List of multiplayer maps ====
Unlike ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', where the original multiplayer maps were shared in the campaign as gameplay spaces, all multiplayer maps in ''Halo 4'' were purpose-built for multiplayer alone much like in the first three ''Halo'' games{{Ref/Reuse|cod}} (although some multiplayer maps are featured in Spartan Ops). 343 Industries collaborated 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>
 
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Default ''(released at launch)''
*[[Abandon]]
*[[Adrift]]
*[[Complex]]
*[[Exile]]
*[[Erosion]]
*[[Haven]]
*[[Impact]]
*[[Longbow]]
*[[Meltdown]]
*[[Ragnarok]]
*[[Ravine]]
*[[Solace]]
*[[Vortex]]
;[[Crimson Map Pack]] ''(released December 10, 2012)''
*[[Harvest (level)|Harvest]]
*[[Shatter]]
*[[Wreckage]]
{{col-2}}
;[[Majestic Map Pack]] ''(released February 25, 2013)''
*[[Landfall (level)|Landfall]]
*[[Monolith]]
*[[Skyline (level)|Skyline]]
;Free DLC ''(released March 29, 2013)''
*[[Forge Island]]
;[[Castle Map Pack]] ''(released April 8, 2013)''
*[[Daybreak]]
*[[Outcast]]
*[[Perdition]]
;[[Champions Bundle#Bullseye Pack|Bullseye Pack]] ''(released August 20, 2013)''
*[[Pitfall]]
*[[Vertigo]]
{{col-end}}
 
====Armor permutations====
{{Main|Armor customization (Halo 4)}}
The player can only choose from a standard [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan]] model. There are several armor permutations which can be combined. All armor permutations do not have any effects on gameplay. They are unlocked by achieving ranks and commendations.
{{Armor/Permutation/H4}}


===Spartan Ops===
===Spartan Ops===
[[File:H4 SOS1E1 Spartan IV Hologram.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Fireteam Majestic]] aboard ''Infinity''.]]
{{Main|Spartan Ops}}
{{Main|Spartan Ops}}
Replacing the [[Firefight]] gameplay introduced in ''[[Halo 3: ODST|ODST]]'' and expanded-on in ''[[Halo: Reach|Reach]]'' is a secondary campaign experience called "''Spartan Ops''." <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/> Much like traditional campaign cooperative play, ''Spartan Ops'' will allow friends to create a team of up to four players to participate in weekly objective-based episodic missions. <ref name="IGN 4/7/2012"/> Missions will intertwine directly with events in the main ''Halo 4'' campaign, expanding on the story of the UNSC ''Infinity'' and her crew. Compared to a season of a television program, each "episode" of ''Spartan Ops'' will feature cinematics and five playable missions complete with new events, characters, locations, and gameplay challenges. <ref name="Game Informer May 2012"/> 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.
''Spartan Ops'' is a secondary campaign that replaces the [[Firefight]] mode featured in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' and ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|IGN 4/7/2012}} Much like traditional campaign cooperative play, ''Spartan Ops'' allows up to four players to participate in weekly objective-based episodic missions.{{Ref/Reuse|GI podcast}}{{Ref/Reuse|IGN 4/7/2012}} Missions intertwine directly with events in the main ''Halo 4'' campaign, expanding on the story of the UNSC ''Infinity'' and her crew;{{Ref/Reuse|GI podcast}} this new mode is being likened to a second full-scale campaign for the game.{{Ref/Reuse|Guardian 632012}} Compared to a season of a television program, each "episode" of ''Spartan Ops'' features 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/Reuse|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'' saw 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/Reuse|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 have the opportunity to play from the beginning of the episodic campaign regardless of when they started playing. The first "season" is 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 ''Spartan Ops'' will "bridge the gap" between the events of ''Halo 4'' and the future release of its sequel.{{Ref/Reuse|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/Reuse|Guardian 632012}} Each episode of the series, gameplay-wise, was meant to enhance the significance of the events the player is experiencing, and as such, simplistic single-objective missions were not 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/Reuse|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/Reuse|Guardian 632012}} The first season of ''Spartan Ops'' as of June 2012 was noted as being "''very rigid''" with the direction of the story having already been mapped out from beginning to end. There are currently no plans for a second season of ''Spartan Ops''. However, Frank O'Connor has stated that ''"the story of Crimson, the ''Infinity'' and those characters and events is far from over"''.<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/03/28/The-Halo-Bulletin-32813.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Halo Bulletin: 3.28.13'']</ref> The story of the cast of characters from ''Spartan Ops'' is continued in the comic series ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''.
 
Season One consists of ten episodes and a total of fifty missions (five missions per episode) and was released following the launch of ''Halo 4''.{{Ref/Reuse|LEHB 6272012}} The first half of Season One was released between launch day, November 6, 2012, and December 3, 2012. The second half of the season was launched on January 21, 2013, and concluded the season on February 18, 2013.
 
===Forge===
{{Main|Forge}}
Forge is a returning feature in ''Halo 4''. Co-developed with [[Certain Affinity]], the feature was first shown to public audiences at the Rooster Teeth Expo on July 7, 2012 in a presentation highlighting various new features included with this newest iteration of Forge mode.{{Ref/Reuse|RTX Halo 4 panel}}<ref name="affinityalone">[http://gamespot.com/features/halo-4-not-built-by-microsoft-alone-6399552/ '''Gamespot''': ''Halo 4 Not Built By Microsoft Alone'']</ref> The feature sports 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/Reuse|gsforge}} It is accessible in four dedicated maps with unique object palettes.
 
== Marketing ==
=== Advertisement ===
{{Main|The Commissioning|Archive:Xbox.com/Halo 4|Scanned|Halo 4 Launch Gameplay Trailer|Are you Worthy}}
Marketing for ''Halo 4'' began in June 2012 with the release of the live-action trailer ''[[The Commissioning]]'' at E3 2012. The short live-action trailer 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. To go along with the live-action trailer, ''Xbox.com'' updated its ''Halo 4'' page, putting the user in the command room right after the crash.<ref name="Halo 4 main site">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130715024150/http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Halo-4/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8024d530919? '''Xbox.com (Halo 4 promotional site):''']</ref>
 
Other advertisements also include "''Scanned''", a launch trailer produced by film director [[Wikipedia:David Fincher|David Fincher]] and the Official Launch Gameplay Trailer. ''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>
 
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 7–8, 2012.<ref name="RTX announcement">[http://roosterteeth.com/viewEntry.php?id=9385 '''Rooster Teeth''': ''Play Halo 4 at RTX!'']</ref>
 
===Merchandise===
====Editions====
{{Halo 4 editions}}
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 14, 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 {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} with other debris surround him.{{Ref/Reuse|HBO Cover Art 5142012}}
 
Announced on May 16, 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 expands on the fiction of the ''Halo'' universe like many aspects of the game as a whole.{{Ref/Reuse|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 is 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 purchase worldwide starting at $99.99 ([[Wikipedia:United States Dollar|USD]]).{{Ref/Reuse|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 would receive.{{Ref/Reuse|Bulletin 51612}}
 
On August 26, 2013, IGN revealed a ''[[Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition|Game of the Year]]'' Edition for ''Halo 4''. The Game of the Year Edition includes the 3 DLCs that came with the War Games Season Pass (Crimson, Majestic and Castle), the Champions Bundle, Spartan Ops Season 1, and several digital preorder and limited edition bonuses. It is available at $49.99 ([[Wikipedia:United States Dollar|USD]]), and it was released on October 8, 2013.{{Ref/Reuse|GoTYE}}
{{clear}}
 
=====Pre-order bonuses=====
Many pre-order bonuses for ''Halo 4'' were revealed on May 25, 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:
 
{{Halo 4 preorder bonuses}}
 
<gallery>
File:Preorder Emblem 1.jpeg|Emblem: Assassin.
File:Preorder_Emblem_2.jpg|Emblem: Bulletproof.
</gallery>
<references group="preorder"/>
{{clear}}
 
====Books====
''[[Awakening: The Art of Halo 4]]'' is a hardcover art book first announced on May 8, 2012. The book was published by [[Wikipedia:Titan Books|Titan Books]] with a release date of November 2, 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 includes 192 pages of colored illustration used during production to create the vision of ''Halo 4'' as well as commentary by [[343 Industries]] artists and developers.{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint Book 582012}}
 
Five novels released from January 2011 to January 2014, 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. 4, 2011), ''Primordium'' (Jan. 3, 2012), and ''Silentium'' (Jan. 8, 2013 {{Ref/Reuse|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. 25, 2011), ''The Thursday War'' (Oct. 2nd, 2012), and ''Mortal Dictata'' (Jan. 21, 2014), chronicles the months following the end of ''Halo 3'' and bridges the gap between the original Bungie trilogy and the ''Reclaimer Saga''.
 
