Esports


<p>Today, we’re launching a new initiative for Halo esports called <strong>HCS Grassroots</strong>. Designed to support the community directly, HCS Grassroots will help tournament operators and content creators continue to do what they love and also introduce new opportunities. Let’s jump in!</p>



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<p>Halo esports would not have such a rich history without the contributions from the community over the years – in particular the tournament operators that unite the community to play Halo, and the content creators that tell their stories both in and out of the game. We believe that these contributions are crucial to building the foundation of Halo esports and competitive Halo, and we aim to strengthen this foundation with HCS Grassroots.</p>



<p>For tournament organizers, our goals are to help them continue to run tournaments both in North America and around the world. These will range from in-person LAN events to online tournaments, seasons, and leagues to encourage participation from everyone and unite communities big and small under one roof.</p>



<p>For content creators, our goals in the first year are to build out a network of partners to help them achieve their viewership goals and also shine a spotlight on entertainment for the community to watch on a regular basis. We hope to help grow the culture of content creation within the Halo community.</p>



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<p>For both groups, we also want to take feedback and look for ways that the HCS Grassroots program can grow and evolve to provide even more opportunities down the road. In the long run, our ambitions are for HCS Grassroots to be the platform that tournament organizers and content creators leverage to thrive on and grow their own communities in a sustainable and long-lasting way. In addition to our very own 343-driven official HCS competition, we intend to have a vast network of partners who are able to provide competitions around the world as well as content for everyone to enjoy when Halo Infinite releases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HOW DOES IT WORK?</h2>



<p>HCS Grassroots is not a new league – it’s a partnership program where tournament organizers big and small, along with content creators, can apply for support that comes in a number of different ways that will evolve over time. We also want to support all flavors of competitive multiplayer, as well as all Halo games from Halo: CE to Halo 5: Guardians and everything in-between. If the community has interest in a particular game or mode, we want to be there to support that desire.</p>



<p>If you’re a <strong>tournament organizer</strong>, you can apply for support and potentially receive things like:</p>



<ul><li>Prize pool contributions</li><li>Loaner consoles</li><li>Giveaways and digital prizes</li><li>Promotion on social media and Halo.gg</li><li>Content</li><li>Graphics</li><li>Sponsor acquisition support</li><li>Sanctioning</li></ul>



<p>If you’re a <strong>content creator</strong>, you can potentially receive:</p>



<ul><li>Promotion on social media and Halo.gg</li><li>Giveaways and digital prizes</li><li>Hosting on broadcast channels</li><li>Content</li><li>Graphics</li></ul>



<p>This initial offering is really just the beginning – we hope it will continue to grow and evolve over time alongside the support of community and partners.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INITIAL PARTNERS – TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">THE HALO CLASSIC BY UGC EVENTS</h3>



<p>In partnership with HCS Grassroots, UGC have stepped up to the plate and will deliver the first LAN event supported by the program. HCS Grassroots will be supporting this event by providing the entire prize pool, promotion, content, and more.</p>



<ul><li>Date: January 11-13</li><li>City: St. Louis, Missouri</li><li>Game: Halo 3 on MCC</li></ul>



<p>Tournaments: Halo 3 4v4 and MCC side tournament</p>



<p>Prize pools: $30,000 for Halo 3 4v4, and $5,000 for MCC side tournament</p>



<p>For more information on the tournament and how you can be involved, check out <a href="http://ugc.gg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UGC.gg</a> and follow <a href="http://twitter.com/ugcevents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@UGCEvents</a> on Twitter.</p>



<p>Get your tickets and team passes now at: <a href="http://ugc.gg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ugc.gg</a></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">GAMERS FOR GIVING 2019</h3>



<p>Halo returns to one of the biggest LANs in North America – Gamers For Giving. The team at Gamers Outreach have been running Halo tournaments since Day 1 and we knew we had to lend our support of the event, the Gamers For Giving community, as well as the amazing charity efforts. For this event, HCS Grassroots will be providing prize pool, promotion and content, and we’re also donating a Gamers Outreach Gaming Kart.</p>



<ul><li>Date: March 23-24</li><li>City: Ann Harbor, Michigan</li><li>Game: Halo 3 on MCC</li><li>Tournaments: Halo 3 2v2</li></ul>



