Closing out Xbox’s 2019 E3 Press Conference was the title that started it all and was a must have for the original Xbox console – Halo.
Master Chief is back and looking like a lime-green tank once again thanks to the new Slipspace engine and 343’s new art direction – combing the old and the new. Halo is back. This entry continues the Chief’s story from Halo 5: Guardians – it’s not a reboot but a “spiritual reboot” to the series in terms of looks, nods to the past, and musical direction (You may have noticed some familiar music in both of Infinite’s E3 trailers bow).
Unfortunately fans will have to wait even longer… every previous entry in the FPS titles for Halo has a 3 year gap between entries. Halo 5: Guardians, the previous entry, released in October 2015. Halo Infinite will be launching Holiday 2020.
The Master Chief returns in Halo Infinite – the next chapter of the legendary franchise launching holiday 2020 with Project Scarlett.
Developed by 343 Industries for Xbox One, Windows 10, and Project Scarlett, Halo Infinite continues the Halo 5: Guardians storyline and takes the franchise in ambitious, unexpected directions.
Powered by the all-new Slipspace Engine.
However, this means that for the first time since Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo Infinite will be a console launch title as Xbox is set to release their next entry in the “Xbox One” ecosystem – Project Scarlett.
Halo Infinite has already been announced to run on Xbox One and Windows 10, but Project Scarlett will be the console platform where this title will shine!
The next Halo FPS title has been revealed, Halo Infinite. Halo Infinite is the next entry in the Reclaimer Saga and follows the Master Chief after the events of Halo 5. Coming to Windows 10 and Xbox One.
The Master Chief returns in Halo Infinite – the next chapter of the legendary franchise. Developed by 343 Industries and created with our new Slipspace Engine, Halo Infinite was revealed at the Xbox E3 2018 Briefing with a thrilling engine demo that provides a glimpse into the future of the Halo franchise, leading it into new and unexpected directions.
Xbox One and Windows 10 Exclusive.
Here’s breakdown of the Halo Infinite Trailer from E3 2018. Halo 6 has been revealed and it’s called Halo Infinite. The game features a new engine called the Slipspace Engine, a new classic inspired art style, and is set after the events of Halo 5 on what appears to be Installation 07.
Halo Infinite has already confirmed to have split screen support, multiple betas through a flighting program, black undersuits, a more Master Chief focused story campaign, and will release exclusively on Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs.
Halo Wars 2 Terminus Firefight Gameplay with Arbiter Ripa ‘Moramee! Terminus Firefight comes with Awakening The Nightmare Expansion Fall 2017. Live demo from Xbox Daily Live @ E3 Day 2
For more on Halo Wars 2’s “Awakening The Nightmare” Expansion. Click here.
Details on Halo War’s 2 “Awakening The Nightmare” Expansion! The Flood are back with Halo Wars 2 Awakening The Nightmare Expansion coming Fall 2017!
New Banished vs Flood Campaign
Blur Cinematics
2 new Banished Leaders
New Firefight mode – “Terminus Firefight”
and The Flood are returning (totally canon too)!
The expansion costs $20 USD and is not covered by the game’s Season Pass.
As an aside, Leaders Jerome and Arbiter (Ripa ‘Moramee, HW1 Arbiter) are playable at E3 right now in the Terminus Firefight mode. Leaders Jerome and Arbiter will be coming to Halo Wars 2 in late June for Seasons Pass owners or $5.99 USD/each.
Halo Wars 2 Awakening The Nightmare Expansion! Campaign DLC, Firefight, The Flood! (E3 2017)
Halo only had a small segment today during Xbox’s press briefing, however many other details were revealed online outside of the briefing. Halo Wars 2 had two trailers revealed, the first was a cinematic trailer and the second was advertising the Open Beta that is currently available and odds are you’re probably installing it or playing it right now.
The Halo Wars 2 Beta is available to everyone with Xbox Live Gold. It runs from June 13th to the 20th.
The Beta features 2 modes. Domination, which is available from the 13th through the 16th. In Domination players build their bases and armies, and battle for control of the map and supremacy of the Ark.
Deathmatch is the other mode that will be available from June 17th until June 20th. It’s a straight up fight to the death. Last man standing wins.
Both game modes are 2v2. Domination will feature a map called Ricochet, and Deathmatch will be played on a map called Veteran.
Now this isn’t a marketing beta, with this announcement 343 has informed us that Halo Wars 2 has been pushed from it’s original Fall 2016 release to February 21st, 2017. 343 decided to move the game to give it room to breathe as there are many games this fall.
With that being said the beta is taking place roughly 8 months before release so there is plenty of time to incorporate our feedback. The Beta is only available for Xbox One, however there will be another beta closer to launch for Xbox One and Windows 10. This current Beta also offers Gold REQ packs for Halo 5 if you play it. You get 1 after your first game of the Halo Wars 2 Beta and 2 more after your 5th game.
Halo Wars 2 currently has 5 listed game modes. Skirmish (Solo & Online Multiplayer Co-op), Strongholds (Online Multiplayer), Domination (Online Multiplayer), Deathmatch (Online Multiplayer), and a new mode called Blitz (Solo & Online Multiplayer Co-op).
In terms of story, Halo Wars 2 takes place directly after the events of Halo 5: Guardians. After decades adrift and declared lost with all hands, The Spirit of Fire is back with Captain Cutter and crew. Roughly about 27 years since the events of the original Halo Wars.
If you didn’t already notice, Blur Studio is indeed doing the cinematics.
The new villain is Atriox, the leader of the mercenary force known as The Banished – a fierce and powerful Brute faction. The Banished bring many classic Halo alien weapons to the battlefield with an explosive redesign, making them as brutal and deadly as anything the UNSC has encountered. Halo Wars 2 takes place on the Ark, which was first introduced in Halo 3.
Halo Wars 2 is also a Xbox Play Anywhere title. This means if you buy a digital purchase of Halo Wars 2 on your Xbox One or Windows 10 you’ll get access to the other version for free. So you can play on your Xbox One with a controller or on Windows 10 and crank the resolution and use your keyboard and mouse. Now you don’t have to decide between a platform since you get both.
Currently there are two versions of Halo Wars 2. There’s the standard edition and there’s the ultimate edition. The ultimate edition comes with the Halo Wars 2 season pass, 4 days of early access to the game, and the Definitive Edition of the original Halo Wars.
The season pass delivers regular updates that span more than six months and include new leaders with abilities, new units, a new campaign expansion with exclusive missions, and more to be announced soon.
The ultimate edition allows owners the ability to play Halo Wars 2 4 days before the standard release date, so instead of February 21, 2017. You can play on February 17th.
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is an enhanced version of the original Halo Wars that runs natively on Xbox One and Windows 10. It includes improved graphics and all the DLC for the game.
Halo Wars 2: Ultimate Edition costs $79.99 USD, the standard edition costs $59.99. Both listings online come with an item called Welcome to the Ark, which may be a pre-order bonus item. It’s description says…
Experience the exciting first battles between the UNSC and The Banished. Unlocks the story missions and multiplayer leaders from the original Halo Wars 2 campaign.
That could be a typo, possibly meant to say Halo Wars not Halo Wars 2. We’ll hopefully get more details and clarification as E3 continues.
Chief Canuck - Video Game News 