''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' is a visual guidebook released on September 16, [[2013]] in the US. The guide was published by [[Wikipedia:Dorling Kindersley|Dorling Kindersley]] and contains 232 pages of images and information on the locations, characters, creatures, vehicles, and weapons featured in ''Halo 4''.<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/03/06/The-Halo-4-The-Essential-Visual-Guide-is-coming!.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide'']</ref>
 
====Licensed products====
[[McFarlane Toys]] announced three 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]], released in August 2012, featured 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 is also available.{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint McFarlane 1192012}} Released alongside ''Halo 4'' in November was 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, featuring a Promethean Knight, was released in Holiday 2012.{{Ref/Reuse|Waypoint McFarlane 1192012}}
 
The [[McFarlane Toys/Halo 4 Series 2|second series]], released in October 2013, featured four 6-inch as John-117 with the ARC-920, tree Spartan Warriors (orange, purple and steeel/green), a [[Sangheili Ranger]] with the [[Zubo-pattern beam rifle|T-27 Beam Rifle]] and one new inclusion: the Kig-Yar Storm with the Covenant Carbine; a larger boxed product, featuring an up-scaled Ur-Didact with a removable helmet was also available.<ref name="McFarlane News">[http://mcfarlane.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13870 '''McFarlane''':''MCFARLANE TOYS ANNOUNCES SECOND SERIES OF ‘HALO 4’ ACTION FIGURES!'']</ref> All the figures of series 2 included a code for Halo 4's ''Infinity mode''.
 
The [[McFarlane Toys/Halo 4 Series 3|third series]], which were released on February [[2015]], feature three figures: [[Jul 'Mdama]] with an energy sword, [[Gabriel Thorne]] with an MA5D assault rifle, and [[Sarah Palmer]] with two M6H magnums.<ref>[http://www.halotoynews.com/2014/09/10/mcfarlane-halo-4-series-3-figures-jul-mdama-thorne-palmer/ '''Halo Toy News''' - ''McFarlane Halo 4 Series 3 Figures! Jul 'Mdama, Thorne & Palmer!'']</ref>
 
McFarlane also released 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]] produced 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>


===Multiplayer maps===
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., a well known manufacturing company for game products, released 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 has a design reminiscent of designs seen in the ''Halo'' universe.{{Ref/Reuse|HW Mad Catz 6152012}}
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"/>


*[[Warhouse]]
{{plain|[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>
*[[Wraparound]]


==Marketing promotions==
===Trailers===
===Announcement trailer===
====Announcement====
{{Main|Awakening}}
{{Main|Awakening}}
Released during Microsoft's E3 2011 media briefing, the trailer depicts Cortana awakening John-117 from [[Cryo chamber|cryo sleep]] on the wreckage of ''[[Forward Unto Dawn]]'', followed by John securing Cortana's [[Data crystal chip|storage chip]] and rushing through the wreckage to witness the ship being pulled into an enormous opening on the surface of a [[unidentified planet|mysterious planet]].
Called "''Awakening''," this trailer was revealed for the first time on June 6, 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 Saga'' (originally called ''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 Jul 'Mdama's 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 AI companion view this world opening itself.
 
====Concept Art Glimpse====
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 28, 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 terrestrial world with Forerunner glyphs on the surface, several location drafts which feature distinctly [[Forerunner]] buildings and ships, concepts of the ''Forward Unto Dawn''<nowiki />'s wreckage, and some concepts of the then-unidentified Requiem. Two of these images were repurposed as the cover art for the ''Forerunner Saga'' novels, ''Cryptum'' and ''Primordium''.{{Ref/Reuse|h4panel}} Following the ''Halo 4'' title card was a quick teaser of an early iteration of the [[Promethean Knight]].
 
====Production notes====
{{Main|Making Halo 4}}
''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 seven videos were 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]]. The sixth video, titled "[[Making Halo 4: Majestic Map Pack|Majestic Map Pack]]", focused on the development of the ''Majestic Map Pack''. The seventh and last video, titled "[[Making Halo 4: Spartan Ops: Season 1|Spartan Ops: Season 1]]", focused on the development of the ''Spartan Ops'' mode.
 
====Demonstration videos====
{{Main|Halo 4 E3 2012 Stage Demo}}
Nearly a year after the announcement of the game, 343 Industries revealed the first proper gameplay footage of ''Halo 4'' on June 4, 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.


===Concept Art Glimpse===
===Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn===
A video presenting several pieces of concept art was initially presented at ''Halo Fest'' and was subsequently released on ''[[Halo Waypoint]]''.<ref name="concept glimpse">[http://youtu.be/vAKmu2yn3Fk '''YouTube''': ''Halo Fest: Halo 4 Concept Art Glimpse'']</ref> The trailer presents concept art of an [[Earth]]-like alien world, 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</nowiki> wreckage, and some concepts of the unidentified planet. Two of these images were repurposed as the cover art for ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' and ''[[Halo: Primordium]]''.<ref name="h4panel"/>
[[File:FUD-Poster.jpg|150px|thumb|Film poster for ''Forward Unto Dawn'']]
{{Main|Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn}}
Announced on April 30, 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/Reuse|Variety 4302012}} ''Forward Unto Dawn'' chronicles 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'' would 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 would flesh out the fiction of the universe, particularly ''Halo 4'''s. Viewers are given background information on the various events set prior to the game and the characters set to appear in it, as well as being introduced to new elements and expanding on old ones.  


===Gameplay reveal===
''Forward Unto Dawn'' was released prior to the worldwide launch of ''Halo 4'' on October 5, 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/Reuse|Variety 4302012}} A 90-minute extended edition is included with the limited edition for ''Halo 4''.{{Ref/Reuse|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'').
{{Main|Making Halo 4: First Look}}
{{clear}}
This video revealed the first in-game footage of ''Halo 4'' along with various gameplay elements. The video shows the most recent design of John-117's MJOLNIR armor; it also reveals the game's battle rifle, which resembles the [[BR55HB Service Rifle]], albeit with significant aesthetic changes. The video goes on to show various clips of multiplayer with new elements revealed. Two multiplayer maps are revealed along with the first visual appearance of the SPARTAN-IVs. The video is presented and narrated by various 343 Industries employees.


===Composing Worlds===
==Soundtrack==
{{Main|Making Halo 4: Composing Worlds}}
{{Main|Halo 4: Original Soundtrack}}
This video reveals the music composer of ''Halo 4'', [[Neil Davidge]], and focuses primarily on the score's production process. It is stated that the musical score of ''Halo 4'' will depart significantly from [[Martin O'Donnell]]'s established works.
The ''Halo 4: Original Soundtrack'' was released on 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>
 
== Reception ==
{{Halo 4 reviews}}
''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/Reuse|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/Reuse|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/Reuse|IGN_Halo_4}} His overall conclusion was that "Halo has been rebuilt. It has been redefined. And it has been reinvigorated."{{Ref/Reuse|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/Reuse|1UP_Halo_4}} He also stated that "the sound design of Halo 4 benefits from having a punchier effect than the previous entries,"{{Ref/Reuse|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/Reuse|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/Reuse|1UP_Halo_4}} "the resolution to Halo 4's story doesn't make a lot of sense."{{Ref/Reuse|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 it's a shame to see the series conform to another game's mold",{{Ref/Reuse|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/Reuse|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/Reuse|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/Reuse|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/Reuse|Kotaku_Halo_4}} and that it "humanized what was up until now mainly just a really fun, well-made series of games,"{{Ref/Reuse|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/Reuse|Kotaku_Halo_4}} and complained that "I found the Spartan Ops missions to be fairly boring."{{Ref/Reuse|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/Reuse|Kotaku_Halo_4}} She also complained that "Prometheans as a new enemy class are more annoying than I expected,"{{Ref/Reuse|Kotaku_Halo_4}} and that "fighting them grew stale very quickly,"{{Ref/Reuse|Kotaku_Halo_4}} but praised their arsenal as "trump[ing] even the Covenant’s stock."{{Ref/Reuse|Kotaku_Halo_4}} Overall, she recommended that players "keep an open mind for Halo 4, because you just may enjoy it as much as I did."{{Ref/Reuse|Kotaku_Halo_4}}
 
Despite the well-received sales figures and positive reviews, social networking site Raptr reported that ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> player population declined rapidly since its release, even worse when compared to ''Halo: Reach''.<ref name="decline">[http://caas.raptr.com/case-study-halo-4s-spartan-ops-content-updates-successes-and-failures/ '''Raptr''': ''Case Study: Halo 4′s Spartan Ops content updates — successes and failures'']</ref>