<p>For more, be sure to follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/gamersoutreach">@GamersOutreach</a> on Twitter and head to <a href="http://gamersforgiving.org/">gamersforgiving.org.</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">INITIAL PARTNERS – CONTENT CREATORS</h2>



<p>The four content creators we’ve decided start with as HCS Grassroots partners should be familiar faces to many in the Halo community and we’re proud to partner with positive, fun, and entertaining creators who have already contributed so much to the community.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">VETOED</h3>



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<p> Former Halo competitor and current streamer and YouTuber, Vetoed has been consistently bringing high quality gameplay, analysis, and content to the community for quite some time now. We’re excited to see how he grows and evolves his craft as a creator and a player.</p>



<p>Follow Vetoed: <a href="https://twitter.com/vetoed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITTER </a>| <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/vetoed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITCH </a>| <a href="https://www.youtube.com/vetoed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YOUTUBE</a></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">AC7IONMAN</h3>



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<p>Few creators out there can bring the level of skill, comedy, and passion to Halo and its community that Ac7ionman does. With dedication and consistency, Ac7ionman has quickly risen to be one of the fan-favorites in the community, and we can’t wait to share his antics with even more people.</p>



<p>Follow Ac7ionman: <a href="https://twitter.com/ac7ionman" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITTER </a>| <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ac7ionmannn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITCH </a>| <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/Ac7ionMan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YOUTUBE</a></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">UBERNICK</h3>



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<p> UberNick has been creating content for Halo since the Halo 4 days and has worked hard to build his audience on YouTube, while also expanding to live streaming. Uber Nick is no slouch on the sticks, and delivers content across a variety of Halo games and modes.</p>



<p>Follow UberNick: <a href="https://twitter.com/UberNick_" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITTER </a>| <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ubernick" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITCH </a>| <a href="https://www.youtube.com/ubernick" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YOUTUBE</a></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">NADED</h3>



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<p> Last but not least, we’re thrilled to partner with a Halo esports legend. Naded has been one of Halo’s biggest streamers for years now, and delivers a unique mix of pro-level gameplay as well as his own unique flavor of humor while building a strong community at the same time. It’s never a dull moment with Naded both on mainstage and in his stream (including extra live coverage at events).</p>



<p>Follow Naded: <a href="https://twitter.com/naded" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITTER </a>| <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/naded" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TWITCH </a>| <a href="https://www.youtube.com/naded" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YOUTUBE</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EXCLUSIVE IN-GAME ITEMS</h2>



<p>In anticipation of the HCS Grassroots program launch, we’ve also created a new Battle Rifle skin for Halo 5: Guardians as well as a nameplate for MCC.</p>



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<p> These in-game items will be given out <strong>exclusively</strong> by HCS Grassroots partners by attending and participating in tournaments, and entering giveaways by content creators. 5×5 codes will be given out as part of the redemption process, which will net you BOTH the BR skin in Halo 5 and nameplate in MCC at the same time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">APPLICATION PROCESS</h2>



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<p> We are excited to grow the HCS Grassroots partner program, and starting now, you can apply at Halo.gg/Grassroots. Before you do, here’s what we’re looking for in partners:</p>



<p><strong>Types of partners:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Tournament Organizers (LAN events, online tournaments and leagues)</li><li>Content creators (streamers and VOD content)</li></ul>



<p><strong>Criteria for selection:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Established track record of tournament operation or content creation</li><li>Established track record of community outreach, engagement, and support</li><li>Consistent positive influence and contributions to the Halo community</li><li>Established track record of investment in the community</li></ul>



<p>If you’re just starting out or the news of HCS Grassroots has you wanting to contribute – that’s great! We encourage you to jump in and create your own consistent tournament program or consistent content, build a solid relationship with the community, and then apply. We’re here for questions along the way, so feel free to tweet @HCS if you’ve got any.</p>



<p>Applying is easy – you’ll just need to sign in at <a href="http://halo.gg/grassroots" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Halo.gg/Grassroots</a>, tell us if you’re a tournament organizer or content creator, and fill out the application. We anticipate a large volume of applications in the first month, so we appreciate your patience as we carefully review each application and reply via email.</p>



