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A new Halo short story anthology is on its way!



For almost three years, the series of online short stories known as “Waypoint Chronicles” have been released in support of Halo Infinite’s ongoing updates, notable game anniversaries, and even the odd Flood-infested Halloween special.



Coming in March 2026, all of these stories and more will be collected in the print edition of Halo: Waypoint Chronicles – Volume One.



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Delve once more into stories of legendary heroism and star-spanning conflicts—from the time of the ancient Forerunners to the perils of a twenty-sixth century clash between the United Nations Space Command and the Banished alien alliance.   Halo: Waypoint Chronicles – Volume One collects over thirty short stories from all corners of the Halo universe, including twenty-four adventures previously only available online, plus ten brand-new tales exclusive to this collected volume! Also included are dozens of additional pieces of lore-laden intel items and story vignettes connected to the Halo Infinite game experience.



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The cover art was made by Levi “Leviathan” Hoffmeier, who has previously contributed illustrations to the likes of the Halo Encyclopedia (2022) and Halo: Evolutions.



<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Waypoint-Chronicles/Jeff-Easterling/Halo/9781668215227" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PRE-ORDER HALO: WAYPOINT CHRONICLES – VOLUME ONE</a> 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Waypoint-Chronicles/Jeff-Easterling/Halo/9781668215227"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1680" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall.jpg" alt="Halo: Waypoint Chronicles - Volume One cover art with mechanicals illustrated by Levi Hoffmeier depicting Despondent Pyre, a Promethean Knight, Ilsa Zane, a Flood-infected Spartan, Laurette Agryna, Escharum, Fahl 'Nto, and Jun-A266" class="wp-image-142567" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall.jpg 1080w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall-193x300.jpg 193w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall-658x1024.jpg 658w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall-768x1195.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall-987x1536.jpg 987w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></a></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT’S IN THE BOOK?</h2>



Waypoint Chronicles seek to provide greater texture to the grand tapestry of the Halo universe.



These stories explore concepts that have lived in the periphery of the franchise’s extensive lore, expanding on moments referenced or only glimpsed in the games, or simply spending more time with beloved characters in the gaps between their grand battles against overwhelming odds.



What does a typical day look like for the UNSC Spirit of Fire’s crew on the Ark, or the humans and Sangheili working together on Anvil Station? What did Noble Team look like before the fall of Reach when Thom-A293 and Rosenda-A344 were around? How does a Promethean Knight see the world? What happens when a Spartan is compromised and infected by the Flood? What are the Created up to in the wake of Cortana’s demise on Zeta Halo?



And, perhaps most importantly… what did the Master Chief and the Arbiter discuss after that legendary barbeque on Sanghelios at the end of Halo 5?



All this and more is explored within!



Included in this anthology are the following short stories from 2022-2025:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Vertical Umbrage</td><td>Winter Contention</td><td>Precipice</td><td>Duality</td></tr><tr><td>Sunrise on Sanghelios</td><td>Saturn Devouring His Son</td><td>Battle for the Blood-Moon</td><td>Trial of Reckoning</td></tr><tr><td>Hippocratica</td><td>Fireside</td><td>The Third Life</td><td>Anvil Accord</td></tr><tr><td>The Machine Breaks</td><td>Venezian Sonata</td><td>Age of Retribution</td><td>Whispers from the Pyre</td></tr><tr><td>From the Soil to the Stars</td><td>Tulpamancy</td><td>Battle for the Academy – Part 1</td><td>Battle for the Academy – Part 2</td></tr><tr><td>Moonrise Over Mombasa</td><td>‘Ghosts & Glass’ by B. Giraud</td><td>Ascension on Atropos</td><td>Fifth Canticle</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



There are also ten new short stories that will be added to this print anthology novel.



Further additional content includes all of the Halo Infinite Intel drops that spanned Season 2: Lone Wolves through Season 5: Reckoning, along with every Armory Infinitum entry from the last few years of Canon Fodder issues—micro-stories that detail a moment in time when the special weapons in Halo Infinite were used.



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Published by Gallery Books and our friends over at Simon & Schuster, Halo: Waypoint Chronicles – Volume One is currently scheduled for release in March 2026.



Stay tuned as there are still four more Waypoint Chronicles to be released over the next few months, concluding in October with a story celebrating the tenth anniversary of Halo 5.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Waypoint-Chronicles/Jeff-Easterling/Halo/9781668215227"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1420" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover.jpg" alt="Full Halo: Waypoint Chronicles - Volume One cover art illustrated by Levi Hoffmeier depicting a Halo ring, a UNSC frigate, a Warthog driving past a Forerunner beam tower, Despondent Pyre, a Promethean Knight, Ilsa Zane, a Flood-infected Spartan, Laurette Agryna, Escharum, Fahl 'Nto, and Jun-A266" class="wp-image-142581" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-300x208.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-1024x710.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-768x533.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-1536x1065.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-1568x1087.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></a></figure>

Halo Studios

Halo: Waypoint Chronicles – Volume One | Cover Reveal

As part of our <a href="https://www.aka.ms/AudiobookClubGiveaway">audiobook giveaway series</a> with Simon & Schuster, we’re inviting Halo fans to join a community book club in our <a href="https://discord.gg/halo">official Discord server</a>, where we’ll focus on a new novel from Halo’s expansive canon each month. Join the #audio-book-club channel to listen along!



This month’s book club title is Halo: Cryptum, the first entry of the Forerunner Saga penned by sci-fi pioneer Greg Bear. This novel details the Didact’s revival and tutelage of a young Forerunner manipular, leading up to a confrontation with his rival, the Master Builder. The audiobook edition of Halo: Cryptum is narrated by actor Holter Graham.