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
{{Images link|alt=Development images of 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://halo.bungie.net/News/Media.aspx?mid=13890&age_verify=0 '''Bungie.net''': ''Media Player - Halo 2 Audio Outtakes'']</ref>
*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>
*The four Covenant species featured in ''Halo 4'' are the same as those featured in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'': Elites, Jackals, Grunts, and Hunters.
*The toy specialist [http://www.recreationplc.com/ Re:creation] is producing replica figures and die cast vehicles based on content from the game.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/282149/20120116/halo-4-characters-vehicles-revealed-jan-24.htm '''IBT.com:''' ''Halo 4'' Characters, Vehicles to be Revealed on Jan. 24'']</ref>
*In ''Spartan Ops''<nowiki>'</nowiki> pre-rendered cutscenes, some weapons use models from older builds of the game as seen in early in-game screenshots. For example, the BR85HB SR is erroneously labeled as the [[BR55 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle|BR55HB SR]] and the M395 Designated Marksman Rifle lacks a front sight.
*When asked whether or not, [[Certain Affinity]] will be assisting with multiplayer maps for ''Halo 4'', [[Frank O'Connor]] stated that he values their service and he would hire them to assist with the production 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>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
===Promotional images===
===Promotional images===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Halo_4_splash.JPG|A promotional image for ''Halo 4'', depicting the wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' descending toward the mysterious object first seen at the end of ''Halo 3''.
File:H4 Promo Master chief image.png|Promotional image of Master Chief.
File:Halo4-GameCover.jpg|Full game cover for ''Halo 4''.
File:Halo 4 cover art ESRB (without Xbox 360 logos).jpg|North American/ESRB cover art without Xbox 360 branding. Released May 14, 2012.
File:Halo 4 cover poster.jpg|High resolution cover art poster.
File:H4Chief.gif|Animated video of the ''Halo 4'' cover.
File:Halo_4_splash.JPG|A promotional image for ''Halo 4'', depicting the wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' descending toward [[Requiem]].
File:4 john.JPG|Early promotional art of John-117 in ''Halo 4''.
File:4 john.JPG|Early promotional art of John-117 in ''Halo 4''.
File:Halo4 MCtoy.jpeg|A [[McFarlane Toys]] prototype figure of the ''Halo 4'' Master Chief.
File:Halo4-MasterChief-John117.png|John-117 holding an [[MA5D Individual Combat Weapon System|MA5D assault rifle.]]
File:Waypoint H4 MC.jpg|Another Master Chief prototype, with a different paint scheme.
File:H4-Cryptum.jpg|John-117 facing a [[Cryptum]].
File:H4 MC proto.jpg|Another view of the prototype action figure, holding an [[unidentified UNSC weapon (Halo 4)|unidentified weapon]].
File:Halo4 litho2.png|A poster that came with pre-orders from Best Buy.
File:Halo 4 assault rifle.png|John-117, holding an unknown [[MA5 Series]] variant. This version is largely similar to the [[MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System|MA5C]], but with the shorter barrel and flash suppressor of the [[MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System|MA37]].
File:Halo 4 Game of the Year Cover.png|''Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition'' Cover
File:H4 Didact Wallpaper.jpg|An Ancient Evil awakens wallpaper made to promote the game.
File:H4 Construct lithograph.jpg|A lithograph made to promote Halo 4 in 2013.
File:H4 Ancient lithograph.jpg|A lithograph made to promote Halo 4 in 2013.
</gallery>
 
===Campaign screenshots===
<gallery>
File:H4-Menu-Alpha.jpg|The pre-release main menu of ''Halo 4''.
File:H4-E3-Campaign-7.jpg|The [[HUD]] utilized in ''Halo 4'''s single-player.
File:H4 Chief in cryochamber.png|John-117 in a cryo chamber.
File:Chief Cortana.jpg|John-117 and [[Cortana]].
File:H4-FUD John Minor battle.jpg|John-117 and a Sangheili Storm in a close quarters fight.
File:H4 - Cov Explosion.jpeg|Covenant troops are killed by an explosion.
File:H4-E3-Campaign-4.jpg|The Chief watches as the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} crash-lands.
File:H4-E3-Campaign-6.jpg|A swarm of Phantoms and Banshees close in on the crashed ''Infinity''.
File:H4-E3-Campaign-9.jpg|John-117 alongside UNSC troops in a dropship bay.
File:H4-E3-Campaign-10.jpg|Master Chief in a desert environment on Requiem.
</gallery>
</gallery>


===Development Screenshots===
===Infinity screenshots===
====War Games====
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Halo4hud.jpg|The [[HUD]] utilized in ''Halo 4''.
File:Halo4MultiplayerDMR.jpg|The HUD utilized in ''Halo 4'''s multiplayer on the map ''[[Haven]]''.
File:Master Chief in Halo 4.jpg|John-117, holding a BR85.
File:AdriftInfoBox.png|A [[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II (D) Geyrion]] under construction in a UNSC factory in the multiplayer map ''[[Adrift]]''.
File:Master Chief in Halo 4 (2).jpg|Another screenshot of John-117, from a different angle and background.
File:Halo 4 Multiplayer Screen.jpg|A screenshot from the game's Infinity mode.
File:Master Chief in Halo 4 (3).jpg|A close-up of John-117 in ''Halo 4''.
H4-Wraparound-3.jpg|Two opposing Spartans fight, with one wielding a [[Z-180 Close Combat Rifle|scattershot]].
File:Halo 4 Multiplayer (2).jpg|A [[SPARTAN-IV]] jumping in ''Halo 4'' multiplayer.  
File:Grif_and_Simmons_Halo_4_Engine.png|[[Alert carry]] in ''Halo 4''.
File:Halo 4 Multiplayer (3).jpg|A SPARTAN-IV firing at another player in ''Halo 4'' multiplayer.
</gallery>
 
====Spartan Ops====
<gallery>
File:H4-SpartanOps-1.jpg|A [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|sword]]-wielding Spartan engages a Promethean Knight.
File:H4-SpartanOps-2.jpg|Two Spartans attack a hard-shielded Knight, guarded by two Watchers.
File:H4-SpartanOps-3.jpg|Two Spartans facing a swarm of Promethean hostiles.
File:H4-SpartanOps-4.jpg|A Spartan prepares to stab a Knight with his [[combat knife]].
File:H4-SpartanOps-5.jpg|A view of the walkway at a Forerunner facility.
File:H4-SpartanOps-6.jpg|A pair of spires at the facility.
File:H4-SpartanOps-7.jpg|A wide view of the walkway. Note the lava flowing beneath the bridge.
</gallery>
</gallery>


===Concept art===
===Concept art===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Halo4conceptart1.jpg|A general view of a planet or megastructure, with conspicuous artificial features visible on its surface.
File:H4 RequiemTower Preproduction Concept.jpg|Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.
File:Halo4conceptart2.jpg|The wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' entering an iris-like opening on the unknown planet.
File:H4 HumanTower Preproduction Concept.jpg|Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.
File:Halo4conceptart14.jpg|UNSC ships entering the structure through what appears to be the same or similar opening.
File:H4 CrashSite Preproduction Concept.jpg|Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.
File:Halo4conceptart6.jpg|An exotic landscape, with a human figure, possibly the Master Chief, standing in the foreground.
File:H4 HumanPod Preproduction Concept.jpg|Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.
File:Halo4conceptart8.jpg|A landscape with partially artificial features and a large, floating structure.
File:H4_Requiem_Concept_1.jpg|A general view of Requiem.
File:Halo4conceptart9.jpg|A valley with massive Forerunner towers suspended in the air.
File:H4_Iris_Concept_1.jpg|The wreckage of the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' entering an iris-like opening on Requiem.
File:Sparth-forerunner-cover.jpg|Two figures on a platform overlooking massive Forerunner structures. This piece was repurposed as the cover of the novel ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''.
File:H4_ForwardUntoDawn_Concept.jpg|''Forward Unto Dawn'' concept art.
File:Primordium_cover_art.jpg|Ships fly over an embattled Forerunner landscape. This piece was repurposed as the cover of the novel ''[[Halo: Primordium]]''.
File:H4_EnvironmentBridge_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a landscape on Requiem.
File:UNSC Infinity.jpg|Concept art of the prototype warship {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.
File:H4_RequiemSpires_Concept_1.jpg|A view of Requiems spires.
File:H4- Ancient threat.jpg|A compilation of screen captures from the end of the concept art trailer depicting what appears to be an as of yet unknown creature or machine.<ref name="concept glimpse"/>
File:H4_RequiemSpires_Concept_2.jpg|Another view of Requiems spires.
File:WarhouseLandingPad.jpg|Concept art of a [[Pelican]] landing at the orbital manufacturing facility that serves as the setting for [[Warhouse]].  
File:H4_EnvironmentRocks_Concept.jpg|Rocky terrain.
File:Wraparoundbetter.jpg|Concept art of the Forerunner skyscrapers that serves as the setting for ''[[Wraparound]]''.
File:H4_Iris_Concept_2.jpg|UNSC ships entering the structure through what appears to be the same or similar opening.
File:Cov_229_l.jpg|Concept art of Master Chief and Cortana
File:H4_GravityWell_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a Forerunner gravity field generator.
File:H4_RequiemSpires_Concept_3.jpg|A valley with massive Forerunner towers suspended in the air.
File:H4_HavenTowers_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the Forerunner skyscrapers that serves as the setting for ''[[Haven]]''.
File:H4_Adrift_LandingPad_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a [[Pelican]] landing at the orbital manufacturing facility that serves as the setting for [[Adrift]].
File:H4_UNSCInfinity_Concept_1.jpg|Concept art of the prototype warship {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.
File:H4_EarlyKnight_Concept.jpg|A compilation of screen captures from the end of the concept art trailer, depicting an early version of a Promethean Knight.{{Ref/Reuse|concept glimpse}}
File:H4_JohnandCortana_Concept.jpg|Concept art of Master Chief and Cortana.
File:H4_ForwardUntoDawn_CryoRoom_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the ''Forward Unto Dawn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s cryo bay.
File:H4_JohnRailgun_Concept.jpg|Concept art of Master Chief with the [[ARC-920]].
File:H4_Complex_Early_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a [[Forerunner]] artifact in a UNSC facility.
File:H4_Spartans_Concept_1.jpg|Concept art of [[SPARTAN programs|Spartans]].
File:Primordium cover art.jpg|Spaceships concept art, later used as the cover art for ''[[Halo: Primordium]]''.
File:H4-Concept-Finale-Pickup.jpg|Concept art of the finale.
File:H4_ForerunnerBuilding_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a Forerunner building.
File:H4-Concept-Cauldron.jpg|Cauldron concept art.
File:H4-Concept-Cauldron-2.jpg|Cauldron concept art.
File:H4-Concept-Refuge-2.jpg|Refuge concept art.
File:H4_Narrows_UnderpassSketch_Concept.jpg|Concept art of an unrealised remake of [[Narrows]] from ''Halo 3''.
File:H4_Narrows_Side_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the cut Narrows remake..
File:H4-Concept-Chief-Aftermath.jpg|Aftermath concept art.
File:H4 Concept Art John117.jpg|John 117 concept art.
File:H4 forerunner gun concepts.png|Concept art of Forerunner weapons.
File:H4 Forerunner Powercore conceptart.jpg
File:H4 Forerunner Supply Container conceptart.jpg
File:H4 Forerunner damage process.jpg
File:H4 forerunner Power supply Concept art.jpg
File:H4 Concept UNSCArchitecture.jpg|Concept exploration of UNSC architecture.
File:H4 CutDLC UnderWaterCovenant Concept 1.jpg|Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.
File:H4 CutDLC UnderWaterCovenant Concept 2.jpg|Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.
File:H4 CutDLC UnderWaterCovenant Concept 3.jpg|Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.
File:H4_ChiefCortana_Concept_3.jpg|Sketches of John-117 and Cortana.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Notes==
===Logos===
<references group="note"/>
<gallery>
File:Halo 4 logo.png|Title art
File:Halo 4 condensed logo.png|Condensed logo
</gallery>