<p>If you’re not accepted at first – don’t give up! We’ll be providing feedback on ways to continue to grow so that you can join the program later down the road. If you are accepted, we’ll be sending an acceptance email welcoming you to the program along with what level of support you’ll be receiving. Once you accept – you’re in!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THANK YOU</h2>



<p>The HCS Grassroots program is our way of giving back to the community and those who invest so much into the Halo franchise and the scene, and while we’re excited to take this first small step, we can’t wait to see how it grows and evolves. We’ve heard the calls for more community support, and this is just one way we’re doubling down. Halo esports could not thrive without you, and we can’t wait to begin the next chapter in our journey with you. Thank you!</p>


Official HCS

Grassroots Program


<p>With HCS 2018 Season Finals at DreamHack Atlanta rapidly approaching, we know many folks across the competitive community have questions regarding what’s next for the HCS and what they can expect from Halo esports going forward. So today, we’d like to share some important esports updates around Halo 5, MCC, and more – and we’ll have more to share at DreamHack Atlanta and beyond.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HALO 5 ESPORTS</h2>



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<p>After three years of tournaments, unbelievable moments and matches, and more than $6,000,000 awarded, the HCS Finals 2018 at DreamHack Atlanta will be the final, official Halo 5 esports tournament for the Halo Championship Series – though competitive Halo will continue on in brand new ways (more on that below). We’re so thankful to all the amazing players, teams, and fans that have invested so much in supporting Halo 5 competitions to help us continue the growth of Halo esports together.</p>



<p>While we’ll all fondly reflect on so many incredible Halo 5 HCS memories, we’re also excited as we look forward to an even brighter future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT’S NEXT</h2>



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<p> Esports and supporting the competitive Halo community continues to be an important focus for the studio and there will still be events and activities for competitive players to participate in beyond Halo 5. With MCC receiving improvements and new features, and Halo Infinite in development, we are excited to seize an opportunity to lay the foundation for the entire competitive scene to build up from there and support the community as it grows. From official grassroots programming and events, to the ongoing Microsoft Store tournaments, we will continue to explore new opportunities and initiatives for the coming year.</p>



<p>As competitive Halo morphs and evolves, we’re mindful of our guidelines and our priorities for the pillars we want to be reflected in the Halo Championship Series. We want to continue to be open to and accessible for all players, we want to continue to communicate openly about our plans for the future of Halo esports, and we want Halo esports to be successful for those that invest in it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">GRASSROOTS</h3>



<p>Later this year, we are kicking off a program to support grassroots tournaments and content creators across all Halo titles, and will have full details to share at DreamHack Atlanta. We believe that Halo esports is only as successful as the community and foundation it’s built upon, and investing in grassroots is an important part of setting that foundation for the future. Stay tuned – we’re excited to share more information next month including how you can get involved to play, watch, and apply.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION</h3>



<p>With the recent updates and improvements to MCC, and even more feature work underway, there’s a renewed sense of excitement and reinvigoration for these games – particularly with Halo 3. We’re excited to support this with the 2v2 Showdown at DreamHack Atlanta and would like to continue to deliver similar experiences in the future. The scope and specifics of potential MCC competitive offerings will be largely dependent on how well the 2v2 Showdown performs in terms of participation and viewership. We’re eager to kick this off and will be keeping a close eye on the community response as we continue to evaluate plans and opportunities for MCC moving forward.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HALO INFINITE</h2>



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<p> As we look further ahead, we know there’s a lot of anticipation surrounding Halo Infinite. We’re not ready to pull the curtain back just yet, but the Halo esports team has been working closely with the development team to represent the wants and needs of the ever-evolving esports community in terms of gameplay, features, viewership, and more. Halo 5, both as a game and esport, has evolved a great deal over the years with new maps and gametypes, spectator and observer modes, local server, and more – and we’ve learned a tremendous amount along the way. We’re excited to carry our learnings (and industry learnings) forward in Halo Infinite in a more integrated way than ever before here at 343.</p>



<p>While we wait for the right time to share more game details, we want to remind folks about the community flighting program that Chris Lee mentioned in his blog back in June:</p>



<p><em>In the future, you will be able to join early flighting programs that will let members of the community play the game with us, and give direct feedback, much like the current Insider flighting program for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It will take some time for us to be ready to kick those flighting events off, but when they do they will start small and grow along the way.</em></p>