<a href="https://bit.ly/3FMiJND">Purchase your copy of Halo: Cryptum from Simon & Schuster.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PLOT PREVIEW</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/07/Cryptum-686423b999de3-1024x1024.jpg" alt="The New York Times Bestselling Series: HALO: Cryptum. Hugo and Nebula Award Winner & New York Times Bestselling Author Greg Bear. Book One of the Forerunner Saga, Read by Holter Graham." class="wp-image-142705" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/07/Cryptum-686423b999de3-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/07/Cryptum-686423b999de3-300x300.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/07/Cryptum-686423b999de3-150x150.jpg 150w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/07/Cryptum-686423b999de3-768x768.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/07/Cryptum-686423b999de3-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/07/Cryptum-686423b999de3-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/07/Cryptum-686423b999de3-1568x1568.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



After escaping an exile imposed by his father to be taught the discipline required to join his family’s prestigious Builder rate, a young Forerunner named Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting embarks on an adventure in pursuit of ancient treasure from the long-vanished Precursors.



With two human companions as his guides, Bornstellar stumbles upon the resting place of an exiled Forerunner Warrior-Servant known as the Didact. Upon awakening, the Didact kidnaps the unlikely trio and sets out on a star-spanning search to learn what has happened in his thousand-year absence concerning the activities of his wife, the return of the Flood, and the nature of the ultimate weapon that will silence the galaxy—Halo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CHARACTER GUIDE</h2>



Learn more about the events of Halo: Cryptum with these brief character bios.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="288" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Bornstellar-1024x288.jpg" alt="Bornstellar character banner" class="wp-image-142342" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Bornstellar-1024x288.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Bornstellar-300x84.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Bornstellar-768x216.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Bornstellar.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



A wayward and incorrigible Forerunner youth, sent by his father to live among the Miners of Edom (Mars). After languishing there for three years, he escapes to nearby Erde-Tyrene (Earth) on the oddly rebellious advice of his personal ancilla, where the promise of treasure, glory, and adventure await.



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="288" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Chakas-1024x288.jpg" alt="Chakas character banner" class="wp-image-142356" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Chakas-1024x288.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Chakas-300x84.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Chakas-768x216.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Chakas.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Beyond his prowess as a navigator of waters, Chakas proves especially perceptive to the motivations of those around him. The awakening of the Didact sets Chakas on a path to rediscover truths about the ancient space-faring human empire that was laid low in a cataclysmic war with the Forerunners.



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="288" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Riser-1024x288.jpg" alt="Riser character banner" class="wp-image-142426" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Riser-1024x288.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Riser-300x84.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Riser-768x216.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Riser.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



A Florian (also known as a hamanune, or Homo foloresiensis), this “short fellow” bears a long name—Day-Chaser Makes Paths Long-stretch Morning Riser—and an equally stout pride for the works of his people. Possessed of great cheer, wisdom, and loyalty, even by the Didact’s estimation, this curious human represents the best of his species.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Didact</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="288" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Didact-1024x288.jpg" alt="Didact character banner" class="wp-image-142370" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Didact-1024x288.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Didact-300x84.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Didact-768x216.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Didact.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Imprisoned in a Cryptum for his fervent opposition to the Halo Array’s construction, the Didact awakens from his imposed meditations and seeks to learn all that has transpired in his absence. While serving as the reluctant mentor to the young Forerunner who released him, he soon deduces that his wife, the Librarian, must have intended their meeting, setting them on a journey to find answers.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Librarian</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="288" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Librarian-1024x288.jpg" alt="Librarian character banner" class="wp-image-142398" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Librarian-1024x288.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Librarian-300x84.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Librarian-768x216.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Librarian.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The visionary Forerunner Lifeshaper with a great affinity for humanity, the Librarian endowed her favored human subjects with genetic tendencies (geas) that would guide successive generations to eventual conclusions of her own design. She has purposefully manipulated the wayward Bornstellar into awakening her exiled husband—but to what end?



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Master Builder</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="288" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Faber-1024x288.jpg" alt="Master Builder Faber character banner" class="wp-image-142384" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Faber-1024x288.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Faber-300x84.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Faber-768x216.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/Faber.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Faber-of-Will-and-Might holds the title of Master Builder, positioning him as one of the most powerful Forerunners in the ecumene—and one of the most corrupt. In the aftermath of the war against humanity, preparations for the Flood’s inevitable return turn the Master Builder and the Didact into archrivals. Despite the Didact’s counterproposals, the Master Builder’s promises of glory and profit eventually culminate in the creation of the Halo rings.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mendicant Bias</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="288" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/MendicantBias-1024x288.jpg" alt="Mendicant Bias character banner" class="wp-image-142412" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/MendicantBias-1024x288.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/MendicantBias-300x84.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/MendicantBias-768x216.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/MendicantBias.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



An artificial intelligence co-created by the Didact and the Master Builder, and the most advanced ancilla ever devised. Medicant Bias was charged with assuming control over the protection of the ecumene in the Forerunners’ absence. However, after forty-three years of discourse with an ancient being known as the Primordial, Mendicant Bias defected and disappeared, taking an entire Halo installation—and the mysterious creature—with him for unknown purposes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE FORERUNNER SAGA</h2>



Halo: Cryptum is the first act of a three-part tale that culminates in the firing of the Halo rings.



This novel introduces the primary concept of the Mantle of Responsibility and fleshes out the culture of the proud, doomed Forerunner civilization, along with their connections to humanity. 