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources|3}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/titles/halo4 ''Halo 4'' on Halo Waypoint]
*[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/titles/halo4 ''Halo 4'' on '''Halo Waypoint''']
*[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Marketplace/Product/Halo-4 ''Halo 4'' on Xbox Marketplace]
*[http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Marketplace/Product/Halo-4 ''Halo 4'' on '''Xbox Marketplace''']
*[[Wikipedia:Halo 4|''Halo 4'' on Wikipedia]]
 
{{Halo Games}}


[[Category:Halo 4|*]]
{{Navbox/Media/Games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:4, Halo}}
[[Category:Halo 4| ]]
[[Category:Canon]]
[[Category:343 Industries games]]

Latest revision as of 10:54, June 5, 2024

Halo 4
Halo 4 standard edition (ESRB).png

Primary developer:

343 Industries

Support developer(s):

Certain Affinity (DLC and Forge)
Liquid Development (Armor models)

Publisher(s):

Microsoft Studios

Writer(s):

Christopher Schlerf
Armando Troisi

Composer(s):

Neil Davidge
Kazuma Jinnouchi

Engine:

Blam engine

Platform(s):

Xbox 360[1]

Release date(s):

November 6, 2012[2]
October 8, 2013 (Game of the Year Edition)[3][4]

Genre(s):

First-person shooter

Mode(s):

Campaign
Cooperative[5]
Multiplayer[5]
Forge[5]

Rating(s):

CERO: (D) Ages 17 and up
ESRB: Mature (M) for Blood and Violence PEGI: 16+ (Europe only)

 

"An Ancient Evil Awakens"
— Official tagline[6][7]

Halo 4 is the seventh installment in the Halo franchise.[1][6] Set four and a half years after the events of Halo 3, Halo 4 continues the story of John-117 and Cortana, left abandoned on the remains of the UNSC 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 was published by Microsoft Studios. The first in a new series of Halo titles dubbed the Reclaimer Trilogy, Halo 4 was released exclusively on the Xbox 360, worldwide on November 6, 2012.[2]

Halo 4 was first revealed by a teaser trailer shown at Microsoft's E3 Media Briefing on June 6, 2011, set to arrive in the holiday of 2012.[8][9][10] In the months leading into E3 2012, multiplayer for Halo 4 would be unveiled. The game would then get proper coverage during E3 2012, where a stage demo would be shown off, along with a trailer dubbed "The Commissioning", and the game's new co-operative experience, Spartan Ops.

Upon the first day of release, Halo 4 grossed $220 million, surpassing Halo: Reach's record of $200 million, and $300 million in its opening week.

Along with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary and Halo 3, Halo 4 was released on the Xbox One as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection on November 11, 2014. A sequel, Halo 5: Guardians, was released for the Xbox One on October 27, 2015.[11]

Plot[edit]

John-117 on Requiem.

"The Master Chief returns to battle an ancient evil bent on vengeance and annihilation. Shipwrecked on a mysterious world, faced with new enemies and deadly technology... the universe will never be the same."
— Official summary[6]

Halo 4 marks the return of John-117 as a playable protagonist after three Halo games focusing on different sets of characters.[6][7] Having been lost in space for five years after the finale of Halo 3,[12] John-117 and Cortana, adrift aboard the wreckage of the aft section of the UNSC frigate Forward Unto Dawn, find themselves near Requiem, the Forerunner shield world first glimpsed in the Legendary ending of Halo 3.[10][13][14]

The story of Halo 4 was described as being heavily focused on mystery, exploration and discovery, as well as being grand in scope and scale. Forerunner elements are featured extensively. The game also shows 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.[10] Member species of the former Covenant return in the game, in the form of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction, consisting of Elites and most of their former subordinate species, including Grunts and Jackals, still loyal to the tenets of the Covenant religion.[15][16] However, the Covenant remnants are taking a backseat to an entirely new antagonist, the Prometheans,[17] an elite class of Forerunner Warriors and their legendary leader known as the Didact;[18] this new antagonist has been described as a "threat beyond anything that Master Chief has faced before."[19] The subject of Cortana's ongoing rampancy, a year beyond her ideal functional lifespan, is also thoroughly and prominently detailed in Halo 4.[20]

Unlike Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 4 was originally stated to have been designed to be part of a three-game arc from the beginning; however, the scope of the then-Reclaimer Trilogy (now known as the Reclaimer Saga) has since been expanded to encompass an undefined number of games.[21] In addition, 343 Industries is aiming for more complete connectivity among all of their future media than that of the original trilogy;[10] the Forerunner Saga and Kilo-Five Trilogy novels,[15][22] and the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary terminals all have connections to Halo 4's story.[10][23] The third and final Forerunner Saga novel, Silentium, was released on March 19th, 2013.[24][25][26] Frank O'Connor noted that Silentium would be released after Halo 4 for "specific strategic reasons", likely referring to the connectivity of the game and the novel.[27] A live action series, Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, provides a backstory for Thomas Lasky, a major character in the game; this series consists of five episodes totaling 75 minutes. The Halo 4 Collector's Edition includes a 90 minute extended cut of the series.[28]

Like Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the Halo 4 campaign contains animated terminals accessible to the player.[29] These depict the events of the Human-Forerunner War and Forerunner-Flood war from the perspective of the Ur-Didact and the Librarian, and chronicle his descent into madness.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Discovery[edit]

The wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn floating in space.

Halo 4 begins on July 21, 2557,[16] four years, seven months and ten days after the armistice ending the Human-Covenant War. Cortana, laying silent for almost five years, notices that the ship's intruder alarms have activated and attempts to wake John-117 from cryo-sleep. Cortana notifies him that in his sleep, she rewrote the firmware of his MJOLNIR Mark VI armor, upgrading the HUD and armor capabilities. With alarms ringing and the intruders spreading to multiple decks, John slips Cortana's chip back into his neural interface and sets off to find the source of the disturbance. Suddenly, a Sangheili swordsman comes charging at the Spartan. After neutralizing the threat, 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 and Kig-Yar subordinates, John makes his way to the aft observation deck, viewing a large former Covenant fleet, led by Jul 'Mdama, 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 inner planetary shell via an entrance in the Dyson sphere-like superstructure.[16] Recovering a Warthog, Master Chief and Cortana vow to make their way back to Earth in order to find a cure for Cortana's escalating Rampancy. They set out to find a way to contact the UNSC, circumventing the powerful jamming field surrounding the world. They hear a staticky signal from the UNSC Infinity and, finding a cartographer, are mystified to find it appears to be further down inside Requiem.

Descending to the core of Requiem and fighting through numerous Jul 'Mdama's Covenant hunting parties, Master Chief is attacked by advanced Forerunner combat constructs which Cortana identifies as Prometheans. Evading or destroying pursuit, John attempts to warn the approaching UNSC Infinity of the dangerous artificially-induced gravity field that had caused the Forward Unto Dawn to crash.

The Didact[edit]

The Ur-Didact holding John-117 in a constraint field.
John-117 encounters the Didact.

After disabling two control nodes, it becomes clear to John that a great threat had once been imprisoned within Requiem. The Didact, the Forerunners' greatest warrior, is released from suspended animation within a Cryptum. Easily disabling John with his powerful abilities, he declares the return of the Forerunners as the galaxy's rulers and saviors. Humanity remains weak and unworthy in his eyes of inheriting the Mantle of Responsibility, a view rejected by his wife, the Librarian. Having always revered the Forerunners as gods,Jul 'Mdama's Covenant quickly swears alliance to the Didact and his Prometheans. The Didact views Jul's Covenant as mere "primitives", but permits them to serve his cause, to prevent the ascension of the human race to galactic prominence.

Narrowly escaping the collapsing core facility, the Chief and Cortana return to the planet's surface only to find their warning to the Infinity came too late. The warship crashes more than 70 kilometers away, with a massive force of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and Prometheans closing on their position.

