Halo 5: Guardians

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Halo 5: Guardians is the upcoming ninth installment in the Halo franchise. It is the second game in the Reclaimer Saga and continues the story of the Master Chief. Originally alluded to in a teaser trailer shown at Microsoft's E3 Media Briefing on June 10, 2013, Guardians was officially announced on May 16, 2014. Exclusive to the Xbox One, the game is in development and is set to be released in fall 2015, with the first major coverage of the game unveiled at E3 2014.

Development

What would later be revealed as Halo 5: Guardians was first revealed with a teaser released on June 10, 2013 during that year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. The trailer indicated that a major Halo release would occur for the Xbox One console in 2014, leading many to believe that this particular game would be the next entry in the Reclaimer Saga and the sequel to Halo 4. However, Microsoft stressed the trailer's phrasing that 2014 would mark the beginning of a "journey", with the implication that this may not mean the release of the then still officially unannounced Halo 5.

Halo 5: Guardians was formally announced on May 16, 2014 by 343 Industries General Manager Bonnie Ross. Ross describes Halo 5: Guardians as a bigger effort than the preceding Halo 4 in terms of the content and scope of the game as well as the technology underpinning it. The game's engine is said to have been completely retooled to take full advantage of the Xbox One's hardware and ecosystem; according to Frank O'Connor, the engine is all-new apart from a number of core features retained from the previous one. Ross states that Halo 5 will incorporate lessons the 343 Industries team learned from Halo 4 with regard to technology, performance, aesthetics, and scale in response to feedback received from the fan community. She also mentioned that the game will run at 60 frames per second and will feature dedicated servers.

In E3 2014, 343 Industries' statements about a "journey" beginning in the fall of 2014 were revealed to be referring to a multimedia project dubbed Halo: The Journey by 343 Industries, set to begin with the release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, containing remastered "Anniversary" editions of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, as well as high-resolution versions of Halo 3 and Halo 4. Additionally, it was announced that a multiplayer beta of Guardians is set to be released on December 27, 2014. Exclusive unlockable content for the beta is to be available via The Master Chief Collection and the digital series Halo: Nightfall.

Since the development of Halo 4, the 343 Industries team has undergone several internal changes. Nicolas "Sparth" Bouvier has replaced Kenneth Scott as senior art director, although Scott has been stated to continue serving in an advisory role. Josh Holmes has also been replaced by Tim Longo (known for his previous work on Star Wars: Republic Commando and the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot) as creative director. Christopher Schlerf has been supplanted by Brian Reed as Halo franchise lead writer after Schlerf's departure from 343 Industries. Most of the game's soundtrack is to be composed by Kazuma Jinnouchi, replacing Halo 4's Neil Davidge as the principal composer.

Story and characters

John-117 holding Cortana's data chip, as seen in the first teaser trailer.

The primary protagonist of the Halo series, SPARTAN-II supersoldier Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, returns in Halo 5: Guardians following the end of Halo 4. It has been noted that John has begun to question all of his former beliefs and has disappeared following events further detailed in "The Next 72 Hours", a story arc of the ongoing comic series Halo: Escalation. New cinematics and terminals in The Master Chief Collection will likewise link to the story of Guardians. In media released so far, the Master Chief's modified Mark VI MJOLNIR armor is seemingly unchanged from Halo 4. In the initial teaser trailer, the Master Chief is shown wearing a hooded cloak with his armor having suffered considerable damage. He is seen in the possession of an empty data crystal chip on a chain, alluding to his loss of Cortana at the end of Halo 4.

Halo 5: Guardians also features another playable character, Agent Locke, a "legendary manhunter" on a mission to find the Master Chief. Locke will be introduced in Ridley Scott's digital series Halo: Nightfall, which will have narrative connections to Halo 5. Although he will be a prominent character, Locke will not be replacing John-117 as the protagonist. Locke was first shown in promotional artwork unveiled with the game's formal announcement, wearing what appears to be MJOLNIR [GEN2] armor with a dark coloration and an Office of Naval Intelligence symbol emblazoned on the chest.

Frank O'Connor has also stated that the game will feature "plenty of strong female characters".

Appearances

Before the releasing of the First Look trailer, three weapons were identified. Agent Locke was seen wielding the BR85HB battle rifle from Halo 4 (albeit with a different sight attachment, possibly a reflex sight), while the Master Chief was seen with his signature MA5 assault rifle, apparently the MA5D variant from Halo 4. A Master Chief figure made by McFarlane Toys is seen with a Z-110 Boltshot.

Several visually diverse locations have been shown in media released so far. The 2013 teaser trailer shows a desolate, deserted location as the setting of John-117's encounter with an enormous Forerunner machine somewhat evocative of descriptions of a war sphinx or seeker from The Forerunner Saga. A piece of concept art by Sparth depicts a human urban settlement in a mountainous location, with the UNSC Infinity hovering overhead. D79-TC Pelicans and other craft are seen flying nearby. Another concept piece by Sparth, unveiled with the game's formal announcement, depicts a cavern with several structures of an alien design with a statue of a Sangheili and what appear to be two suns are seen looming in the sky. In the Gamescon multiplayer trailer a Type-52 Phantom can be seen flying past a window on Truth, the Halo 5: Guardians remake of the Halo 2 multiplayer map Midship.

The background of the preliminary box artwork shows an arid location with angular, towering vertical structures. While the background of the wallpaper version is similar in mood and lighting, the structures are different, including a dish-like structure and a cupola similar to those seen in the concept with the Sangheili statue.