In the sequels Halo: Primordium and Halo: Silentium, we learn more about:



<ul>
<li>The Conservation Measure. A galaxy-spanning indexing process led by the Librarian that collected genetic information from countless species in order to reseed the galaxy with life after the activation of Halo. Through her testimonies, we also learn about her inquiries into the origins of the Flood and the revelations she uncovers on a voyage beyond the Milky Way galaxy.</li>



<li>Zeta Halo. The ancient ringworld that serves as a laboratory for horrific experiments with the Flood conducted on humans and Forerunners alike.</li>



<li>Chakas’s future. Formerly a con man and a small-time crook, Chakas had initially sought to rob the impressionable Bornstellar, in hopes of using the ill-gotten gains to reunite his family. He soon finds himself on an interstellar odyssey, exploring the ruins of humanity’s old empire, enduring the terrifying Palace of Pain, meeting the enigmatic being known as the Primordial, and how he becomes somebody who will play a pivotal role in the Master Chief’s journey a hundred thousand years later.</li>



<li>The Didact’s descent. Discovery, capture, and betrayal set the Didact on a dark path to madness as a cosmic game of vengeance nears its dire terminus.</li>
</ul>



Stay tuned to hear an exclusive excerpt from the sequel, Halo: Primordium, later this month!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GAME CONNECTIONS</h2>



Halo: Cryptum occurs nearly 100,000 years before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, in the declining Forerunner ecumene, where political turmoil in the wake of a costly war with humanity has left them exposed to a greater menace: the Flood.



This novel follows the story of the Didact and Bornstellar, two legendary Forerunners who have shaped events in the Milky Way for untold millennia. We learn more about the Librarian’s contributions to the preservation of all galactic life in the ensuing installments of the Forerunner Saga—and in Halo 4, where both the Didact and Librarian return for a new chapter in the Master Chief’s journey.



To learn more about the Halo novels, visit our <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/official-halo-book-guide">Official Halo Book Guide</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ABOUT THE READERS</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Holter Graham</h3>



Holter Graham is a stage, film, and television actor based in New York. He has also narrated over 200 audiobooks, including works by Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks, and prolific Halo writer Greg Bear, as well as several other works in the Halo series. <a href="https://bit.ly/3FMiJND">Reader of Halo: Cryptum.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Timothy Dadabo</h3>



Timothy Dadabo is a prolific voice actor and singer. After appearing as 343 Guilty Spark in Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo 3, Tim once again lent his voice talents to the Halo universe as the audiobook narrator of Halo: Primordium, the second entry in Greg Bear’s Forerunner Saga, and Halo: Point of Light by Kelly Gay. <a href="https://bit.ly/44n5Gvh">Reader of Halo: Primordium.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AUDIOBOOK GIVEAWAY</h2>



Enter to win an audiobook copy of a new book-club title each month now through October! To participate, react to the Halo: Cryptum post in the #giveaways channel of the <a href="https://www.discord.gg/halo">official Halo Discord server</a> before July 7.



Stay tuned<a> </a>to <a href="https://https/www.x.com/halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@Halo on X</a> later this month for more ways to win! <a href="https://www.aka.ms/AudiobookClubGiveaway">See full contest rules and entry directions.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">JOIN THE BOOK CLUB</h2>



Listen to a new Halo title every month in our Discord book club! To participate, simply join the #audio-book-club channel of the <a href="https://discord.gg/halo">official Halo Discord server,</a> where we’ll select a new title from the Halo universe to discuss each month now through October.



Share your favorite moments and engage in discussion topics for a chance to find your words featured in an upcoming Halo Waypoint post! At the end of the month, we’ll host a special Spartan Chatter episode on Discord to discuss the audiobook and answer questions from the Halo community.



<a href="https://bit.ly/3FMiJND">Purchase your copy of Halo: Cryptum from Simon & Schuster.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS</h2>



Interested in catching up with the community audiobook club? Check out our recent <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-contact-harvest-spartan-chatter">Spartan Chatter blog</a> to read great submissions from Discord members about last month’s title, Halo: Contact Harvest.



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Mutinous Core

Audiobook Club: Cryptum

Community

Back in my day we had two sticks and a book… And we had to share the book!



While Sgt. Johnson might have had a rock to share, we had a great novel to chit chat about during the latest Spartan Chatter. As part of the ongoing <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/audiobook-club">Audiobook Club in partnership with Simon & Schuster</a>, we kicked things off with Joseph Staten’s Halo: Contact Harvest. Franchise member Alex ‘Haruspis’ Wakeford, joined us to talk about Sgt. Johnson’s auspicious beginnings.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Spartan Chatter: Halo: Contact Harvest" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tgwpgfstIuE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Some Halo fans might say Contact Harvest is required reading and if you don’t have a copy of your own yet, <a href="https://adbl.co/4kWm63v">you can head to Audible and grab your own</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS</h2>



Catch up on the community book club with great shouts from folks in our <a href="https://discord.gg/halo">official Discord server</a>!



<ul>
<li>DDog Dazamaan: Loved this book, especially the story of the two unlikely friends in the Covenant.</li>



<li>No pings please: Out of all the Halo novels, this is my favorite, hands down! I don’t re-read stuff often, but I’ll make an exception for Contact Harvest.</li>



<li>Massctrl: Listened to this book for the first time many years ago. Excellent read!</li>



<li>SporkHALO: Eight chapters in, I think I’m more hooked than I was with Fall of Reach!</li>



<li>GuyverTronNIИ: Good choice! Contact Harvest is a great place to begin for new readers or anyone wanting to revisit the stories. One of my favorite parts is getting a behind-the-scenes look at the politics of the Covenant and seeing how the Prophets we know in the games come to power.</li>



<li>CIA391WIKI: That prologue, I dare say, is haunting! I totally get why it makes some folks uncomfortable.</li>



<li>Austin @ JumperScape: That prologue made me really consider the idea that maybe humanity needed this conflict. Something to pull it away from eating itself.</li>



<li>NsanittyyJUMP: I loved finding out how the Choppers were originally plowing tools meant as a peace offering to the colonists. The Engineers are so kind!</li>



<li>EnderfortYT: I loved Contact Harvest. It’s the fifth book I read in the Halo series after The Forerunner Saga and Broken Circle.</li>



<li>Twogood4hisown: I liked all the details on interstellar logistics, planetary AI, and colonial farming. I also liked the view of the pre-Covenant Insurrectionist conflict. It was messy, and one could easily see UNSC efforts doing more harm than good.</li>



<li>Woodsgump: This was one good read, and my first Halo novel. I liked how Contact Harvest focused on Johnson’s early days and his travels on Harvest, while we also get to see a bit of Jenkins himself.</li>



<li>pins before posting: There’s an interesting feeling in this novel. The “vibe” of life itself feels different in the Halo universe before the Human-Covenant war.</li>
</ul>



We’ll be doing 4 more novels between now and October so stay tuned for the reveal of the July selection!

snickerdoodle

Halo: Contact Harvest | Spartan Chatter

Click here to purchase tickets to the Halo World Championship 2025

Esports

Welcome back, friends!