<p>We can’t overstate how important the flighting process will be to the development of Halo Infinite, and the team is excited to share the journey with the entire Halo community, including competitive players. We look forward to sharing more details as soon as the team is ready.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THANK YOU</h2>



<p>On behalf of the HCS team and the entire 343 studio, we want to thank everyone who has supported Halo 5 esports over the past three years and we look forward to continuing this journey together to grow Halo esports for years to come. With some intense competition and rivalries heating up and the Halo 3 2v2 Showdown looming, Dreamhack Atlanta promises to be an awesome finale. Join us at <a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.halowaypoint.com%2Fen-us%2Fesports%2Fhcs-finals-2018&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7Cbf062bf7b5a14d538bda08d634538006%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636753930569208852&sdata=tCjtA3WARoAMmn1GvBm98Imk3dJh1JfZumWfH5LGbqo%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DreamHack Atlanta</a> to celebrate Halo 5 esports with player-voted awards, flashbacks to the greatest memories from the past three years, and more. What are your favorite Halo 5 esports memories? Have any photos or clips? <a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fhcs&data=02%7C01%7Ctahirh%40microsoft.com%7Cbf062bf7b5a14d538bda08d634538006%7C72f988bf86f141af91ab2d7cd011db47%7C1%7C0%7C636753930569218857&sdata=Isck9Scaf3LUamCuZOK2OWvwNPd9qgiR%2BjC3DcVWU3s%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tweet @HCS</a> to share them with us!</p>



<p>Thank you, and we’ll see you when the HCS Finals kick off on Friday, November 16.</p>


Tashi

2018 Update

Canon Fodder

Community

GrimBrother One

That’s So Raven


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="542" height="305" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/ShowtimeAnnouncesNewHaloTVSeries_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.28.2018_542x305.png" alt="Halo logo overlaying a mysterious planet." class="wp-image-6389" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/ShowtimeAnnouncesNewHaloTVSeries_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.28.2018_542x305.png 542w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/07/ShowtimeAnnouncesNewHaloTVSeries_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.28.2018_542x305-300x169.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 542px) 100vw, 542px" /></figure>



<p>When I first played <em>Halo: Combat Evolved</em>, one of the aspects of Halo that enthralled me the most was the feeling that I was jumping into a moment in time amidst a vast universe and set of stories yet to be experienced. I was compelled by that sense of scale and mystery and the promise of so much more to come. That same potential and promise is what has kept me with Halo, first as a player and a then as a developer, since the beginning. I love the Halo universe – its characters, stories, and stakes. I also love that it’s a place where we can invite other creative voices in to help us express it in different ways and to give our fans and players a chance to engage with our worlds differently. </p>



<p><a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/06/28/showtime-amblin-television-and-343-industries-bring-halo-to-television/">Today we announced that we are working with some incredible talent to bring you an epic new story experience set in the Halo Universe</a>, the Halo TV series. SHOWTIME brings its powerful legacy of experience in building stories for premium cable and together with Amblin Television and legendary storyteller Steven Spielberg, have been gracious partners in helping put together the right creative team to bring Halo to television. We are thrilled to have experienced showrunner Kyle Killen (<em>Lone Star</em>) and blockbuster director Rupert Wyatt (<em>Rise of the Planet of the Apes</em>) on board, both of whom bring their own flavor of vision, intelligence, and voice to Halo. We couldn’t have asked for a stronger or more passionate team to collaborate with.</p>



<p>As we think about what it means to bring videogame franchises to movie or TV – the biggest challenge can often be finding the right balance between moments fans have already experienced and moments that have yet to be experienced through a different medium, perspective, or creative lens. We are excited to navigate these creative waters to bring you something that is both respectful of what you already know and love, but also new and surprising and enthralling.</p>



<p>It’s a journey that we’re excited to take with you, our fans, and this new creative team. We’re already in the pre-production phase and we plan to go into full production in 2019 so hang on… this is going to be an awesome ride!</p>



<p>– Kiki Wolfkill, Head of Transmedia, 343 Industries</p>



<p><em>For all the latest news and updates on the Halo television series, keep dialed into</em> <em>Halo Waypoint on the web, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/halo">@Halo</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/showtime">@Showtime</a> on social.</em></p>


