E3 Halo Unveil Wasn't Halo 5, Halo 2: Anniversary Being Discussed

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Richard Walker

Microsoft Studios VP, Phil Spencer has confirmed that the Halo game teased for Xbox One at the platform holder's press conference wasn't actually Halo 5, but rather another Halo game entirely. Whether it'll be titled Halo: Insert Subtitle Here or something else, we just don't know for now, and Phil ain't saying either way.

“There was no ambiguity in not putting a number after the game," Spencer told IGN. "For me, what we showed wasn’t the game. Nobody should be confused on that. I didn’t really want to try to show something that was clearly a thought piece by the studio around where Master Chief is in his journey, and then drop the name after it and be somewhat disingenuous about that being the game.”

And not explicitly saying the game was Halo 5 was part of the plan apparently, although the game is still a 60fps, first-person shooter starring Master Chief. That isn't Halo 5. “But I did want Bonnie to come out and say, ‘First-person shooter. Master Chief.’ Because they’ll get the questions – ‘Hey, is this ODST? What are you guys doing?’ Bonnie comes out and reaffirms that 343 is building this game,” Spencer elaborated.

"It’s Master Chief. It’s a first-person shooter at 60 frames per second. It’s coming in 2014.”

But it's not Halo 5. Right.

Finally, Halo 2: Anniversary looks to still be on the cards, especially as the game's 10th anniversary approaches in 2014. Microsoft is having "discussions about it" according to Spencer.

“I’ll be open. We have discussions about it. It’s more about the right time and making sure that we really would do the right thing for the franchise,” Spencer revealed.

“The Halo Anniversary that we did was as much about the launch of the first Xbox as well. It was a culmination of many things coming together. It would probably run out of steam if we were trying to think about, ‘Okay, what’s 10 years old now?’ It’s definitely more from the game itself, the experience that we’re able to bring to market. Less about ‘Is the last digit a zero?’ in terms of its anniversary.”

So there you have it. Halo for Xbox One is not Halo 5 but it'll be coming in 2014, and Halo 2: Anniversary could still be a thing. Yay. Here's that E3 teaser again, below.