In this blog series, we’re posting new Halo World Championship 2025 updates every month, and today we’ve got another jam-packed blog. For those who missed the first two, links are below for you to peruse:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halowc25-may" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May 2025</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halowc25-april">April </a><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halowc25-april" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2025</a></li>
</ul>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading">TICKETS UPDATE (EARLY BIRD ENDS TODAY!)</h1>



First off, we want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who has already secured their HaloWC tickets, especially our VIP ticketholders who sold out VIP within the first few hours. At the moment, HaloWC is about 1/3 sold out, and we’re also currently on pace to sell out faster than in the prior years. Wow, thank you!



The Early Bird special (which gives you 20% off) ends tonight, so if you’re considering attending the event, don’t wait! And like always, if you use one of our HCS Partnered Team codes, you’ll get an additional 10% off, with your savings going directly to the team of your choosing, so it’s a win-win-win for everyone!



You can grab your tickets and see team codes <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halo-world-championship-2025-tickets-1388344669279?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HERE</a>:





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<h1 class="wp-block-heading">RUMORS AND SPECULATION</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/halowc25-june-2-1024x576.png" alt="Fans watching "A New Dawn" live at the Halo World Championship 2024." class="wp-image-142637" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/halowc25-june-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/halowc25-june-2-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/halowc25-june-2-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/halowc25-june-2-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/halowc25-june-2-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/halowc25-june-2.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Over the past few weeks, there’s been a fair amount of speculation about when and where more details might emerge about any of the multiple projects Halo Studios is actively working on. We don’t usually comment on such matters, but this time we want to enter the chat and share a little more perspective for Halo fans who might be on the fence about whether to attend this year’s event.



Last year at HaloWC, we premiered “A New Dawn” where we talked about the switch to Unreal Engine, gave you a behind the scenes look at Project Foundry, and debuted our evolution to Halo Studios as we enter a new chapter for Halo. For us, “A New Dawn” was just the beginning – at this year’s HaloWC, we look forward to continuing the conversation.



Speculation is always fun, but if you want the official scoop on what Halo Studios has been working on, you won’t want to miss this year’s Halo World Championship. We really hope you’ll join us in Seattle this October!



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">PARTNERED TEAM BOOTHS</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Rebellion-Booth-1024x576.png" alt="Partner Booths at the Halo World Championship" class="wp-image-141740" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Rebellion-Booth-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Rebellion-Booth-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Rebellion-Booth-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Rebellion-Booth-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Rebellion-Booth-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Rebellion-Booth.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



This month, we also wanted to start sharing more about the different booths and experiences coming to HaloWC, starting with a few of our partnered teams. First, we’re excited to confirm that SPACESTATION and SHOPIFY REBELLION will be once again attending HaloWC, and bringing awesome booth experiences that both have become known for.



Now, we’re not going to spoil everything they’ve got in the works, but you can of course expect some fun games to play, exclusive merch, the opportunity for meet and greets with the players, and more. 



Thank you as always to Spacestation and Shopify for being part of HaloWC, and for their continued legendary support of the Halo community! 



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading">HALO COMMUNITY STAGE</h1>



Today we’re also excited to confirm that the Community Playdate will make their triumphant return at HaloWC. This is where you, the community, get to come up on stage and play some casual Halo multiplayer, and maybe even win some cool prizes. As always, everyone who joins us on stage will get access to the highly coveted Unicorn of Ice emblems and nameplate.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/update-halo-unicorn-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite Ice Unicorn Emblem and Nameplate" class="wp-image-142595" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/update-halo-unicorn-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/update-halo-unicorn-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/update-halo-unicorn-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/update-halo-unicorn-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/update-halo-unicorn-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/update-halo-unicorn-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Each month we will share more and more details about the Community Stage and what programming and shenanigans to expect. 



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading">HALO MAKER’S CONTEST</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Halo-Makers-Contest-1024x576.png" alt="Halo Pod Infector from the Halo World Championship 2024" class="wp-image-141695" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Halo-Makers-Contest-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Halo-Makers-Contest-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Halo-Makers-Contest-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Halo-Makers-Contest-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Halo-Makers-Contest-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Halo-Makers-Contest.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



As we mentioned in our last update, new to this year’s HaloWC is the Halo Maker’s Contest. We know many of you are waiting to hear more about this contest, and today, we’re excited to provide the initial contest guidelines ahead of the Official Rules. We’d like to also give a special shoutout to the 405th, who has been helping us think through some of the nuance and specifics for this all-new contest! 



<a href="http://x.com/cxeefoxx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@CxeeFoxx</a> on X: “Sounded like you guys mentioned it was going to be pretty strict on what was allowed. So really clear rules/guidelines would be super helpful. If there are materials not allowed, what types of premade items can be used/not (if you need motors, lights, blowers etc)”



Thank you <a href="http://x.com/cxeefoxx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@CxeeFoxx</a> for the question – let’s get into the details!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">OVERVIEW</h2>



The Halo Maker’s Contest gives you the opportunity to create a real-life replica of any recognizable item from the Halo universe, from Cortana’s Chip to the Needler! This is your chance to show off your creativity, craftsmanship, and passion for the franchise. Whether it’s an iconic item from Campaign, or your favorite niche weapon, we want you to bring it to life!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PRIZE BREAKDOWN</h2>



Total Prize Pool: $2,500  



<ul>
<li>1st. – $1,500</li>



<li>2nd. – $750</li>



<li>3rd. – $250</li>
</ul>



As an optional added bonus, the 1st place winner will have the option to have their creation displayed in the Halo Studios Museum for one year, for employees and VIP studio guests to admire on display.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ENTRY GUIDELINES</h2>