343 INDUSTRIES

Showtime Announces New Halo TV Series Details

Games

Halo Infinite


<p class="has-small-font-size">E3 2018 is a monumental moment for the Halo franchise and for us here at 343 Industries, and we couldn’t be more excited to share with you a glimpse of our new <em>Slipspace Engine</em>, which will power our next title, <em>Halo Infinite</em>. It’s been a busy stretch here at 343 since the launch of <em>Halo 5: Guardians</em> between supporting the title with post-release updates and secretly working on our new <em>Slipspace Engine</em> tech in parallel. Finally showing the world some of what we’ve been working on has really energized the team! </p>



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<p class="has-small-font-size"> The <em>Slipspace Engine</em> demo shown at the E3 2018 briefing is the culmination of years of work and is infused with the passion of hundreds of people here at 343 Industries. When we started this project, the team’s vision for the game was ambitious – so much so that we knew we had to build new tech to fully realize our goals for <em>Halo Infinite</em>. The E3 demo showcases some of the exciting potential of this technology – everything you see is running in-engine. We still have a long way to go until we ship the game<em>,</em> so things will certainly evolve between now and the release of <em>Halo Infinite</em>, though the engine demo is a clear indication of the direction we are heading with our next game and a great snapshot of where our tech is right now. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="301" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/OurJourneyBegins_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.10.2018_1120x329-1024x301.jpg" alt="A photo of the people who work at 3 4 3 Industries." class="wp-image-8367" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/OurJourneyBegins_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.10.2018_1120x329-1024x301.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/OurJourneyBegins_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.10.2018_1120x329-300x88.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/OurJourneyBegins_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.10.2018_1120x329-768x226.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/08/OurJourneyBegins_HaloInfinite_In_Article_p1_6.10.2018_1120x329.jpg 1120w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p class="has-small-font-size">It’s hard to believe that 343 Industries was formed just over a decade ago. Over the years, the team has learned a lot from creating <em>Halo 4</em> and <em>Halo 5 </em>and from you, our community. I hope you can see nods to some of that in our demo, such as the approach to some visual elements. <em>Halo Infinite</em> will feature Sparth’s (Art Director, Nicolas Bouvier) new art style that draws significant inspiration from the most iconic and historic parts of the Halo franchise and your feedback, all while modernizing and taking advantage of the full power of the Xbox One family. The new Master Chief helmet directly showcases our new art style.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size">The team also heard feedback loud and clear on the amount of time spent playing as the Master Chief in <em>Halo 5.</em> In <em>Halo Infinite</em>, the game will focus on the Master Chief and continue his saga after the events of <em>Halo 5</em>.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size">I know waiting can be hard for folks who are excited for more info about the game. We are taking the time we need to make the right game and are making changes to how we approach things this time around. The goal of the entire 343 Industries team is to make a great Halo game for our fans that also invites new players into our franchise. We will have some new and unexpected directions to take folks in and I believe the way we achieve that is to build alongside our community, iterating and improving as we go.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size">In the future, you will be able to join early flighting programs that will let members of the community play the game with us, and give direct feedback, much like the current Insider flighting program for <em>Halo: The Master Chief Collection</em>. It will take some time for us to be ready to kick those flighting events off, but when we do they will start small and grow along the way.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size">I would love to hear from you as we build <em>Halo Infinite</em>. You can hit me up @tefferlee on Twitter and let me know what you think about the engine demo. Keep in mind that I do have a game to build so you won’t see me out there on social media quite as often as other folks, but I will definitely be listening along with the development team. And don’t worry, our community team constantly funnels feedback and info to us as well. If you are someone who wants to directly help realize our vision for this game, check out our careers page at the brand new <a href="https://www.343industries.com/">343industries.com</a> site to see if there is a role for you here at the studio and Halo.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size">I’m incredibly proud of what the 343 Industries development team has done with the <em>Slipspace Engine</em> and this first tease of <em>Halo Infinite</em>, and I look forward to sharing more with you all in the future once we are ready. Thank you all for your support and passion for Halo. This is an exciting moment for all of us, and we look forward to embarking on this journey together!</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size">Chris Lee, Studio Head, FPS</p>



