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Canon Fodder – Stand Your Ground


<h4 class="wp-block-heading">ISSUE 66</h4>



<p>Greetings, you wonderful humans. Last week, we dove a bit deeper into the extended lore of the Fury Storm Rifle, as well as give a quick update on the print release of the Matt Forbeck-penned <em>Halo: New Blood</em>, <a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/New-Blood/Matt-Forbeck/HALO/9781501128080">which launches this March 15<sup>th</sup></a>. This week, we’ll be talking about some awesome upcoming ship-stuff from our friends at Spartan Games, as well as introducing a brand <em>new </em>project that keen-eyed fans might have gotten a glimpse of recently.</p>



<p>A few days ago, a new Halo product from the fine folks at Dark Horse Comics surfaced, piquing the interest of eager-eyed lore-lovers across a number of community haunts, who quickly went zero-to-gravemind trying to use their compound intelligence to decipher its true nature. Well, we’re here to help clear things up a bit, and give you some early details to sate certain curiosities, and set speculatory fire to others. With that in mind, read on!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TALES FROM THE SLIP</h2>



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<p><em>Halo: Tales from Slipspace</em> is a brand new Halo graphic novel anthology from 343 Industries and Dark Horse Comics. Think of it as a spiritual successor to the original <em>Halo Graphic Novel</em>. <em>Halo: Tales from Slipspace</em> will feature all-new stories from some pretty awesome names in the comic industry. These include Jonathan Wayshak, Eric Nguyen, Alex Irvine, Kody Chamberlain, Dave Crosland, John Jackson Miller, Jonathan Goff, Simon Roy, and Duffy Boudreau – as well as our very own Franchise Creative Director Frank O’Connor and Franchise Producer Tyler Jeffers.</p>



<p>While we aren’t talking about specific story content today, we’re confident that lore fans will be excited by the breadth of tales we’ll be telling. From subject matter to stylization, <em>Halo: Tales from Slipspace </em>will take fans on a diverse and delightful jaunt across the Halo universe, and is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Tales-Slipspace-Frank-OConnor/dp/1506700721/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457725403&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Halo%3A+Tales+form+Slipspace">penciled in to be in your fabulous fan-hands on October 12, 2016</a>. Again, we’ll be diving into more specifics about this project in the near future right here within these humble pages – including a deeper dive on specific stories and a proper cover reveal – so stay tuned!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">…AND STRAIGHT ON ‘TIL MORNING</h2>



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<p>Our partners at <a href="http://www.spartangames.co.uk/tag/halo">Spartan Games</a> will soon be unleashing new battle-tested vessels to bolster your <em>Halo: Fleet Battles </em>experience, headlined by the addition of the Covenant <em>CPV</em>-class heavy destroyer – most recognizably visualized in <em>Halo Wars</em> – and the <em>Valiant</em>-class super-heavy cruiser, which lore fans will recognize as being the foundation for Admiral Preston J Cole’s flagship, the UNSC <em>Everest</em>. These new additions are slated to release on March 18<sup>th</sup>, but we wanted to give fiction fans a sneak advanced peek at the extended lore for each of the entries. In addition, we wanted to surface the extended lore for both the <em><a href="https://shop.spartangames.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HFCV05">CAS-</a></em><a href="https://shop.spartangames.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HFCV05">class assault carrier</a> and <em><a href="https://shop.spartangames.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HFUN05">Punic-</a></em><a href="https://shop.spartangames.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HFUN05">class supercarrier</a> – both of which are already available, but haven’t had their included extended fiction surfaced very widely. Also, keep an eye out for even more Spartan Games news and info coming in the near future; it’ll certainly be grounds for tabletop-adoring excitement – in our opinion at least. But enough of that, let’s get our heads back in the clouds and take a closer look at some valiant vessels…</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">VALIANT-CLASS SUPER-HEAVY CRUISER</h3>



<p>First drafted as a compromise between a battleship and heavy cruiser, the <em>Valiant</em>-class suffered through years of feasibility studies and redesigns before the first hull was released from the Martian shipyard docking clamps in 2493. The <em>Valiant</em> showed promise during initial testing and evaluation, but cost overruns and delays in incorporating next-generation fusion drives seemingly doomed the class. Less than two years after entering service the <em>Valiant</em> was stricken from the UNSC Navy rolls and partially scrapped. The ship would have been a mere footnote in Navy history were it not for the expansion of Navy prestige and responsibilities following revelations of Colonial Military Authority (CMA) infiltration by Insurrection sympathizers in 2497. Almost overnight the Navy was faced with a lack of command-and-control vessels, with ships traditionally assigned to such tasks quickly tied up in lengthy counterinsurgency operations. The <em>Valiant</em>-class had the tonnage and firepower to augment battle groups composed of smaller vessels on patrols, as well as the space to install flag bridge facilities demanded by admirals leading the expeditionary operations.</p>