<ul>
<li>Must be a replica of an existing object from any official Halo game, media, or lore.  </li>



<li>One entry per person/team.  </li>



<li>All entries must be fabricated by the maker(s). The use of laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC machines is allowed, but the item must be created and owned by the maker.  </li>



<li>Size: Must be no larger than 6 sq ft total  </li>



<li>Models can contain lights, motors, servos, blowers, and voice chips for operation, but please make sure that all devices are powered by an external, non-modified USB power bank. No mains powered devices will be accepted, and we ask that Makers do not use rechargeable electric batteries (but as mentioned above, non-modified USB power banks can be utilized).</li>
</ul>



Your creation should be made from safe, lightweight, and non-hazardous materials. Examples of these include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:



<ul>
<li>Various types of foam    </li>



<li>Worbla  </li>



<li>Plastic    </li>



<li>Rubber  </li>



<li>Cardboard   </li>



<li>Fabrics    </li>



<li>3D printed materials   </li>



<li>Wood</li>
</ul>



Are there material types not listed here that you have questions about? Tweet at me and let me know! (<a href="http://x.com/tashi343i" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@Tashi343i</a>)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BANNED ITEMS</h2>



<ul>
<li>Hazardous materials of any kind  </li>



<li>Functional projectile weapons  </li>



<li>Sharp metal edges   </li>



<li>Pyrotechnics, explosives, open flames, smoke   </li>



<li>Gas cylinders, compressed air weapons  </li>



<li>Liquids, glitter, confetti, or substances that could cause a mess   </li>



<li>Disrespectful, offensive, or political imagery or language  </li>



<li>Entries breaching venue or Microsoft Code of Conduct   </li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS</h2>



<ul>
<li>Pre-registration is required – stay tuned later this summer for the pre-registration form and details.   </li>



<li>The top 24 pre-registered entries will be selected and approved to appear in the contest.  </li>



<li>All approved entries must be submitted in-person at the 2025 Halo World Championship in Seattle, WA. Check-in and drop-off must be completed at the designated Maker’s Contest desk by the designated times (to be provided at a later date).  </li>



<li>Items must be clearly labeled with your name, contact info, item name, and include a short, printed description (200 words or less) about the item and build process to accompany the display.  </li>



<li>Entries should be considered final, and not labeled “work-in-progress.” This doesn’t mean you can’t keep polishing your entry after the contest, but items should simply be presented in a ready-to-display state.  </li>



<li>As a note, any submissions cannot be used in both the Maker’s Contest and the Cosplay Contest. For example, a Maker can create a helmet for this contest, but the same helmet can’t be utilized as a part of an armor for the Cosplay Contest at HaloWC25.  </li>



<li>Entrants must be present at the event to qualify.  </li>



<li>Entries will be displayed publicly during the contest showcase.  </li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">JUDGING CRITERIA</h2>



Each entry will be scored on:



<ul>
<li>Craftsmanship & Build Quality (30%)  </li>



<li>Accuracy to Source Material (25%)  </li>



<li>Creativity in Execution (20%)  </li>



<li>Presentation & Visual Appeal (15%)  </li>



<li>Effort & Ingenuity (10%)</li>
</ul>



Judges will include Halo Studios team members and Halo community reps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RULES & DISCLAIMERS</h2>



<ul>
<li>Must be 18+ or have parental consent to enter.   </li>



<li>Open to legal residents of the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia).  </li>



<li>By entering, you grant permission to have your work shown off on official Halo and partner channels!  </li>
</ul>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading">CONCLUSION</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Player-Popoff-1024x576.png" alt="Pro Player, Cherished, on the Halo World Championship main stage" class="wp-image-141838" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Player-Popoff-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Player-Popoff-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Player-Popoff-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Player-Popoff-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Player-Popoff-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloWC25-Player-Popoff.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



As always, thank you for supporting the HCS and HaloWC, and we can’t wait to see you in October. Keep it locked here on Waypoint, @Halo, and @HCS for all the latest on the Halo World Championship! 



Thanks, 



Tashi

Tashi

Road to HaloWC 2025: June

Click here to register for the next HCS tournament in your region.

Click here to create an account on FACEIT.

Click here for the full HCS Points Leaderboards.

Click here for more details on the HCS Open at DreamHack Dallas

Click here to see the HCS 2025 Code of Conduct

HCS Points Leaderboards

Click here for full HCS points player leaderboards

NA Champions

NA Results

EU Champions

The race to the HCS Salt Lake City Major has begun.



The HCS Open Series returns as players in all regions battle it out in weekly tournaments for their chance to compete live in Salt Lake City on August 1-3.



Have what it takes to claim glory?



<ul>
<li>Register for free & Compete for Cash!</li>



<li>Climb the HCS Leaderboards!</li>



<li>Qualify for LAN!</li>
</ul>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading">CONTENTS</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="#dates">Tournament Dates</a> <a href="#compete">How to Compete</a> <a href="#leaderboards">Leaderboards</a></td><td><a href="#na">NA Results</a> <a href="#eu">EU Results</a> <a href="#mx">MX Results</a> <a href="#anz">ANZ Results</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="dates">Road to SLC – Tournament Dates</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-Open-Series-VISID-1024x576.png" alt="HCS Open Series: Road to Salt Lake City. Compete for cash. Climb the leaderboards. Qualify for LAN." class="wp-image-139373" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-Open-Series-VISID-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-Open-Series-VISID-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-Open-Series-VISID-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-Open-Series-VISID-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-Open-Series-VISID-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-Open-Series-VISID.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>North America Starts @ 12p ET <s>June 7-8: Open #1</s> <s>June 21-22: Open #2</s> <s>June 28-29: Open #3</s> July 12-13: Pool Play Qualifier</td><td>Europe Starts @ 12p BST <s>June 8: Open #1</s> <s>June 22: Open #2</s> <s>June 29: Open #3</s> July 13: Pool Play Qualifier</td><td>Mexico Starts @ 12p CT <s>June 8: Open #1</s> <s>June 22: Open #2</s> <s>June 29: Open #3</s> July 13: Open Bracket Qualifier</td><td>Australia / New Zealand Starts @ 12p AEST <s>June 8: Open #1</s> <s>June 22: Open #2</s> <s>June 29: Open #3</s> July 13: Open Bracket Qualifier</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>





<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SLC Major Qualifiers</h2>



Following the HCS Open Series, teams from all regions will battle it out in their respective SLC Major Qualifiers for Pool Play seeds and/or Travel Coverage to compete in the Open Bracket!