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

With a momentary lull in the fighting, John is called to a strategy meeting with Andrew Del Rio, Captain of the Infinity. Skeptical of the threat of the Prometheans, Rio orders an immediate attack on a Forerunner gravity well generator preventing the ship from leaving. A strike force of Spartans led by John is deployed along with a Mammoth ultra-heavy ground vehicle supporting the attack. Facing daunting odds, the UNSC is able to defeat a large armored strike force of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant and Prometheans and they disable the gravity beam. Before reaching his objective, John is confronted with a vision from the deceased Librarian, who warns him of the Didact's true plans.

The Composer[edit]

John-117 encounters the Librarian's essence.
John-117 meets the essence of the Librarian.

In ancient times, the human race was once a great interstellar empire. Fleeing from the Flood and destroying any world tainted with their presence, they came into contact with the Forerunner ecumene. Ignoring their warnings about the dangers posed by the parasite, the Forerunner warriors led by the Didact defeated and imprisoned humanity upon their homeworld. Weakened by the struggle, the Forerunners were easy prey for the resurgent Flood. Defying the Forerunners' decision to accept the Halo Array as their final resort, the Didact used a device known as the Composer, capable of transferring organic consciousness to software format, to convert his warriors into mechanical Promethean Knights, in order to combat the Flood (which could only infect living tissue) more effectively and without risk of infection. Lacking the sufficient numbers to turn the tide, the Didact used the Composer to "conscript" a large population of humans into his army, leading to the confiscation of the Composer and his imprisonment on Requiem. Opposing the Didact for her own reasons, the Librarian provides John with a gift: a medical treatment to counteract the Forerunner's devolution of the human genome, and a means to resist the effects of the Composer, with which the Didact plans to enslave the human race once again.

Regrouping aboard the Infinity, Captain Del Rio dismisses the threat of the Prometheans and prepares the ship to depart the system. Defying direct orders, John takes the increasingly unstable Cortana and departs the Infinity. Armed with a Pelican gunship provided by Commander Lasky, John launches several attacks on support pillars providing the Didact's Cryptum with shields and power, with the goal of preventing him from leaving the planet and attacking Earth.

The Composer fires on New Phoenix.

This attempt ultimately proves unsuccessful, as the Didact leaves Requiem aboard his massive vessel, the Mantle's Approach, escorted by a flotilla of Jul 'Mdama's Covenant ships. Stowing away aboard a Lich, Master Chief pursues the Forerunner to Ivanoff Station, a UNSC research base orbiting Halo Installation 03 where the Composer is kept. Dr. Sandra Tillson, a lead researcher aboard the base, helps guide John to the artifact amidst a swarm of Jul's Covenant attackers. Despite reaching the artifact first, the Didact is successful in obtaining the Composer, tearing it out of the station's hull with a gravity beam. Testing the weapon, the Composer burns the crew of the station to ash, harvesting their essences to power additional Prometheans. The Master Chief survives, thanks to the genetic enhancements provided by the Librarian.

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

Despite their best efforts, the Didact is able to fire the Composer at Earth, North America. Armed with a HAVOK portable nuclear device, John confronts the Didact once again. While John is no match for the Forerunner's powerful abilities, Cortana, nearing the end of her life, immobilizes the Didact with hard light shackles. With the last of his strength, John defeats the Didact with a pulse grenade, sending him falling into a slipspace rupture beneath the Composer, and detonates the nuclear bomb manually.

Farewells[edit]

The Master Chief and Cortana meet for the last time.

With the last of her power, Cortana is able to teleport John away from the vessel before it was destroyed and meets with John for one last time inside a bubble of hard light. Overcome with emotion, John remarks that he was supposed to have protected her. Cortana insists that they were supposed to protect each other, and did. Using her hard light body, Cortana is able to actually touch John for the first time, which she says that she's been waiting to do for a very long time. Smiling and seeming at peace, Cortana welcomes John home, and then fades away completely. The Master Chief drifts in space amidst the debris of the Didact's ship for a time before being recovered by a UNSC search-and-rescue team. Later, John speaks with (now Captain) Lasky about the loss of his closest friend and companion.

In the battle's aftermath, a UNSC team investigates the city of New Phoenix, where the Composer's energy beam was directed; although the infrastructure of vehicles and buildings are completely untouched, its former human inhabitants are gone. Aboard the Infinity, John rejoins Palmer and the other Spartans, preparing for their inevitable next battle, and his MJOLNIR Mark VI armor is removed for the first time in years. The final scene is overlaid with a speech given by the Didact to his fellow Forerunners, after being accused of attempting to wipe out human life. In this speech, the Didact maintains his belief that only the Forerunners are worthy of the Mantle and that humanity should never be allowed to reclaim the Forerunners' accomplishments.

While their defeat at Earth proved a setback for the Didact's Prometheans and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant, it did not result in their defeat. Months later, the Infinity returns to Requiem with a complement of Spartans, determined to claim the planet. This tour forms the background for the Requiem Campaign covered in the Spartan Ops mode.

Spoilers end here.

Campaign[edit]

The campaign of Halo 4 consists of 10 levels. [29]

  1. Prologue - "Catherine Halsey is interrogated deep within a secret ONI facility." (Cinematic)
  2. Dawn - "After four years adrift in space, Cortana awakens the Master Chief to investigate a disturbance on the Forward Unto Dawn."
  3. Requiem - "Having survived the destruction of the Dawn, Master Chief and Cortana search for a way off of the mysterious Forerunner planet."
  4. Forerunner - "Master Chief tracks the Infinity's signal to Requiem's core in the hopes of returning Cortana to Earth to address her rampancy."
  5. Infinity - "Following the Didact to Infinity's crash site, Chief and Cortana descend into the surrounding swamp to rescue UNSC survivors."
  6. Reclaimer - "Infinity sends the Master Chief and Gypsy Company to neutralize the gravity well keeping them on Requiem."
  7. Shutdown - "As Infinity flees Requiem and Cortana's rampancy worsens, Master Chief struggles to stop Didact from pursuing the Composer."
  8. Composer - "The Master Chief's pursuit of the Didact leads him to a UNSC science station orbiting Installation 03."
  9. Midnight - "With the Composer in the Didact's possession, Chief and Cortana must destroy the device before he turns it on his next target."
  10. Epilogue - "After the destruction of New Phoenix, and the death of Cortana, Master Chief must carry on." (Cinematic)

Appearances[edit]

Please visit Spartan Ops and Halo 4 Terminals for the dedicated appearance lists of said modes.

Characters

Human

Sangheili

Forerunner

Species and entities

Organizations

Locations

Events

Weapons

UNSC

Usable
Unusable

Covenant

Usable
Unusable

Forerunner

Usable
Unusable

Vehicles

UNSC

Usable
Unusable

Equipment and technology


Covenant

Usable
Unusable

Forerunner

Miscellaneous

Armor abilities
Other


Development[edit]

Gameplay and design[edit]

H4 Selecting ordnance, damage boost.
A first-person view of Halo 4's multiplayer.

Halo 4 was developed for the Xbox 360 console.[1] The game's creative team, which comprised nearly 200 individuals who developed the game for nearly three years,[30] was led by creative director Josh Holmes.[10] The game has been stated to continue the Halo series' tradition of inspiring wonder in the player while providing engaging, visceral gameplay. The game utilizes 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.[10] The game's "sandbox" and overall style are meant to be evocative of Halo: Combat Evolved moreso than of later installments.[14] Dual wielding is not accessible in the game.[31] During production, Halo 4 was given the codename "Halo Onyx".[32]

For Halo 4, 343 wanted to put more focus on narrative than previous entries. This manifested in the game's focus on Forerunner lore.[33] The narrative design team of Halo 4 was headed by Armando Troisi, who previously worked on Mass Effect and its 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, was also part of the writing team and made significant contributions on the story.[34]

The art director for Halo 4 was 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 invested heavily on the look and feel of Forerunner technology, including the incorporation of more "active" Forerunner technology as opposed to the mostly inert and abandoned structures seen in the earlier games.[10]

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 is explored and developed in more depth than in the prior games, and the relationship between John and Cortana is heavily featured and expanded. Halo 4 also features more athleticism, as the background of Master Chief and the Spartan supersoldiers in general promise a feeling of "a super hero", a feeling 343 Industries wanted to convey to the player.[10]

As with many other art assets, the Halo 4 art team redesigned the Master Chief's iconic 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.[10] 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.[35] 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.[16][36]

Motion capture, first implemented in the series on Halo: Reach, was used during the production of Halo 4.[37] Recording began prior to the release of the Making Halo 4: First Look video in Los Angeles, California, with material for the character Cortana and a man playing an unidentified character filmed; recordings were done as recently as the week of April 29, 2012.[37] Bruce Thomas and Mackenzie Mason would later be confirmed as the cinematic performance capture actors for John-117 and Cortana, respectively.[38]

While most cutscenes in the game are rendered in real-time in the game engine, Halo 4 is the second game in the series (along with Halo Wars) to use pre-rendered cinematics. Except for Spartan Ops, three scenes from the game (along with the introduction of the Infinity mode) were computer animation produced by Digic Pictures[39] and one scene produced by Sequence.[40]

At a London press event for Halo 4, it was announced that development of the game was completed on September 25, 2012 after three years in development.[41] The finished product was then sent to "various certification processes" before mass production of the game began. Coincidentally, the September 25 completion date of Halo 4 also marks the fifth anniversary of the North American release of its predecessor, Halo 3.