<p>The <em>Valiant</em> and a handful of other super-heavy cruiser spaceframes were converted into command ships; the most famous of these refurbished vessels was the <em>Everest</em>, fated to be the flagship of the legendary Vice Admiral Preston Cole. However, resource and crew shortages during Operation: TREBUCHET and continuing in the Covenant War curtailed plans to give all <em>Valiant</em>-class warships a complete suite of command upgrades.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">CPV-CLASS HEAVY DESTROYER</h3>



<p>Relentless engines of destruction, the CPV remains one of the most feared warship silhouettes across human space. However, its role within the Covenant military was that of a ship for flagellants, crewed by those deemed unstable or unsuitable for service in the regular Ministry fleets; led by those whose actions did not rise to heresy, but who carried the stench of disloyalty or disobedience. It was CPV crews who were called upon to do the dangerous and rather distasteful orbital bombardment of worlds early in the campaign against humanity, hovering over cities, factories, and farms in order to burn them clean of apostasy in the face of withering fire from surface installations and remaining UNSC defenders in higher orbit. Hundreds of shattered CPV hulls remain on these charred worlds, monuments to crews who found honor only in compliance with suicidal orders, their family names once more added to the rolls of those worthy to continue the march to glorious salvation.</p>



<p>As the war progressed the crews of the CPV’s found a newfound purpose as executioners and heralds, wielding excavation beams with deft hands and claws to carve meaningful sigils into cleansed worlds and leading battle groups against remnant UNSC forces judged unworthy of meeting the fleet’s Supreme Commander. Veteran crews also found a new currency of honor in using their well-practiced skills to assist the artifact hunting fleets that scoured former human worlds for Forerunner relics and war trophies, with many turning quasi-mercenary and offering their services to Ministry leaders eager to one-up each other with treasures and baubles recovered from the glassed ruins.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">PUNIC-CLASS SUPERCARRIER</h3>



<p>The <em>Punic</em> and its sister ships were the first of a new breed of warships drafted to fight a new style of colonial war in the waning years of the 25<sup>th</sup> century. Officially designated Space Control Vehicles, these massive carriers could transport and sustain entire Colonial Military Authority (CMA) expeditionary and interdiction campaigns in the remote Outer Colonies for months at a time, crushing dissent and terrorism before it could fester and spread. At least, that was the intent before Covenant fleets threatened humanity with extinction.</p>



<p><em>Punic</em>-class supercarriers have served the UNSC well in numerous campaigns and holding actions during the Covenant War, including the heroic last stand above Estuary and as the base stations for decisive counterinsurgency and evacuation operations on Charybdis IX. Unfortunately, the destruction of each supercarrier also means an irreplaceable loss of the elite crews and materiel that slowly erodes the UNSC Navy’s overall effectiveness. By 2552 only a handful of <em>Punics’</em> remain space worthy, including the <em>Trafalgar</em>, pride of Reach’s defense fleet.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">CAS-CLASS ASSAULT CARRIER</h3>



<p>Assault carriers are monumental symbols of Covenant power, and among the deadliest implements wielded by the Prophets in their war against humanity. Each assault carrier is a potent instrument of conversion and compliance, capable of deploying thousands of troops and numerous fighter craft, backed by an array of devastating energy projectors that can burn entire continents to ash. A single CAS is sufficient to quell all but the most pernicious heresy, rebellion, or parasite outbreak. Colossally expensive to construct and few in number, the rare loss of an assault carrier is mourned by the entire Covenant.</p>



<p>Every major Covenant fleet has at least one assault carrier at its heart, if only because carriers themselves require a significant number of support vessels when operating away from High Charity or major outposts. Multiple carriers in a single fleet is unusual, but not unheard of. For example, the crusading Fleet of Sacred Consecration, commanded by the Prophet of Regret himself, is led by twin assault carriers, the <em>Solemn Penance</em> and <em>Day of Jubilation</em>. Together, these massive warships have scoured dozens of human worlds and brought righteous destruction to those within the Covenant who dare stand in the way of the Prophet’s holy mission.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TRUTH & RECONCILIATION</h2>