<ul>
<li>Free to Enter</li>



<li>Double Elimination</li>



<li>NA/EU Prize: Pool Play Seeds, HCS Points, & Travel Coverage</li>



<li>MX/ANZ Prize: HCS Points & Travel Coverage</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">POOL PLAY QUALIFICATION</h3>



<ul>
<li>NA SLC Qualifier: Top 4</li>



<li>NA HCS Point Totals: Top 2 (After Qualifier)</li>



<li>EU SLC Qualifier: Top 1</li>



<li>EU HCS Point Totals: Top 1 (After Qualifier)</li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-OS-OpTic-Renegade-Popoff-1024x576.png" alt="OpTic Gaming's Renegade, celebrating after a map win." class="wp-image-139415" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-OS-OpTic-Renegade-Popoff-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-OS-OpTic-Renegade-Popoff-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-OS-OpTic-Renegade-Popoff-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-OS-OpTic-Renegade-Popoff-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-OS-OpTic-Renegade-Popoff-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-OS-OpTic-Renegade-Popoff.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="compete">HOW TO COMPETE</h1>



Want to see how you stack up against players in your region? Follow the steps below and prove you have what it takes to claim glory!



STEP 1: Create FACEIT Account Official HCS tournaments take place over at FACEIT. You will need to create an account and link it with your Halo Gamertag.





STEP 2: Sign up for the next tournament. Assemble your squad and register for FREE in your region. Your teammates will also need FACEIT accounts to join your team!





STEP 3: Climb the HCS Points Leaderboard. Compete for Cash Prizes as you climb the HCS Points Leaderboards ahead of the LAN Qualifiers.





STEP 4: Qualify for LAN. Place well in the LAN Qualifiers or stack up enough HCS Points and secure Travel Coverage to compete live at the HCS Salt Lake City Major!





<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="handbook">Player Handbook & Code of Conduct</h2>







<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="leaderboards">Leaderboards</h1>



Regional Leaderboards following Week 3 of the HCS Open Series: Road to Salt Lake City.



<a href="http://x.com/optic">OpTic Gaming</a>, <a href="http://x.com/tsm">TSM</a>, and <a href="http://x.com/shopifyrebels">Shopify Rebellion</a> have all qualified for Pool Play at the SLC Major via placements at <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/dh-dallas-2025">HCS Dallas 2025</a>. Following DreamHack Dallas, <a href="http://x.com/fazeesports">FaZe Clan</a> traded (2) players which resulted in them forfeiting their #2 seed at the SLC Major. This resulted in TSM moving up to the #2 seed and Shopify Rebellion moving up to the #3 seed. The #4 auto-qualifying seed from Dallas will now go to the team with the Most HCS Points that registers for the NA SLC Major Qualifier. That team will assume the #4 seed and will be pulled from the SLC Major Qualifier tournament.







<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="na">NA Results</h1>



Defending champs OpTic Gaming claim Week 3 on the Road to SLC!





<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Week #3: Champions Team: OpTic Gaming – Bound – Formal – Lqgend – Renegade</td><td>Week #2: Champions Team: 007 – Bound – Cykul – Last Shot – Lqgend</td><td>Week #1: Champions Team: 007 – Cykul – Frosty – Kuhlect – Lqgend</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>





<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Week #3: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/SLC25-na-os3" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a> Tournament VOD by <a href="http://twitter.com/lvthalo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LVTHalo</a> – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5_ty3NSO88" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NA Open #3 / Day 1</a> – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSNOknfyOdM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NA Open #3 / Day 2</a></td><td>Week #2: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/SLC25-na-os2" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a> Tournament VOD by <a href="http://twitter.com/lvthalo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LVTHalo</a> – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=089yL89mPwU" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NA Open #2 / Day 1</a> – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IsbEJS1Xvo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NA Open #2 / Day 2</a></td><td>Week #1: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/SLC25-na-os1" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a> Tournament VOD by <a href="http://twitter.com/lvthalo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LVTHalo</a> – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/kHkAeK2_7Uw?si=gBJj9kBp4LmMe6d1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NA Open #1 / Day</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQm87HAihM0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> </a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/kHkAeK2_7Uw?si=gBJj9kBp4LmMe6d1&t=4493" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1</a> – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJRFqF3KClo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NA Open #1 / Day 2</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="eu">EU Results</h1>



<a href="http://x.com/nmss_gg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Team Nemesis</a> goes back-2-back in Europe!





<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Week #3: Champions Team: Team Nemesis – Glory – SLG – Snipedrone – Wutum</td><td>Week #2: Champions Team: Team Nemesis – Glory – SLG – Snipedrone – Wutum</td><td>Week #1: Champions Team: Zero Tenacity – Bastoss – Mighty – Sica – Tchik</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>





<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Week #2: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/slc25-eu-os3" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a> Tournament VOD by <a href="http://twitter.com/eurohaloleague" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EuroHaloLeague</a> – <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2499030690" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Open #3</a></td><td>Week #2: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/slc25-eu-os2" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a> Tournament VOD by <a href="http://twitter.com/eurohaloleague" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EuroHaloLeague</a> – <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2492826325" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Open #2</a></td><td>Week #1: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/slc25-eu-os1" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a> Tournament VOD by <a href="http://twitter.com/eurohaloleague" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EuroHaloLeague</a> – <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2480410234" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Open #1</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="mx">MX Results</h1>



3-peat for <a href="https://x.com/ETHRGaming" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETHR Gaming</a> in Mexico!