Audio[edit]

Sotaro Tojima, best known for his work on Konami's Castlevania: Circle of the Moon and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, served as Halo 4's audio director.[10] The team has performed many live audio recording sessions, several of which occurred in Tasmania, Australia. Some of these recording sessions took place in generally inhospitable environments, such as underwater, in fire, and in ice, through the use of specially designed microphones;[10] other recording sessions utilized "homemade" explosives.[42] Tojima intended 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.[10] A video was released on February 23rd depicting 343i recording weapon and explosion audio alongside the U.S. Army Special Forces. Weapons such as the M4 carbine, Mk 17 battle rifle, M240 general purpose machine gun, M107 sniper rifle, M2 heavy machine gun, and M72 rocket launcher were used in the recording.[42]

Several voice actors from previous media reprised their roles in the game. Jen Taylor, voicing the AI Cortana, and Jeff Steitzer, the multiplayer and firefight announcer, confirmed on Facebook that they would again be reprising their roles for Halo 4.[43] Steve Downes, the iconic voice of John-117, was confirmed to voice the game's protagonist in the June 9th Halo Bulletin.[38] For the first time in the Halo series, Taylor and Downes recorded the dialog for some of their scenes together in the same voicing booth, whereas previously they had not even met in person.[44] On the April 17th, 2012 episode of the TBS late night comedy show Conan, hosts Conan O'Brien and Andy Richter announced that they'll be voicing Navy deckhands aboard the advanced warship Infinity.[45] Frank O'Connor, replying to a fan's question at the Rooster Teeth Expo, stated that the cast for the episodic cooperative series Spartan Ops would have the "biggest injection" of new voice talent for Halo 4.[46]

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 Massive Attack.[47] 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.[48] 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.[48] Composing Halo 4 is noted as being split into four distinct "tiers," each consisting of central themes for a handful of missions. Kazuma Jinnouchi composed a number of additional tracks for the game.[49] Many of the key compositions were recorded and completed in January 2012 ahead of 343i's completion deadline.[48] Though still grounded in the Halo universe, the score for Halo 4 takes a new direction from Martin O'Donnell's composition in previous Halo titles.[15] Orchestral and composition for the score was done at the famed Abbey Road Studios in Westminster, London, England, mostly notably known for their work with The Beatles during the 1960s.[50]

Multiplayer[edit]

An Overshield power-up drop.

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 supersoldiers serving aboard the advanced warship, UNSC Infinity.[51] 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.[52] 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."[52]

War Games[edit]

Main article: 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.[35][51] However, due to the emphasis on the SPARTAN-IV commandos, players do not have the option to use Sangheili for their multiplayer character.[53]

343 Industries aimed 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 is 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.[19][36][54] Players are able to customize their loadouts,[55] 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.[36] 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.[56]

343 Industries has described Halo 4's multiplayer gameplay as "much more fast-paced, more intense and visceral" than in the prior games.[54] Weapon pickups on maps are marked on the player's heads-up display,[19] and players are able to call in ordnance drops, containing power-ups or weapons, during War Games or Spartan Ops matches.[36] Some multiplayer gametypes include Slayer, Infinity Slayer, and Regicide. Power-ups available in Infinity Slayer include Overshield, Damage Boost, and Speed Boost.[57]

List of multiplayer maps[edit]

Unlike Halo: Reach, where the original multiplayer maps were shared in the campaign as gameplay spaces, all multiplayer maps in Halo 4 were purpose-built for multiplayer alone much like in the first three Halo games[54] (although some multiplayer maps are featured in Spartan Ops). 343 Industries collaborated with Certain Affinity in the production of the multiplayer maps for Halo 4.[58][59]

Default (released at launch)
Crimson Map Pack (released December 10, 2012)
Majestic Map Pack (released February 25, 2013)
Free DLC (released March 29, 2013)
Castle Map Pack (released April 8, 2013)
Bullseye Pack (released August 20, 2013)

Armor permutations[edit]

Main article: Armor customization (Halo 4)

The player can only choose from a standard Spartan model. There are several armor permutations which can be combined. All armor permutations do not have any effects on gameplay. They are unlocked by achieving ranks and commendations.

v • d • e
 
List of armor permutations in Halo 4
Armor

Regular: Air Assault • Aviator • CIO • Commando • Deadeye • Defender • EOD • Enforcer • EVA • FOTUS • GUNGNIR • HAZOP • Infiltrator • Locus • Mark VI • Oceanic • Orbital • Protector • Raider • Ranger • Recon • Recruit • Scanner • Scout • Soldier • Strider • Vanguard • Venator • Warrior • War Master

Specialization: Engineer • Operator • Pathfinder • Pioneer • Rogue • Stalker • Tracker • Wetwork
Forearms/Legs
MCC-exclusive
Cut armor

Spartan Ops[edit]

Fireteam Majestic aboard Infinity.
Main article: Spartan Ops

Spartan Ops is a secondary campaign that replaces the Firefight mode featured in Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach.[53] Much like traditional campaign cooperative play, Spartan Ops allows up to four players to participate in weekly objective-based episodic missions.[31][53] Missions intertwine directly with events in the main Halo 4 campaign, expanding on the story of the UNSC Infinity and her crew;[31] this new mode is being likened to a second full-scale campaign for the game.[52] Compared to a season of a television program, each "episode" of Spartan Ops features 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.[16][60] The development of Spartan Ops saw 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.[46] 343 Industries will be supporting additional Spartan Ops missions for months after launch of the game and unlike Reach challenges, players have the opportunity to play from the beginning of the episodic campaign regardless of when they started playing. The first "season" is included with the price of the game, though 343i has not ruled out charging players for additional Spartan Ops seasons.[61] Frank O'Connor has stated that Spartan Ops will "bridge the gap" between the events of Halo 4 and the future release of its sequel.[61]

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.[52] Each episode of the series, gameplay-wise, was meant to enhance the significance of the events the player is experiencing, and as such, simplistic single-objective missions were not 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";[52] 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."[52] The first season of Spartan Ops as of June 2012 was noted as being "very rigid" with the direction of the story having already been mapped out from beginning to end. There are currently no plans for a second season of Spartan Ops. However, Frank O'Connor has stated that "the story of Crimson, the Infinity and those characters and events is far from over".[62] The story of the cast of characters from Spartan Ops is continued in the comic series Halo: Escalation.

Season One consists of ten episodes and a total of fifty missions (five missions per episode) and was released following the launch of Halo 4.[60] The first half of Season One was released between launch day, November 6, 2012, and December 3, 2012. The second half of the season was launched on January 21, 2013, and concluded the season on February 18, 2013.

Forge[edit]

Main article: Forge

Forge is a returning feature in Halo 4. Co-developed with Certain Affinity, the feature was first shown to public audiences at the Rooster Teeth Expo on July 7, 2012 in a presentation highlighting various new features included with this newest iteration of Forge mode.[46][63] The feature sports 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.[59] It is accessible in four dedicated maps with unique object palettes.

Marketing[edit]

[edit]

Main articles: The Commissioning, Archive:Xbox.com/Halo 4, Scanned, Halo 4 Launch Gameplay Trailer, Are you Worthy

Marketing for Halo 4 began in June 2012 with the release of the live-action trailer The Commissioning at E3 2012. The short live-action trailer simultaneously depicts the ceremony that formally placed the UNSC 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. To go along with the live-action trailer, Xbox.com updated its Halo 4 page, putting the user in the command room right after the crash.[64]

Other advertisements also include "Scanned", a launch trailer produced by film director David Fincher and the Official Launch Gameplay Trailer. 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.[65]

The public had their first opportunity to play Halo 4 War Games at the Rooster Teeth Expo in Austin, Texas on July 7–8, 2012.[66]

Merchandise[edit]

Editions[edit]

Features Standard Limited Edition Game of the Year Edition
Image of contents Halo 4 standard edition (ESRB).png Halo 4 Limited Edition.jpg Halo 4 Game of the Year Cover.png
Game disc & 2 weeks XBL Gold Yes Yes Yes
War Games map pack access No Yes Yes
UNSC Infinity briefing packet No Yes No
Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
Special Edition 		No Yes No
Exclusive specializations No Yes Yes
Bonus digital content No Yes Yes

The North American (ESRB) and European (PEGI) cover art for Halo 4, seen here, was unveiled on May 14, 2012 through a series of 32 "puzzle pieces" given to various community members by 343 Industries.[67][68] 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 Ket-pattern battlecruiser with other debris surround him.[68]

Announced on May 16, 2012, 343 Industries revealed a collector's edition for Halo 4.[69] The Halo 4 Limited Edition has been noted as "maximizing your multiplayer experience," which in turn expands on the fiction of the Halo universe like many aspects of the game as a whole.[69] 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 is 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 purchase worldwide starting at $99.99 (USD).[69] 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 would receive.[69]

On August 26, 2013, IGN revealed a Game of the Year Edition for Halo 4. The Game of the Year Edition includes the 3 DLCs that came with the War Games Season Pass (Crimson, Majestic and Castle), the Champions Bundle, Spartan Ops Season 1, and several digital preorder and limited edition bonuses. It is available at $49.99 (USD), and it was released on October 8, 2013.[3]