Comments
72
  • Righto...
  • halo 2 , this is what we wanted thank you , cant wait to play this great game again...please come through
  • Halo 2 is the best game of the series. Would love to see an anniversary edition!!
  • is it a bit like how assassins creed brotherhood wasn't 3 even though it was the 3rd game in the series? sounds exciting though. halo 4.5?
  • Leave the Cow Alone!
  • I can't see why so many outlets are interpreting this wrong... he means that trailer does not represent Halo 5, just the future of the series on Xbox One. It's not "Halo for Xbox One is not Halo 5" it's "That trailer is not specifically Halo 5".
  • Well at least they are not just milking the series at this point...
  • Called it. As soon as I noticed no 5 I KNEW it wasn't Halo 5. And fuck yeah, Halo Anniversary 2 Better be a thing.
  • How is it halo 2 there was a promethean giant ship thing?
  • Halo 2 Anniversary is definitely not on the table for 2014. Are you people stupid? It would directly compete with whatever this other Halo is. Not gonna happen.
  • Yeah I am glad they doing about Halo 2 Anniversary. But still we need new Halo game to come with longer single-player campaign (10 hours or more). :)
  • Master Chief must have some sore udders.
  • Didn't they say they were dropping the numbers or something anyway? It's probably the start of Halo: Episodic.
  • Am I the only one who wondered : "Why does he have a hood when he still have his helmet on ?"
  • Can't wait to get my Xbox One Day One Console!!
  • @14 His armor is damaged and wants to keep sand out as much as possible.
  • @14 I thought it was just a disguise
  • You mean I'd be able to play Halo 2... online... again... TAKE MY MONEY NOW!!!
  • Not buying Halo "Xbox One" unless it's campaign only. Then I'd forgive the two-year dev cycle between Halo 4 and Halo X1.
  • Only Halo 2's campaign will be the same, the multiplayer will be like Halo 4...enjoy half the Halo 2 experience from 10 years ago, they are going to do the same with Halo 3, the greatest multiplayer experience I have ever had along with ME3...Microsoft doesn't know when to leave well enough alone...
  • I really didn't like Halo 2. I enjoyed Halo and Halo 3. Reach was good and I thought ODST (city bits sucked but the "levels" were absolutely top notch) was fantastic. Halo 2 just wasn't my cup of tea.
  • Yeah I was wondering about it being Halo 5 or not... They kept referring to it as Halo Xbox One.... Pumped about Halo 2 Anni... already got the Vista cheevos but wouldn't mind getting some more... I played Halo CE when it came out but Halo 2 is really what grabbed me and made me the harcore Halo fan I am today :D
  • I would love to see a Halo 2 Anniversary. I just want one thing from it... I want all the bugginess to be fixed! Super Snipers need to be adjsted and then I will be happy. That game was a freakin' NIGHTMARE to get through on Legendary... especially solo... Plus, I think it'd be awesome if all the Halo games had achievements in them. I've already completed every Halo game to date (that I could anyway... some of these games I don't own the systems for... like a cellphone... or a decent PC to run 'em...). Round out my completed achievement lists with a Halo 2 game on there. That'd be pretty sweet.
  • @14 It was confirmed that he wants to hide his appearance. For some reason. Looking forward to new Halo games! I hope the xbox one comes to asia before the new Halo game.
  • @6 My thoughts went in the same direction, that this video is meant to introduce and represent halo's future with Xbox One, and not a trailer for a specific game :)
  • so confusing lol
  • With dead cortana in his hand it has to be set ahead of Halo 4
  • I hope they release the halo 2 remake for the 360 so I can play all the halo games on one console
  • nuggets and biscuits..
  • Its Halo..... 9
  • @28 I'm confused by your comment... "With dead cortana in his hand it has to be set ahead of Halo 4"... Did you mean after Halo 4?
  • HALO 2! HALO 2!. Wonder if it will be Xbox 360 or Xbox One.
  • @14 no it was just so they could make people go ooooohhhhhhhh!.
  • Honestly, I doubt it's Halo 2: anniversary, I dont recall giant transformer looking things in Halo 2, and the fact that he's holding cortana's chip in his head. Maybe it's just something he's gonna be doing in a possible gap between 4 and 5
  • *hand....they should really incorporate an "edit post" thing here :c
  • @35 It's been established it's not a Halo 2 Anni trailer just a trailer for future Halo games on X-1 and a possible ODST type inbetween game... The Halo 2 Anni piece of this is just that it's being discussed and the option is on the table but doesn't mean they are confirming that they are going to do it just that the idea of doing it is out there but it sound like they don't want to start a trend that every 10 year birthday of a Halo game they are doing a updated remake. Don't get me wrong I really want to see Halo 2 in some next gen skin.
  • I honestly thought that Halo 2 Anniversary would be a no-brainer and would be out 10 years after it's original release. I'm shocked to hear that they're only talking about it and it isn't already in development :(
  • @37 it's not a possible ODST type game, its "the future of Halo" - and yeah, Chief searching for Cortana is basically Halo 5 in all but name, but the trailer is just confirming "there's more Halo on the way". Likelihood is, next E3, Halo 5 announced with similar plot thats hinted in this year's trailer.
  • If they make Halo 2, I hope it has multiplayer. I never got to experience Halo 2 online, and I'm really sad about that. All we got for CE was a map pack for Reach.