<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Week #3: Champions Team: ETHR Gaming – Acid – Drift – Tapping Buttons – Noblc</td><td>Week #2: Champions Team: ETHR Gaming – Acid – Drift – Tapping Buttons – Noblc</td><td>Week #1: Champions Team: ETHR Gaming – Acid – Drift – Tapping Buttons – Leuor</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>





<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Week #3: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/slc25-mx-os3" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a></td><td>Week #2: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/slc25-mx-os2" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a></td><td>Week #1: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/slc25-mx-os1" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="anz">ANZ Results</h1>



Another week, another W for <a href="https://x.com/Mindfreak" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mindfreak</a> in Australia!





<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Week #3: Champions Team: Mindfreak – Wryce – Swayz – Scoobmeistr – Barcode</td><td>Week #2: Champions Team: Mindfreak – Wryce – Swayz – Scoobmeistr – Plasma</td><td>Week #1: Champions Team: Mindfreak – Wryce – Swayz – Plasma – Pipz</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>





<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Week #3: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/slc25-anz-os3" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a></td><td>Week #2: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/slc25-anz-os2" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a></td><td>Week #1: Results <a href="http://aka.ms/slc25-anz-os1" data-type="link" data-id="aka.ms/os1-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Full Bracket</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Official HCS

HCS Open Series: Road to Salt Lake City (Compete Now!)

The Master Chief’s fight against the Banished continues in Halo: Edge of Dawn!



Coming this December, the next novel by acclaimed author Kelly Gay picks up in the immediate aftermath of Halo Infinite’s ending.



Here is the official description of what awaits in the Master Chief’s next adventure:



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



2560. After eliminating War Chief Escharum and sending the Banished leadership into chaos, the Master Chief continues the fight on Zeta Halo, accompanied by his new AI companion and their loyal pilot Fernando Esparza.   As Spartan-117 searches for scattered allied forces, a young combat medic—tortured and imprisoned for months by the Banished and the enigmatic Harbinger—may hold the key to unlocking deeper mysteries within this ancient ringworld. But every step toward answers is haunted by the sinister and elusive blademaster Jega ‘Rdomnai, who is hellbent on vengeance…



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We are thrilled to also reveal the cover art by Chris McGrath, who has previously illustrated the covers for the novels Halo: Epitaph, Shadows of Reach, Oblivion, and Silent Storm.



<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Edge-of-Dawn/Kelly-Gay/Halo/9781668017555" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PRE-ORDER HALO: EDGE OF DAWN</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Edge-of-Dawn/Kelly-Gay/Halo/9781668017555"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1676" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal.jpg" alt="Halo: Edge of Dawn novel cover depicting the Master Chief and the Weapon" class="wp-image-142242" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal.jpg 1080w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal-193x300.jpg 193w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal-660x1024.jpg 660w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal-768x1192.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal-990x1536.jpg 990w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></a></figure>



Akin in many ways to Halo: First Strike, this story serves as a glimpse into the aftermath of its preceding events, the novel dealing with the immediate fallout of what took place in Halo Infinite‘s campaign while embarking on its own new, self-contained adventure.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RECOMMENDED REVISITING</h2>



Edge of Dawn will ostensibly serve as a standalone story that any reader can jump into, whether this is your first Halo novel or if you’ve been following along for years.



Of course, December is a while away, so in the months leading up to publication here are some stories you can explore for maximum context around the Master Chief’s journey leading into this book and the mysteries of Zeta Halo.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/halo-infinite?msockid=10fb3b4054ab63a132432e3e554b6279#purchaseoptions"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1280" height="360" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloInfiniteCampaignBanner.jpg" alt="Crop of Halo Infinite cover art depicting the Master Chief on Zeta Halo" class="wp-image-141853" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloInfiniteCampaignBanner.jpg 1280w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloInfiniteCampaignBanner-300x84.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloInfiniteCampaignBanner-1024x288.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/HaloInfiniteCampaignBanner-768x216.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/halo-infinite?msockid=10fb3b4054ab63a132432e3e554b6279#purchaseoptions">HALO INFINITE CAMPAIGN</a>



Experience the Master Chief’s epic return as he battles against the Banished forces occupying Zeta Halo, uncovers the truth about Cortana’s demise, faces a mysterious new threat in the form of the Harbinger, and builds a new partnership with his AI companion “the Weapon” and a reluctant Pelican pilot out of his depth.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-The-Rubicon-Protocol/Kelly-Gay/Halo/9781982147884"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1280" height="360" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/34TheRubiconProtocol-2.jpg" alt="Cover art of Halo: The Rubicon Protocol" class="wp-image-78128" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/34TheRubiconProtocol-2.jpg 1280w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/34TheRubiconProtocol-2-300x84.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/34TheRubiconProtocol-2-1024x288.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/34TheRubiconProtocol-2-768x216.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-The-Rubicon-Protocol/Kelly-Gay/Halo/9781982147884">HALO: THE RUBICON PROTOCOL</a>



Follow the events of the battle for Zeta Halo through the eyes of other members of the UNSC Infinity’s crew as they evacuate to the surface of the ringworld and must survive as they are hunted by the Banished.



Building on many of the audio logs found in Halo Infinite’s campaign, The Rubicon Protocol is the perfect way to get acquainted with combat medic Lucas Browning.