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<p><strong>CHeeeezyy: Are there any other kind of sentient beings (as like if they knew how to make tools and stuff) in the Milky Way galaxy?</strong></p>



<p><strong>A: </strong>The short answer is <em>yes</em>, the Forerunners indexed and reintroduced many sentient species into the Milky Way galaxy. The longer answer is that only a fraction of these species have gone on to build tools or achieve even Tier 7 (preindustrial) signature technologies in the millennia following the firing of Halo; of those, only a handful have been encountered by humanity in the Orion Arm region of the galaxy. In fact, not even every species that fell under the yoke of the Covenant have been contacted and catalogued by the UNSC, as the Prophets did not deign many worthy of trading service for salvation within their fleets and the Sangheili kept few records of civil affairs.</p>



<p><strong>The Stag Lord: I’ve always assumed that in the War Games simulation, the Spartans use their own “real-life” armour configurations and that carries over into the simulation. Can somebody explain if this is the case?</strong></p>



<p><strong>A: </strong>Put simply, yes, this is nearly always the case. As highly trained and proficient special forces personnel, Spartans have a great deal of freedom to adjust their kit on a mission-by-mission basis, though their commander and specific task parameters can dictate certain loadouts. During War Games simulations, Spartans are encouraged to cross-train with a variety of different Mjolnir variants. That being said, individual Spartans do often have their favorite kit, and from a real-world narrative standpoint characters are portrayed in the same general set of Mjolnir for visual consistency and recognizability.</p>



<p>Well that will do it for this week. Hope you enjoyed our time together today – I’m looking at you, loyal <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/HaloStory/">r/HaloStory</a> member, AFlyingMexican5! – next week we’ll be back to explore a bit more of a cauterized colony world. Hope you’ll join us.</p>



<p>Until next time… Live well, play Halo, and don’t keep it loaded.</p>



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">UPDATED UNIVERSE ARTICLE THIS WEEK!</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">THRESHOLD</h4>



<p>Threshold is an enormous gas giant in the Soell system. It has an extensive network of Forerunner gas mining and refinery stations and was once orbited by Alpha Halo.</p>


Canon Fodder – Bulkhead Banter

Canon Fodder – Fighting Words


<h4 class="wp-block-heading">ISSUE 60</h4>



<p>Welcome back aboard the lore train, ladies and gentlemen. Last week, we dropped a pretty heavy bombardment of juicy fiction-focused topics. As you’ll quickly notice, this week will be a much lighter and stealthier affair – though hopefully no less enjoyable. The studio is hard at work on a myriad of fronts, stoking the fires of forges both known and unknown – some far flung in the future, and some far closer than you think. This week we thought we’d offer a peculiar peek into the backstory of the Jiralhanae – well, one in particular. Though many of you have no doubt encountered him many times, you’ve never known his name. Until today that is. Let’s go ahead and dive in, shall we?</p>



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



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<p>Near the end of the <em>Halo 3 </em>level “The Ark,” players come across a Brute Chieftain surrounded by minions. He knows who you are, and he’s picking a fight. Some players however, might not realize how unique this particular encounter is. The typical fare is “get in there, clear out the ads, take out the boss.” It’s in some ways ingrained in our gaming muscle-memory. This fight is a bit different, however. This one’s a bit more personal. The Chieftain isn’t out to simply end you, he’s out to do it alone. 1v1 me, bro. Keen-eared players can even hear the Prophet of Truth telling him as much. As players come down the final ramp towards the encounter, you can hear the Chieftain calling you out. When the duel begins, if you don’t attack his surrounding pack, they won’t attack you either. It’s just you and the Chieftain… until you come out on top. Once victorious, his mourning and maniacal minions will try their best to even the score. Were it so easy…</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">THE CHRONICLE OF CETHEGUS</h3>



<p><em>Cethegus had always known his time would come. For over a decade he had led his pack with fervent conviction and fierce renown. Cethegus had climbed the ranks of Jiralhanae society armed with a deadly mixture of cunning and bloodlust. He’d outwitted Kig-Yar mercenaries and liberated the ridiculous mandibles from many a Sangheili’s skull. He’d slaughtered scores of humans across countless systems during the relentless march of the Covenant. He’d served the Prophets and honored the Path, but still one thing remained elusive to him: Opportunity.</em></p>



<p><em>That all changed however, within what seemed like fleeting moments; Tartarus – the self-proclaimed turned Prophet-ordained Chieftain of the Brutes – had fallen in battle, cut down by the traitorous Sangheili Arbiter and the indefatigable human Demon at the site of the Sacred Ring. Tarturus’ demise had left a power vacuum amidst a perfect storm; the natural progression of catalyst and consequence quickly accelerating as the Covenant neared the rapidly approaching threshold of the Great Journey.</em></p>