Note: all subjects below are listed tentatively based on their appearance in media released so far; as such, the following does not reflect the full feature list of the final game.

Characters Cortana (Data chip only) Jameson Locke John-117 Species Forerunner (Technology only) Human Sangheili Organizations United Earth Government United Nations Space Command Spartan SPARTAN-IV program UNSC Navy Naval Special Weapons SPARTAN-II program Office of Naval Intelligence

Vehicles Autumn-class heavy cruiser (Holographic projection only) CAS-class assault carrier D79-TC Pelican UNSC Infinity Type-52 Phantom Weapons BR85HB battle rifle M395 DMR Unidentified rocket launcher M6H magnum M7 SMG M9 fragmentation grenade MA5D assault rifle SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle Type-1 energy sword Prophets' Bane (First appearance) Type-1 plasma grenade Z-250 lightrifle Unidentified UNSC weapon Equipment and technology Data crystal chip MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor MJOLNIR [GEN1] Mark VI (Original and modified variants) MJOLNIR [GEN2] Air Assault variant Aviator variant Defender variant Helioskrill variant (First appearance) Nightfall variant Recon variant Recruit variant Soldier variant Centurion variant MJOLNIR training armor (First appearance) Unidentified ONI-affiliated armor variant Unidentified Forerunner machine

Gameplay

Spartan abilities listed with slide showcased in the background.

In Halo 5: Guardians, armor abilities are replaced by a new set of gameplay enhancements known as Spartan abilities, which are available to all players at any time. There is an increased focus on player mobility; players can now use the thruster pack (which allows omnidirectional movement) at all times, vault ledges, rapidly dash for cover or charge an enemy, or generate a shockwave by striking the ground. The sprint function is still present but the player's shields do not recharge while sprinting. Additionally, the charge and slide abilities are executed as sprint reaches terminal velocity. A new feature called the "smart scope" allows players to aim down the weapon's sights in a manner similar to many other modern shooters, although with non-scope weapons this is purely a cosmetic effect and provides little to no actual accuracy enhancement; 343 Industries will use the Multiplayer Beta to gauge the effects of this feature on the game's gameplay balance.

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Multiplayer

With Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer, 343 Industries seeks to highlight the "arena shooter" aspects of classic Halo multiplayer gameplay. The unlockable custom loadouts and killstreak rewards present in Halo 4 will be disposed of in favor of a "level playing field"; all players will start with identical equipment as in the pre-Halo: Reach games, with a focus on controlling weapons present on the map. The new Spartan abilities also play a large role in the multiplayer; the thruster pack in particular increases player mobility significantly. Another new feature is battle-chatter, automatic dialog among the team in which Spartans call out enemy locations and kills.

The Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta will be used to gather data and feedback on the new multiplayer model as well as some of the new features. The beta will feature a new multiplayer mode, Breakout, in which two teams are thrown into a training arena via man cannons and each player has only a single life with no respawns.

Multiplayer maps

• Truth - a remake of the Halo 2 map Midship
• Empire - a human urban-themed map
• Crossfire - a dedicated map used in the Breakout mode in the beta, set in an orbital UNSC training arena with a holographic floor.

Another, yet-unidentified map has an overgrown Covenant aesthetic.

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Marketing

E3 2013 teaser

Main article: Halo Xbox One announcement trailer

In their E3 2013 conference, Microsoft showed a teaser trailer intended to showcase the future direction of the Halo franchise on the Xbox One. Rather than announcing Halo 5 in particular, the trailer announced the presence of the Halo franchise on the new console, set to debut in 2014 with a then-unspecified Halo title.

The teaser opens with a hooded figure journeying through a desert on an alien world. The figure, revealed to be John-117 clad in battered MJOLNIR armor, clutches Cortana's empty data crystal chip as he encounters an enormous Forerunner machine rising from the sand.

Multiplayer Beta teaser

Main article: Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta announcement trailer

First shown during Microsoft's E3 2014 press conference, this announcement trailer unveils the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta. It depicts Blue and Red teams of SPARTAN-IVs in War Games training aboard a dedicated space station.

Multiplayer Beta First Look

Main article: Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta First Look

First shown during Microsoft's Gamescom 2014, this trailer presents the first details of the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta available in Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Multiplayer Beta: Behind the Scenes

Main article: Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta: Behind the Scenes

A Behind The Scenes feature released on November 10, 2014, detailing the new features and development of the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta.

Gallery

Promotional artwork

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  Halo 5: Guardians logo on a dark background

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  The logo on a white background

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  Angled view of the preliminary game case

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  Promotional wallpaper released upon the announcement of the Halo 5: Guardians title

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  Preliminary box art

• H5 TeaserArt John-117.jpg

  John-117 from the promotional piece

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  Agent Locke depicted in the announcement image.

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  A promotional image for the beta.

Concept art

• Sparth unknown future project.jpg

  UNSC Infinity stationed above a human settlement

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  Another piece of concept art depicting an unknown location.

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  Multiplayer concept art depicting a city themed level.

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  Multiplayer concept art depicting a rooftop location.

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  Multiplayer concept art depicting a Covenant themed level.

Multiplayer

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  The map Truth.

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  The map Empire.

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  The map Crossfire.

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  Two Spartans in the Breakout mode.

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  A first person view.

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  Red Team.

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  A Spartan sporting a skin on his armor.

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  Spartans engaging in a fight.

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  A Spartan using the ground pound ability.

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  A Spartan in Recon armor wielding a new heavy weapon.