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Published by Gallery Books and our friends over at Simon & Schuster, Halo: Edge of Dawn is currently scheduled for release in December 2025.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Edge-of-Dawn/Kelly-Gay/Halo/9781668017555"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2160" height="1465" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawn_FullCover.jpg" alt="Full Halo: Edge of Dawn cover art depicting the Master Chief, the Weapon, Jega 'Rdomnai, and Zeta Halo, illustrated by Chris McGrath" class="wp-image-141970" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawn_FullCover.jpg 2160w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawn_FullCover-300x203.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawn_FullCover-1024x695.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawn_FullCover-768x521.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawn_FullCover-1536x1042.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawn_FullCover-2048x1389.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawn_FullCover-1568x1063.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px" /></a></figure>

Halo: Edge of Dawn | Cover Reveal

Halo World Championship 2025: Buy Tickets Now! (Oct 24-26, Seattle WA)

Community Spotlight

Spotlight: June 18, 2025

Click here to purchase Tickets to the HCS Salt Lake City Major

Click here to purchase Tickets to the HCS Charlotte Major 2025

Click here to purchase Tickets to the Halo World Championship 2025

Click here to see more details for the Halo World Championship 2025

The 2025 HCS Season is in full swing!



Don’t miss your chance to join us live – tickets to the remaining 2025 LAN events are available now!



Checkout the page below for more details, and be sure to follow <a href="http://x.com/hcs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@HCS</a> on socials to stay up to date!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/2025-HCS-Roadmap-SPLIT-2-FAZE-WAYPOINT-1024x576.png" alt="HCS 2025 Roadmap" class="wp-image-142313" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/2025-HCS-Roadmap-SPLIT-2-FAZE-WAYPOINT-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/2025-HCS-Roadmap-SPLIT-2-FAZE-WAYPOINT-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/2025-HCS-Roadmap-SPLIT-2-FAZE-WAYPOINT-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/2025-HCS-Roadmap-SPLIT-2-FAZE-WAYPOINT-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/2025-HCS-Roadmap-SPLIT-2-FAZE-WAYPOINT-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/2025-HCS-Roadmap-SPLIT-2-FAZE-WAYPOINT.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/optic-major" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Major #1</a></td><td><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/dh-dallas-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DH Open</a></td><td><a href="#major2">Major #2</a></td><td><a href="#major3">Major #3</a></td><td><a href="#halowc25">HaloWC</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>









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<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="major1">Up Next: HCS Major Salt Lake City (Hosted by Spacestation)</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-VisID-1920x1080-1-1024x576.png" alt="HCS Salt Lake City Major 2025, hosted by Spacestation - August 1-3 at the Salt Palace Convention Center - Tickets available now at HCS-SLC.COM" class="wp-image-142256" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-VisID-1920x1080-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-VisID-1920x1080-1-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-VisID-1920x1080-1-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-VisID-1920x1080-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-VisID-1920x1080-1-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/SLC25-VisID-1920x1080-1.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Our partners at Spacestation are once again hosting the community in Utah for the HCS Major Salt Lake City 2025!



SSG know how to throw a party, and we’re excited to see the awesome event and show that they put on for everyone once again this year. Be sure to join us this August for what’s sure to be a great tournament and a great time!



Be sure to follow <a href="http://x.com/hcs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@HCS</a> and <a href="http://x.com/spacestation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@Spacestation</a> to be notified when Team Passes go on sale!



<ul>
<li>August 1-3</li>



<li>Salt Lake City, UT</li>



<li><a href="https://www.visitsaltlake.com/salt-palace-convention-center/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salt Palace Convention Center</a></li>



<li>Prizing: $250,000+</li>
</ul>





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<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="major3">HCS Major #3 (Hosted by FaZe Clan)</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/CLT25-VisID-Wide-1920x1080-1-1024x576.png" alt="HCS Charlotte Major 2025 Hosted by FaZe Clan - October 3-5, Charlotte,Convention Center" class="wp-image-142327" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/CLT25-VisID-Wide-1920x1080-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/CLT25-VisID-Wide-1920x1080-1-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/CLT25-VisID-Wide-1920x1080-1-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/CLT25-VisID-Wide-1920x1080-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/CLT25-VisID-Wide-1920x1080-1-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/CLT25-VisID-Wide-1920x1080-1.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The HCS returns to North Carolina with the HCS Charlotte Major hosted by <a href="http://x.com/fazeesports">FaZe Clan</a>!



Be sure to follow <a href="http://x.com/hcs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@HCS</a> and <a href="http://x.com/fazeesports" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@FaZeEsports</a> to be notified when Team Passes go on sale!



<ul>
<li>October 3-5</li>



<li>Charlotte, NC</li>



<li><a href="https://www.charlottemeetings.com/charlotte-convention-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlotte Convention Center</a></li>



<li>Prizing: $250,000+</li>
</ul>





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<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="halowc25">Halo World Championship 2025</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/01/HaloWC25-VisID-BROADCAST-1920x1080-1-1024x576.png" alt="Halo World Championship 2025. October 24-26. Seattle Convention Center." class="wp-image-129060" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/01/HaloWC25-VisID-BROADCAST-1920x1080-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/01/HaloWC25-VisID-BROADCAST-1920x1080-1-300x169.png 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/01/HaloWC25-VisID-BROADCAST-1920x1080-1-768x432.png 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/01/HaloWC25-VisID-BROADCAST-1920x1080-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/01/HaloWC25-VisID-BROADCAST-1920x1080-1-1568x882.png 1568w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/01/HaloWC25-VisID-BROADCAST-1920x1080-1.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



October 24-26, the Halo World Championship is once again coming home to Seattle, Washington!



The Halo World Championship will determine not only who gets the lion’s share of the $1,000,000 prize pool but, more importantly, the title of the best Halo team in the entire world! And once again, the HaloWC is the home for all fans in the Halo community, not just HCS fans. You can expect the triumphant return of the Community Stage with special guests and dev panels galore, as well as fun festival-like activities for everyone to enjoy.  We’re also working on introducing some new elements to HaloWC as well as working on layout design changes to spice things up compared to prior years. We hope to see you there!



<ul>
<li>October 24-26</li>



<li>Seattle, WA</li>



<li>Seattle Convention Center</li>



<li>Prizing: $1,000,000+</li>
</ul>