Pre-order bonuses[edit]

Many pre-order bonuses for Halo 4 were revealed on May 25, 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:

Bonuses Deadeye helmet skin Locus helmet skin Forest armor skin Pulse armor skin Raptor armor skin Web armor skin Circuit armor skin BR85 arctic skin Assassin emblem Bonebreaker emblem Bulletproof emblem Spartan emblem
Image
MJOLNIR Deadeye helmet.png
Halo 4 preorder bonus (Locus helmet).png
MJOLNIR HAZOP armor (Forest).png
Halo 4 preorder bonus (GUNGNIR Pulse).png
Halo 4 preorder bonus (Venator Raptor).png
MJOLNIR CIO armor (Web).png
Concept art of Oceanic (CRCT). Used for pre-order adverts.
BR85HB SR (arctic camouflage).png
Halo 4 preorder bonus (Assassin emblem).png
Halo 4 preorder bonus (Bonebreaker emblem).png
Halo 4 preorder bonus (Amazon Bulletproof emblem).png
Halo 4 preorder bonus (Amazon Spartan emblem).png
Amazon No No No No No Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Best Buy Yes No No No Yes No No No No No No No
EBGames[preorder 1] No No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No
EBGames.co.nz No No Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes No
GameStop[preorder 2] No No Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes No No
GAME No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No No
Gameplanet MX Yes No Yes No No No No No No No No No
Gamers MX No No No No No Yes No No No No No Yes
Gamerush MX No No No Yes No No No Yes No No No No
Microsoft Store No No No Yes No No No No No No No No
HMV No Yes No No No No No No No No No No
MightyApe.co.nz No Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No No
Play.com Yes No No No No No No No No No No No
ShopTo No No No No No No No No Yes No No No
Walmart No No No No No No Yes No No No No No
  • Emblem: Assassin.

    Emblem: Assassin.

  • Emblem: Bulletproof.

    Emblem: Bulletproof.

  1. ^ Includes EBGames Canada, Gamestop Germany, Gamestop Italy, Gamestop Spain.
  2. ^ Includes GameStop USA, EBGames USA, GameStop UK, GameStop Ireland

Books[edit]

Awakening: The Art of Halo 4 is a hardcover art book first announced on May 8, 2012. The book was published by Titan Books with a release date of November 2, 2012.[70] This fourth retail art collection from the Halo universe includes 192 pages of colored illustration used during production to create the vision of Halo 4 as well as commentary by 343 Industries artists and developers.[70]

Five novels released from January 2011 to January 2014, 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. 4, 2011), Primordium (Jan. 3, 2012), and Silentium (Jan. 8, 2013 [26]) 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. 25, 2011), The Thursday War (Oct. 2nd, 2012), and Mortal Dictata (Jan. 21, 2014), chronicles the months following the end of Halo 3 and bridges the gap between the original Bungie trilogy and the Reclaimer Saga.

Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide is a visual guidebook released on September 16, 2013 in the US. The guide was published by Dorling Kindersley and contains 232 pages of images and information on the locations, characters, creatures, vehicles, and weapons featured in Halo 4.[71]

Licensed products[edit]

McFarlane Toys announced three waves of action figures, vehicles, toy sets, and other products for Halo 4.[72] The first series, released in August 2012, featured 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;[73] a larger boxed product, featuring an up-scaled John-117 and accessories within a frozen cryopod is also available.[72] Released alongside Halo 4 in November was 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, featuring a Promethean Knight, was released in Holiday 2012.[72]

The second series, released in October 2013, featured four 6-inch as John-117 with the ARC-920, tree Spartan Warriors (orange, purple and steeel/green), a Sangheili Ranger with the T-27 Beam Rifle and one new inclusion: the Kig-Yar Storm with the Covenant Carbine; a larger boxed product, featuring an up-scaled Ur-Didact with a removable helmet was also available.[74] All the figures of series 2 included a code for Halo 4's Infinity mode.

The third series, which were released on February 2015, feature three figures: Jul 'Mdama with an energy sword, Gabriel Thorne with an MA5D assault rifle, and Sarah Palmer with two M6H magnums.[75]

McFarlane also released a Halo 4 series under their "Micro Ops" line, which includes smaller non-character figures made specifically for battle recreations.[76]

Jada Toys produced replica figures and die cast vehicles based on content from the game, including a highly detailed 14-inch M12 Warthog vehicle.[77]

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., a well known manufacturing company for game products, released a licensed communication headset coinciding with the launch of Halo 4.[78] The headset's aesthetics has a design reminiscent of designs seen in the Halo universe.[78]

GAEMS PGE, manufacturer of personal gaming environments, produced a UNSC-themed Personal Gaming Environment for the Xbox 360.[79]

Trailers[edit]

Announcement[edit]

Main article: Awakening

Called "Awakening," this trailer was revealed for the first time on June 6, 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 Saga (originally called 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 Halo Legends: Origins. It would later be revealed that the trailer is set during the opening moments of Halo 4, during Jul 'Mdama's Covenant boarding of the ship.

Aptly named, the trailer depicts the awakening of John-117 from cryo sleep aboard the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn by Cortana shouting for the Spartan to wake up. John-117 secures Cortana's 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 AI companion view this world opening itself.

Concept Art Glimpse[edit]

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.[80] Released on August 28, 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 terrestrial world with Forerunner glyphs on the surface, several location drafts which feature distinctly Forerunner buildings and ships, concepts of the Forward Unto Dawn's wreckage, and some concepts of the then-unidentified Requiem. Two of these images were repurposed as the cover art for the Forerunner Saga novels, Cryptum and Primordium.[10] Following the Halo 4 title card was a quick teaser of an early iteration of the Promethean Knight.

Production notes[edit]

Main article: Making Halo 4

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 seven videos were released under this documentary series. The first video, titled "First Look", revealed the first in-game footage of Campaign and War Games for Halo 4 along with various gameplay elements. Composing Worlds is the second video, focusing on the audio design of the development. The third video, titled "A Hero Awakens", goes in great detail on the development of storyline and character performances. The fourth video, titled "Return of the Forerunners", focuses on the development of the Prometheans and their weapons. The fifth, titled "Infinity Multiplayer", focuses on the development and inspiration of Halo 4's multiplayer mode. The sixth video, titled "Majestic Map Pack", focused on the development of the Majestic Map Pack. The seventh and last video, titled "Spartan Ops: Season 1", focused on the development of the Spartan Ops mode.

Demonstration videos[edit]

Main article: Halo 4 E3 2012 Stage Demo

Nearly a year after the announcement of the game, 343 Industries revealed the first proper gameplay footage of Halo 4 on June 4, 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.

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn[edit]

Film poster for Forward Unto Dawn
Main article: Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn

Announced on April 30, 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.[28] Forward Unto Dawn chronicles the life of Thomas Lasky from his experiences at 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 would 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 would flesh out the fiction of the universe, particularly Halo 4's. Viewers are given background information on the various events set prior to the 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 was released prior to the worldwide launch of Halo 4 on October 5, 2012,[81][82] first as a short weekly webseries exclusively on Halo Waypoint and Machinima.com and later in its full 75-minute form on other devices.[28] A 90-minute extended edition is included with the limited edition for Halo 4.[69] Directed by Stewart Hendler, filming on Forward Unto Dawn took place in British Columbia throughout Spring 2012 and is currently in post-production in Los Angeles. It stars Tom Green (Thomas Lasky), Anna Popplewell (Chyler Silva), and Daniel Cudmore (John-117).

Soundtrack[edit]

Main article: Halo 4: Original Soundtrack

The Halo 4: Original Soundtrack was released on October 22, 2012. The soundtrack features 15 tracks, though some editions come with a remix album.[83][84]

Reception[edit]

Internet sites
Reviewer Score
IGN 9.8/10
GameInformer 9.25
1up A-
GameSpot 9/10
Country magazines
Official Xbox Magazine 9.5/10
Official Xbox Magazine (UK) 9/10
Compilation websites
Metacritic 87%
Game Rankings 87.12%

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,"[85] 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.",[86] 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."[86] 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."[86] His overall conclusion was that "Halo has been rebuilt. It has been redefined. And it has been reinvigorated."[86]

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,",[87] and that "Halo 4 demonstrates a genuine effort to either introduce new elements or simply correct old problems."[87] He also stated that "the sound design of Halo 4 benefits from having a punchier effect than the previous entries,"[87] 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."[87] 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",[87] "the resolution to Halo 4's story doesn't make a lot of sense."[87] 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 it's a shame to see the series conform to another game's mold",[87] 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."[87] He praised the addition of the Prometheans, which "add a wonderful element of enemy teamwork that complements the existing A.I. behaviors beautifully,"[87] 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."[87]

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,",[88] and praised the campaign as "beautiful. It’s cinematic, and features lovely music,"[89] and that it "humanized what was up until now mainly just a really fun, well-made series of games,"[89] though she found that "concepts and names are thrown at you in such rapid succession that it’s difficult to follow along"[89] and complained that "I found the Spartan Ops missions to be fairly boring."[89] 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."[89] She also complained that "Prometheans as a new enemy class are more annoying than I expected,"[89] and that "fighting them grew stale very quickly,"[89] but praised their arsenal as "trump[ing] even the Covenant’s stock."[89] Overall, she recommended that players "keep an open mind for Halo 4, because you just may enjoy it as much as I did."[89]

Despite the well-received sales figures and positive reviews, social networking site Raptr reported that Halo 4's player population declined rapidly since its release, even worse when compared to Halo: Reach.[90]

Trivia[edit]

  • When recording dialogue as Sergeant Major Avery Johnson for Halo 2, David Scully humorously said, "In Halo 4, I get a woman!"[91]
  • The four Covenant species featured in Halo 4 are the same as those featured in Halo: Combat Evolved: Elites, Jackals, Grunts, and Hunters.
  • In Spartan Ops' pre-rendered cutscenes, some weapons use models from older builds of the game as seen in early in-game screenshots. For example, the BR85HB SR is erroneously labeled as the BR55HB SR and the M395 Designated Marksman Rifle lacks a front sight.