  • @39 Yes it is an ODST type game as is sounds like they are talking about a game that will feature MC and be FPS... So it is and ODST type game they are talking about as in it's an inbetween game... Further more the trailer is also a general reveal that more Halo is on it's way on X-1 So the E3 Trailer (according to this article)= A reveil of future Halo X-1 and that there will be some kind of inbetween (ODST type) game featuring MC and will be FPS, and finally they are discussing a Halo 2 Anni.
  • I feel as though everyone is forgetting that if it is a Halo 2 Anniversary, they won't be adding in a completely new MP. They will do what they did with the first Halo Anniversary and tweak Halo 4 settings (as they did with with Reach)
  • @41 Halo 5 *is* the next Halo console game, the trailer is for the future of Halo, but the next game WILL be Halo 5, they just didn't want to set it in stone and announce it so soon. It's Halo 5 in all but name, they just haven't named it yet!!
  • @43 First sentance of the the article. "Halo game teased for Xbox One at the platform holder's press conference wasn't actually Halo 5, but rather another Halo game entirely." *BAM "Another Halo game entirely......" ---Lawyered ;)
  • Anyone else feel a new Halo next year is a bit quick ? I mean it wasn't that long ago we got Halo 4 and with upgrading to next gen I wasn't expecting Halo 5 until at least 2015. I'd rather get Halo 2 Anniversary next year and have 343 take their time to deliver a special Halo 5.
  • @14 erm it's pretty obvious the hood and cloak were just to build anticipation and mystery for the teaser.
  • I don't care about a Halo 2 Anniversary, unless they bring back the multiplayer. The campaign was ok, but it wasn't the greatest. Bungie has basically stated that the Halo 2 campaign was all done in 18 months, and it shows. There are at least 3 known levels that were cut, plus multiple features and enemies that never made it into the game. Go back and watch the Halo 2 campaign E3 demo from 2002 or 2003 (can't remember which one), and you'll be sad to see what the game could of been.
  • Old title remakes for the Xbox One already?
  • “I’ll be open. We have discussions about it. It’s more about the right time and making sure that we really would do the right thing for the franchise,” Spencer revealed. ...well considering Halo 2 was the best one in the series, any time is the right time. And I'm sure selling out and turning Halo into another CoD yearly issue "saga" isn't what's best for the franchise.
  • Halo 2 is gonna need a hell of a lot more than some new visuals and better sound to raise it from weakest campaign in the series in my not-at-all humble opinion.
  • Well, I doubt it's Halo 2. Since we saw a Promethean in the trailer. But then they said it's not Halo 5. Damn, what is it. I would definitely LOVE a Halo 2 anniversary remake.
  • @44 and that's what I mean by most outlets interpret what he's said wrong ;) Phil Spencer's saying "the trailer wasn't for a specific game, it was just a statement of intent."
  • I'm positive now that people didn't bother reading the article and just post things... The trailer is not Halo 2 obviously not just because of the whatever promethean and the empty cortana chip... So sometime between Halo 4 and 5... But because the article states that it isn't. It was also just a trailer to get people amped for more Halo to come in the future of next gen and as stated in the article "Phil Spencer has confirmed that the Halo game teased for Xbox One at the platform holder's press conference wasn't actually Halo 5, but rather another Halo game entirely." So what we know: Trailer NOT Halo 2 Anni but they are talking about it. NOT Halo 5 There WILL be more Halo (Duh) Thre Will be a game based on MC before realse of Halo 5 (Think ODST inbetween game but this time in the mainstream of events and pry with more meat to it)
  • @52 Ok so then what I don't understand is why are people interperting all the time when somebody says something thats what they said whe are we interperting anything.... And what I also don't understand then is when he directly says "It’s Master Chief. It’s a first-person shooter at 60 frames per second. It’s coming in 2014.” That to me states with out interperting that there will be a game that will feature MC and be a FPS and will come out in 2014 it won't be Halo 5 but it will take place inbetween those two games a kin to ODST...
  • @53 they basically wanted to go out there and announce that a major Halo game is coming out next year - a major Halo game with our main character will be out on our brand new console - go buy it guys!!! But the trailer is just a general trailer. They don't want to be specific about it yet cos Halo 4's only just come out and - I think this is a key thing - it appeals to new audiences if they just say "Halo is coming to the new console" rather than "Halo 5 is on its way" cos it puts off potential newcomers - they don't want to play the 5th game in an old franchise. I really do think, November 2014, Halo 5 will come out with a storyline about Master Chief on a journey to recover Cortana. The fact they say it's a Master Chief FPS is basically their way of saying it's NOT an inbetween/side game because they want people to know that a full blown next chapter of the series is on its way. To back myself up, even Don Mattrick off the cuff mentioned Halo 5 in a news report.
  • @53 He even says "For me, what we showed wasn’t the game." The quotes in that article don't say "the game isn't Halo 5" they say "the trailer isn't Halo 5".
  • I think what they are trying to say is that there is a Halo game coming in 2014 which might be Halo 5 or something else what they mean is the trailer doesn't represent Halo 5 its just a trailer for the series in general to let people know they plan to continue Halo on Xbox One (Like we couldn't have guessed as much). And Halo 2 Anniversary what is there to debate you make an HD Remake of one of the best and most beloved games in history and they will make thousands maybe Hundreds of Thousands of dollars. Fine maybe next year its not Halo 5 but as long as they make worth playing I will keep buying...