<p></p>


Our Journey Begins

Sweet Centennial

The Nightmare Has Awoken

Stay Frosty

Canon Fodder – Hog on the Horizon


<h4 class="wp-block-heading">ISSUE 78</h4>



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<p>Welcome back, canonballers, thanks for stopping by! Last issue, we knocked out some more Hog Wild REQ fiction, and sat down with new-to-Halo author John Jackson Miller, who is contributing stories for both <em>Halo: Fractures </em>and <em>Halo: Tales From Slipspace</em>. After a week break to gather our strength – and sanity – we’re back and in full E3-prep mode.</p>



<p>As it’s no real secret that we’ll be showcasing the long-anticipated sequel to a certain Halo real-time strategy title on the expo’s show floor, we thought it might be prudent to take a quick look back at the story of the original <em>Halo Wars</em>, and set the stage for what might be next for the UNSC <em>Spirit of Fire </em>and her crew. Feel up to a stroll down memory lane? I thought so…</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PHOENIX RISING</h2>



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<p>Set nearly three decades before the events of <em>Halo 5: Guardians</em>, the original <em>Halo Wars</em> follows the exploits of the UNSC <em>Spirit of Fire</em> – a <em>Phoenix</em>-class colony vessel repurposed for war. Helmed by Captain James Cutter, the <em>Spirit of Fire </em>is sent to investigate Covenant activity on the embattled planet Harvest.</p>



<p>When Sergeant John Forge goes planetside to provide recon, he finds a Covenant relic-hunting contingent led by Arbiter Ripa ‘Moramee – a task force sent by the Prophet of Regret to glean secrets from an ancient Forerunner site buried in the Harvest tundra. After chasing the Covenant from the site, Dr. Ellen Anders discovers that the site had given the Covenant coordinates to another location – this time on the human colony of Arcadia.</p>



<p>When the <em>Spirit of Fire</em> arrives at Arcadia in pursuit, the UNSC finds itself in a furious fracas that sees them both protecting human colonists as well as valiantly breaching a Covenant energy shield and destroying a deadly prototype super Scarab – still under construction but fully operational. Unfortunately for the UNSC, Dr. Ellen Anders was abducted by Arbiter Ripa ‘Moramee in the aftermath, prompting the UNSC to chase the Covenant into uncharted space – and onto a mysterious undiscovered planet.</p>



<p>What Captain Cutter and his crew would soon learn was that this planet was no ordinary place, but instead was a massive Forerunner construct – an enigmatic artificial creation known as a Shield World, containing concave and inverted environment on its interior “surface.” Eventually the UNSC would learn the true nature of Regret’s zealous chase: the reactivation of a long-dormant Forerunner fleet that would almost certainly spell the Covenant’s final death knell against humanity.</p>



<p>Through fierce tenacity and incredible resolve, the crew of the <em>Spirit of Fire</em> would match the Covenant blow for blow across the surface of the ancient Shield World, an effort that would culminate in one final confrontation that saw Sergeant Forge and Spartan-II supersoldiers Alice-130, Douglas-042, and Jerome-092 lay waste to the malevolent Arbiter and his Sangheili guard. In the end, Sergeant Forge would sacrifice his own life to not only save his crewmembers, but also destroy the Shield World and the Forerunner weapons it contained – saving humanity as a whole in the process.</p>



<p>While the UNSC <em>Spirit of Fire </em>would escape the Shield World’s destruction, it did so at great cost – the ship’s own slipspace drive having been used to bring down the ancient construct. For nearly thirty years the <em>Spirit of Fire </em>would drift though deep space, cut off from the rest of humanity and eventually declared “lost with all hands” in February 2534.</p>



<p>But now, <em>something has happened</em>…</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LOST WITH ALL HANDS</h2>



