(Crankers) The Halo game franchise has a rich and expansive history that spans several decades. Here’s a summary of the key events and milestones in the history of Halo:
- Development and Release of Halo: Combat Evolved (2001): The original Halo game, developed by Bungie Studios and published by Microsoft, was released as a launch title for the Xbox console. It introduced players to the sci-fi universe of Halo and the iconic protagonist, Master Chief.
- Halo’s Success and Expansion (2001-2004): Halo: Combat Evolved received critical acclaim and became a massive success, helping to establish the Xbox as a prominent gaming platform. Bungie went on to develop two sequels, Halo 2 (2004) and Halo 3 (2007), which further expanded the game’s universe and introduced new gameplay elements.
- Creation of Halo Spin-offs and Expansion beyond Gaming (2004-2009): During this period, Bungie released spin-off titles such as Halo 3: ODST (2009) and Halo Wars (2009), which offered different gameplay experiences within the Halo universe. Additionally, a series of novels, comics, and other media were released, expanding the lore and story of the franchise.
- Bungie’s Departure and 343 Industries (2010-2012): Bungie announced their departure from Microsoft, and 343 Industries, a subsidiary of Microsoft Studios, took over the development of future Halo games. Bungie’s final Halo project was Halo: Reach (2010), a prequel to the original game.
- Reboot with Halo 4 (2012): 343 Industries released Halo 4, the first game in the Reclaimer Saga, which continued the main storyline of the series. It introduced new characters and delved deeper into the mythos of the Halo universe.
- Expansion of the Halo Universe (2014-2017): 343 Industries released Halo: Spartan Assault (2013) and Halo: Spartan Strike (2015), top-down shooter games for various platforms. They also launched Halo: The Master Chief Collection (2014), which compiled updated versions of previous Halo games for the Xbox One.
- Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Wars 2 (2015-2017): Halo 5: Guardians (2015) continued the Reclaimer Saga, focusing on Master Chief and a new protagonist, Spartan Locke. Additionally, Halo Wars 2 (2017), a sequel to the original Halo Wars, expanded the franchise into the real-time strategy genre.
- Halo Infinite and Recent Developments (2018-present): Halo Infinite, initially scheduled for a 2020 release, is the upcoming game in the series. It aims to be a spiritual reboot, returning to the franchise’s roots while introducing new gameplay mechanics and an open-world structure. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the game is still in development and set to release in late 2021.
It’s important to note that the Halo franchise also includes various multiplayer components, including the popular Halo multiplayer modes, which have been a significant part of the series’ success throughout its history.