| This page discusses elements of deleted material and cut content. Some information on the page is sourced from game files and may not be verifiable through external sources. Where possible, such information should be clearly-marked and replaced with a proper external source as soon as one is available. |
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Halo 3 cut content
- Cut content
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Halo 3 development
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Halo 3 Beta
Original script
To check out cut content for other Halo games, see here!
During the production of Halo 3, several equipment items were concepted and implemented - though ultimately cut for various reasons.
Equipment
Bomb
The bomb used in the Assault gametype appears in the Beta, similar in purpose to the trip mine. The bomb can be picked up and thrown as an equipment, at which point it will roll along the ground while beeping and flashing red. The beeping escalates in frequency, ultimately resulting in an explosion.[1]
The bomb in the March 2007 beta.
The bomb in the March 2007 beta.
The bomb in the March 2007 beta.
Covenant trip mine
Found in the files of the Halo 3 Beta, this early version of the TR/9 trip mine boasts a distinctly Covenant themeing as opposed to the aesthetic found in the final game. The metal and lights on the mine have a blue/purple hue rather than the brown-orange seen in the final game.[2] The files in the Beta only have a model and texture, with no associated gameplay functions.[3]
The Covenant tripmine in the Halo 3 Beta.
![The Covenant tripmine restored into Halo 3 via the use of modding.[4]](/File:H3_Modded_CovenantTripMine_Screenshot_1.png)
Bubble shield
Various early forms of the bubble shield can be found in early builds and trailers. One of the most notable can be found in the Starry Night trailer, thrown to the ground by John-117 to avoid incoming plasma mortar fire. This model seems to be based upon the version found in the March 2007 Beta build of Halo 3, shown below.[1]
Another, model of the bubble shield found in ViDocs and the multiplayer beta appears to use a similar design to the radar jammer and power drain, except yellow. This bubble shield is capable of rolling along the ground, pulling the shield with it.
A closeup of the bubble shield model in Starry Night.
The Starry Night bubble shield in use.
The bubble shield pickup in the March 2007 beta.
The active bubble shield pickup in the March 2007 beta.
The active bubble shield pickup in the March 2007 beta.
An early bubble shield in the multiplayer beta.
Medkit
The medkit was an asset modelled by Bungie artist Jeremiah Strong for Halo 3. Health packs were originally implemented in Halo: Combat Evolved, before being cut from Halo 2. A model for the health pack was created for Halo 3 by Jeremiah Strong and posted to halo.bungie.org in 2008 alongside several other cut assets including a barrel, a bodybag, and a bug.[5]
The medkit was one of several assets included for release in the Digsite asset drop in June 2024, for use in Halo 3 modding. 343 Industries senior franchise writer Kenneth Peters noted that the asset was likely not intended for use as actually functional equipment like in prior and later Halo titles, but instead intended to appear in the level Crow's Nest as a non-interactable prop.[6]
One of the initial health pack screenshots supplied by Strong in 2008.
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One of the initial health pack screenshots supplied by Strong in 2008.
The medkit in Halo 3, restored by the Digsite project.
Vortex
The Vortex is a cut equipment listed in Halo 3's toolkit debug menu, and recovered by the Digsite project. It is thrown out in a manner similar to the radar jammer and power drain, emitting a gravitic force that pulls objects towards it. The objects caught by the Vortex are trapped next to it and left vulnerable to attack.[6]
A screenshot of the Vortex on Pump Haus.
Sources
- ^ a b YouTube - Generalkidd, Halo 3 - Never Before Seen Cut Weapons, Vehicles & Equipment In The Beta
- ^ Twitter, Kiera キ (@Kashiiera): "Today I learned a covenant tripmine exists in the Halo 3 Beta" (Retrieved on Feb 13, 2022) [archive]
- ^ Twitter, Kiera キ (@Kashiiera): "I could make it different, the H3 beta only had the model and textures leftover not the actual equipment :(" (Retrieved on Feb 13, 2022) [archive]
- ^ Twitter, Kiera キ (@Kashiiera): "I restored the covenant tripmine that I recently found in Halo 3s Beta!" (Retrieved on Feb 13, 2022) [archive]
- ^ halo.bungie.org, Pynion - Art Assets that didn't make Halo 3 (Retrieved on Jun 20, 2024) [archive]
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Digsite Deep Dive (Retrieved on Jun 20, 2023) [archive]