  • @56 Well I'll be disappointed it is Halo 5 because I want quality over quantity but here is the next piece of the article that throw some doubt in my mind on it being Halo 5 as the unnamed Halo game in 2014: ""It’s Master Chief. It’s a first-person shooter at 60 frames per second. It’s coming in 2014.” But it's not Halo 5. Right." So to me that is stating that the game in 2014 is a fps is MC but not Halo 5.... That last sentence also doesn't make it clear who is speaking/asking/stating or if it's a rhetorical question...
  • @58 lol! where the article says "But it's not Halo 5. Right" That's NOT a quote, it's what the author of the article has written! He's assumed the GAME isn't Halo 5, when he clearly means the trailer. Phil Spencer never actually says "the game won't be Halo 5" he says "the trailer isn't Halo 5".
  • @58 "that last sentence" is the author of the article's response... lol he's being a bit sarcastic about it
  • "Your" journey begins 2014. Your. Because you are the control. Kinect 2.
  • @60 I completely understand that Phil was saying the trailer wasn't Halo 5 but just something to arouse everyone that more Halo is on the way (which I don't know who wouldn't think that)... I know it wasn't a quote of Phil as it wasn't in quotes but it does throw a bit of confusion in there as to me it doesn't read or come of as sarcastic but an unaddressed statement. And why all the hush hush smoke and mirrors if the game in 2014 really is Halo 5 everyone knows that game is coming at some point and if it really is the game in 2014 why not say that... Seems pointless to keep it all hush just so when it is Halo 5 everyone can pat themselves on the back and say "I knew it! I did, I did :D" (and if it's not Halo 5 there will still be people that will say that). To me the whole trailer at E3 was pointless then if it isn't Halo 5 or some in-between game and just away to announce the obvious that Halo will be on the X-1... Save if for next year everyone not under a rock knows more Halo is on the way... And the only thing the article really sheds light on (albeit a very small light) is that they are talking about a possible Halo 2 Anni which that could also be what the game in 2014 is... After all it is MC and a FPS and maybe the trailer with a promethan and the interview where they are 'discussing' Halo 2 anni is just misdirection... The point I'm trying to make at the end of the day is "I like turtles." ;)
  • @61 I think there's a few possible reasons they haven't said it's Halo 5... It's too soon after Halo 4 to announce a sequel. It sounds more appealing to new audiences to just say "Halo". And, it's possible the next game may take an episodic route tied into the TV show or it could be anything! Split into mini Spartan Ops-style episodes? Recently, they announced they've changed their wording for the Reclaimer Trilogy - it's now the Reclaimer Saga to give them more leeway to do other stuff as well (like spin-off games, W8 games etc.). But I think it's a safe bet it will be Halo 5, they just haven't figured and fleshed out the story enough to confirm it. That's like what they're saying about the trailer, it doesn't have a number or a subtitle in it because the trailer is kind of a made up general idea of what will happen next, but you know, the big bird thing might not even be in the next game, its just a concept.
  • @63 Yeah I saw the saga article... hmm but that TV idea thing you mentioned vibrated my mind bean for a minute... I know there is some other game that is suppose to tie directly into a TV show on the X-1 and what you do in the game affects the show somehow and vise versa... Would be interesting if that's what they are talking about doing with the Spielberg show or if they are going to roll out Spartan Ops Season 2 that will tie into the Halo TV Show... hmm hmm hmmm
  • @64 Yeah, I think what's most likely is Halo 5 comes with Spartan Ops, which is linked to the TV show instead of the CGI episodes from H4.
  • @65 agreed, I figured Halo 5 would come with Season 2 of Spartan Ops but didn't think about them linking the cut scenes into the TV show but would make sense I suppose... It all seems logical... We shall see
  • I'm up for anything halo!
  • The only parts of this article that should be taken as FACT are those in quotes, coming from Microsoft. The author interpreted it to be "there is another Halo game (besides Halo 5 or Halo 2 Anniversary)". But he was interpreting those quotes. So don't cite that as proof it is another game. I personally interpreted those quotes as "We are confirming the Halo franchise for Xbox one simply and showing how it looks. It will still be Master Chief whenever a new Halo game comes"
  • I'm pretty certain "Halo 2: Anniversary" will release on the Xbox 360! "Halo: CEA" was made for the 360, and "Halo 2:A" would bridge all the current Halo games (except Halo Wars) together on one console. It would be stupid to release it on the Xbone! I don't see a benefit to having it on both consoles, although they could more easily port the PC version of Halo 2 on Xbox One (similar architecture), while improving the graphics. I certainly don't need it on both consoles for the sake of achievements... since I already have Halo 2 on PC (BTW... the Halo 2 for PC MP servers are STILL online). Let's hope they don't ONLY release it on Xbox One!
  • So basically... It was going to be something completely different then phil said " I know how to sell it! Call it halo and put master chief In it!!!" Halo is getting almost as bad as cod, when e3 comes around you expect a reveal of a new halo game ... Every year...
  • @5 No, it still tastes good!
  • A Halo 2 remake would be great!
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