<p>Fans of our Halo 101 series on the Halo Channel will no doubt be pleased to know that “Lost With All Hands” – a five-part video series offering an overview of the original <em>Halo Wars</em> story – is now available to view in its entirety on the official <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7NCg0venpKJg3kuJojKlbQ">Halo YouTube</a> channel. Utilizing a combination of Blur Studio’s incredible game cinematics and informative narration, “Lost With All Hands” provides a closer look at the events that transpire over the course of the game and their place within the larger Halo universe. </p>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo 101: The Secret Below Planet Harvest" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yBFBaCyvNZM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>So whether you’ve played through the <em>Halo Wars </em>campaign a hundred times over, or have yet to lay the disc in your tray, sit back and enjoy a vital and epic romp across the galaxy with some of the UNSC’s finest heroes. We’ve provided you with just a taste of the story of <em>Halo Wars </em>above, now you can get the details.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBFBaCyvNZM">EPISODE 1: THE SECRET BELOW HARVEST</a></h4>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBpnVngCeu8">EPISODE 2: BATTLE FOR ARCADIA</a></h4>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BURjcCMMWrc">EPISODE 3: THE SHIELD WORLD</a></h4>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sabikoL0pS8">EPISODE 4: THE FORERUNNER FLEET</a></h4>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J37lUnCYjvw">EPISODE 5: LOST WITH ALL HANDS</a></h4>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BATTLE FOR ARCADE-IA</h2>



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<p>When it comes to game modes, it’s likely safe to assume that a large portion of the Fodder faithful are fans of the campaign portions of Halo titles. It’s also reasonably safe to assume that fans of the campaign are also likely to enjoy anything that might help prolong and refresh their experience in fun ways.</p>



<p>With that in mind, we’re excited to reveal that the upcoming Warzone Firefight content release for <em>Halo 5: Guardians</em> will also bring with it an exciting new Score Attack mode, giving fans a fast-paced and fun new arcade-style wrapping to the Halo 5 campaign.</p>



<p>For more info, make sure you check out our deeper reveal in this week’s Halo Community Update from Bravo and yours truly. I don’t know about you, but between Score Attack and Warzone Firefight, I’m seeing some fun and furious Fodder-fied community playdates in the near future…</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DEEP LINKS</h2>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">AV-22 SPARROWHAWK</h4>



<p><strong>Summary</strong></p>



<p>Deployed toward the end of the Harvest campaign, the AV-22 Sparrowhawk shares a number of similarities with its aerodyne siblings – the AV-14 Hornet, AV-19 SkyHawk, AV-30 Kestrel, and AV-49 [DATA CORRUPTION! REBUILD IN PROGRESS . . .] – among others. Common elements include an integrated VTOL propulsion system that combines a turbojet with dual lift fans, autocannon armament, and cyberlink-compatible fly-by-light avionics.</p>



<p>The Sparrowhawk met with great success in the war against the Covenant, serving as a gunship escort for troop transports, providing aerial security, and operating in hunter-killer squadrons that harassed Covenant landing zones and troop columns. Combat losses were always high, though pilots accumulated enviable kill ratios.</p>



<p><strong>Armament</strong></p>



<p>The Sparrowhawk primary weapon systems are a pair of brutally effective GAU-23/AW long-barreled rotary autocannons installed on weapon armatures below the aircraft. These cannons can fire the full range of aircraft 20mm ammunition, though the standard loadout is either M718 SAPHEI or PGU-42/B API (with a depleted-uranium core). Though considered a secondary weapon, the Sparrowhawk also features a chin-mounted variant of the UNSC’s GUNGNIR M6 directed energy system, allowing the gunner to conduct devastatingly effective long-range strikes with pinpoint accuracy. The Sparrowhawk’s M6 nonlinear cannon uses components that were later miniaturized and installed on infantry-portable M6/E variants after the Covenant War.</p>



<p>And with that, we close for now, and wait patiently for the LA lights to shine bright. We’ll see you next week, where I imagine we might have a few cool new things to talk about.</p>



<p>Until next time… Live well, play Halo, and hold A to paint.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">–<a href="https://twitter.com/grimbrotherone">GRIM</a></h4>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FEATURED UNIVERSE ARTICLES THIS WEEK!</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">ALICE-130</h4>



<p>Alice-130 was part of the legendary SPARTAN-II project and member of the Red Team detachment associated with UNSC <em>Spirit of Fire</em>.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">DOUGLAS-042</h4>



<p>Douglas-042 was part of the legendary SPARTAN-II project and member of the Red Team detachment associated with UNSC <em>Spirit of Fire</em>.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">JEROME-092</h4>



<p>Jerome-092 was part of the legendary SPARTAN-II project and leader of the Red Team detachment associated with UNSC <em>Spirit of Fire</em>.</p>