Gallery[edit]

Promotional images[edit]

  • Promotional image of Master Chief.

    Promotional image of Master Chief.

  • Full game cover for Halo 4.

    Full game cover for Halo 4.

  • North American/ESRB cover art without Xbox 360 branding. Released May 14, 2012.

    North American/ESRB cover art without Xbox 360 branding. Released May 14, 2012.

  • High resolution cover art poster.

    High resolution cover art poster.

  • Animated video of the Halo 4 cover.

    Animated video of the Halo 4 cover.

  • A promotional image for Halo 4, depicting the wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn descending toward Requiem.

    A promotional image for Halo 4, depicting the wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn descending toward Requiem.

  • Early promotional art of John-117 in Halo 4.

    Early promotional art of John-117 in Halo 4.

  • John-117 holding an MA5D assault rifle.

    John-117 holding an MA5D assault rifle.

  • John-117 facing a Cryptum.

    John-117 facing a Cryptum.

  • A poster that came with pre-orders from Best Buy.

    A poster that came with pre-orders from Best Buy.

  • Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition Cover

    Halo 4 Game of the Year Edition Cover

  • An Ancient Evil awakens wallpaper made to promote the game.

    An Ancient Evil awakens wallpaper made to promote the game.

  • A lithograph made to promote Halo 4 in 2013.

    A lithograph made to promote Halo 4 in 2013.

  • A lithograph made to promote Halo 4 in 2013.

    A lithograph made to promote Halo 4 in 2013.

Campaign screenshots[edit]

  • The pre-release main menu of Halo 4.

    The pre-release main menu of Halo 4.

  • The HUD utilized in Halo 4's single-player.

    The HUD utilized in Halo 4's single-player.

  • John-117 in a cryo chamber.

    John-117 in a cryo chamber.

  • John-117 and Cortana.

    John-117 and Cortana.

  • John-117 and a Sangheili Storm in a close quarters fight.

    John-117 and a Sangheili Storm in a close quarters fight.

  • Covenant troops are killed by an explosion.

    Covenant troops are killed by an explosion.

  • The Chief watches as the UNSC Infinity crash-lands.

    The Chief watches as the UNSC Infinity crash-lands.

  • A swarm of Phantoms and Banshees close in on the crashed Infinity.

    A swarm of Phantoms and Banshees close in on the crashed Infinity.

  • John-117 alongside UNSC troops in a dropship bay.

    John-117 alongside UNSC troops in a dropship bay.

  • Master Chief in a desert environment on Requiem.

    Master Chief in a desert environment on Requiem.

Infinity screenshots[edit]

War Games[edit]

Spartan Ops[edit]

  • A sword-wielding Spartan engages a Promethean Knight.

    A sword-wielding Spartan engages a Promethean Knight.

  • Two Spartans attack a hard-shielded Knight, guarded by two Watchers.

    Two Spartans attack a hard-shielded Knight, guarded by two Watchers.

  • Two Spartans facing a swarm of Promethean hostiles.

    Two Spartans facing a swarm of Promethean hostiles.

  • A Spartan prepares to stab a Knight with his combat knife.

    A Spartan prepares to stab a Knight with his combat knife.

  • A view of the walkway at a Forerunner facility.

    A view of the walkway at a Forerunner facility.

  • A pair of spires at the facility.

    A pair of spires at the facility.

  • A wide view of the walkway. Note the lava flowing beneath the bridge.

    A wide view of the walkway. Note the lava flowing beneath the bridge.

Concept art[edit]

  • Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.

    Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.

  • Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.

    Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.

  • Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.

    Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.

  • Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.

    Early 2009-era pre-production concept art.

  • A general view of Requiem.

    A general view of Requiem.

  • The wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn entering an iris-like opening on Requiem.

    The wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn entering an iris-like opening on Requiem.

  • Forward Unto Dawn concept art.

    Forward Unto Dawn concept art.

  • Concept art of a landscape on Requiem.

    Concept art of a landscape on Requiem.

  • A view of Requiems spires.

    A view of Requiems spires.

  • Another view of Requiems spires.

    Another view of Requiems spires.

  • Rocky terrain.

    Rocky terrain.

  • UNSC ships entering the structure through what appears to be the same or similar opening.

    UNSC ships entering the structure through what appears to be the same or similar opening.

  • Concept art of a Forerunner gravity field generator.

    Concept art of a Forerunner gravity field generator.

  • A valley with massive Forerunner towers suspended in the air.

    A valley with massive Forerunner towers suspended in the air.

  • Concept art of the Forerunner skyscrapers that serves as the setting for Haven.

    Concept art of the Forerunner skyscrapers that serves as the setting for Haven.

  • Concept art of a Pelican landing at the orbital manufacturing facility that serves as the setting for Adrift.

    Concept art of a Pelican landing at the orbital manufacturing facility that serves as the setting for Adrift.

  • Concept art of the prototype warship UNSC Infinity.

    Concept art of the prototype warship UNSC Infinity.

  • A compilation of screen captures from the end of the concept art trailer, depicting an early version of a Promethean Knight.[80]

    A compilation of screen captures from the end of the concept art trailer, depicting an early version of a Promethean Knight.[80]

  • Concept art of Master Chief and Cortana.

    Concept art of Master Chief and Cortana.

  • Concept art of the Forward Unto Dawn's cryo bay.

    Concept art of the Forward Unto Dawn's cryo bay.

  • Concept art of Master Chief with the ARC-920.

    Concept art of Master Chief with the ARC-920.

  • Concept art of a Forerunner artifact in a UNSC facility.

    Concept art of a Forerunner artifact in a UNSC facility.

  • Concept art of Spartans.

    Concept art of Spartans.

  • Spaceships concept art, later used as the cover art for Halo: Primordium.

    Spaceships concept art, later used as the cover art for Halo: Primordium.

  • Concept art of the finale.

    Concept art of the finale.

  • Concept art of a Forerunner building.

    Concept art of a Forerunner building.

  • Cauldron concept art.

    Cauldron concept art.

  • Cauldron concept art.

    Cauldron concept art.

  • Refuge concept art.

    Refuge concept art.

  • Concept art of an unrealised remake of Narrows from Halo 3.

    Concept art of an unrealised remake of Narrows from Halo 3.

  • Concept art of the cut Narrows remake..

    Concept art of the cut Narrows remake..

  • Aftermath concept art.

    Aftermath concept art.

  • John 117 concept art.

    John 117 concept art.

  • Concept art of Forerunner weapons.

    Concept art of Forerunner weapons.

  • H4 Forerunner Powercore conceptart.jpg
  • H4 Forerunner Supply Container conceptart.jpg
  • H4 Forerunner damage process.jpg
  • H4 forerunner Power supply Concept art.jpg
  • Concept exploration of UNSC architecture.

    Concept exploration of UNSC architecture.

  • Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.

    Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.

  • Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.

    Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.

  • Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.

    Visual exploration for DLC, focusing on an underwater map with Covenant technology.

  • Sketches of John-117 and Cortana.

    Sketches of John-117 and Cortana.

Logos[edit]

  • Title art

    Title art

  • Condensed logo

    Condensed logo

Sources[edit]

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  6. ^ a b c d Halo Waypoint: Halo 4
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  22. ^ Halo Waypoint - 343 Sparkcast 005
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  24. ^ Greg Bear - Discussion Board: Book
  25. ^ Greg Bear - Discussion Board: PRIMORDIAL GRAVEMIND
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  28. ^ a b c Variety.com: Halo Web series to bow before next game
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  36. ^ a b c d Halo 4 Official Site: GAMEPLAY
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  53. ^ a b c IGN.com: Spartan Ops and Infinity Change Halo 4 Multiplayer
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  65. ^ The Hollywood Reporter — David Fincher Produces 'Halo 4' Launch Trailer for Microsoft
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  86. ^ a b c d Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IGN_Halo_4
  87. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Jose Otero, "Halo 4 Review: Laying the Groundwork for a New Trilogy, 1UP"
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  89. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Kotaku_Halo_4
  90. ^ Raptr: Case Study: Halo 4′s Spartan Ops content updates — successes and failures
  91. ^ Bungie.net: Media Player - Halo 2 Audio Outtakes

External links[edit]

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List of games in the Halo franchise
Original trilogy
Sequel FPS games
Standalone FPS games
Strategy games
Twin-stick shooter games
Virtual reality games
Arcade games
Game compilations
Mobile games
Tabletop games
Board games
Cancelled projects
Rejected pitches and internal prototypes
*Asterisks indicate upcoming releases
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