<p><em>Divine circumstance had brought Cethegus and his pack to a mighty fortress of the gods, far outside of the galaxy itself. Here, as part of Truth’s forces, the Covenant – and the Jiralhanae themselves – stood primed to ascend, if only these filthy and unworthy interlopers could be stopped; the Demon drew near, and Cethegus himself had been entrusted with halting his progress. As Cethegus saw the Demon emerge from the chamber hallway, he felt almost relieved that his formidable Stalkers had failed to quell the human’s progress just moments earlier. No, this was the chieftain’s divine hour – a fact made ever more clear by the Prophet of Truth’s ultimatum heard resounding through the nearby holotable. “You must win this fight on your own…”</em></p>



<p><em>Surrounded by his loyal flight-fighters, Cethegus drew fortitude from their frenzy and activated his holy hammer. To take Tartarus’ place at the right-hand of Truth, he need only do one thing. Finish this fight.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TRUTH & RECONCILIATION</h2>



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<p><strong>RestlessPack79: Is the Elite Assault harness in halo 3 and the Elite Ranger harness in halo 2, one and the same?</strong></p>



<p><strong>A: </strong>In many ways, the Sangheili Ranger harness is effectively a highly specialized example of the more ubiquitously encountered – and labeled – Assault harness. And while the EVA-centric Ranger patterns shares many different aspects of its functionality and construction with the Assault harness, they are still for all practical purposes distinct systems. As a special treat, we’ve included a development render of the final model used for the Ranger helmet in <em>Halo 2: Anniversary</em>. If you want a fun fiction quest to embark on, compare the helmet design here with the variant Ranger harnesses used in <em>Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, </em>and especially <em>Halo: Reach</em>. There’s some very cool common design language and features throughout the various patterns that help tie them all together in fun and interesting ways.</p>



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<p>And that will do it for this issue. On a bit of a housekeeping note, you’ll notice the number of weekly “full” Universe encyclopedia entries be reduced for a spell while spool up energies in other exciting directions. However along with this, we’ll actually also be increasing the frequency of some of our “Deep Links” features to be a bit more often than originally planned to help tide you over and sate your ravenous cravings.</p>



<p>Also, in case you missed it, yesterday yours truly <a href="https://twitter.com/GrimBrotherOne/status/692870351164825604">hit up the Twitterverse with a special Happy Birthday message to Spartan-III Lucy-B091</a> – not just special because it’s Lucy, but special because it’s the first time we’ve published her birthday: January 28, 2533. You never know where the canon might creep up on you! Before we close, a bit of weekend viewing advice: make sure you keep an eye on the <a href="http://news.xbox.com/2016/01/14/x-games-and-halo-5-guardians/">Halo World Championship stream from X Games Aspen 2016</a>. I hear it’s a pretty cool event that doesn’t afraid of anything. Just saying.</p>



<p>Until next week… Live well, play Halo, and when in doubt, always trust your instincts.</p>



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEW UNIVERSE ENTRY THIS WEEK!</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">FORERUNNER DREADNOUGHT</h4>



<p>The Forerunner dreadnought, also referred to as the keyship, played a vital role in conserving life in the galaxy.</p>


Canon Fodder – Brute Force

Canon Fodder – Armory Amore


<h4 class="wp-block-heading">ISSUE 56</h4>



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<p>Festive greetings, fiction fans! Today will be brief so let’s get right to it. Last week we announced our upcoming narrative guide, <em>Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo</em>, coming in 2016 from our friends and partners at Egmont Publishing. We’re incredibly pleased with the level of excitement the lore community has shown for the possibilities within the book, and we can’t wait to get it in your hands next fall.</p>



<p>If you recall, last week I also said that I wasn’t sure if we’d have a normal issue come out today. What can I say, Halo community, <em>I just can’t quit you</em>. In fact, I figured that while I’m down in sunny Florida celebrating Christmas with the rest of the Grim clan, it was only logical that we give the lore legion a small gift of their own – one that’s been on many of your wish lists for Story Claus. So today we’ll be taking a quick look at the new alien ships seen in <em>Halo 5: Guardians</em>. Let’s get to unwrapping!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BLOOD VESSELS</h2>



<p>From the moment fans laid eyes on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44oJi5w2Wjc">opening cinematic</a> of <em>Halo 5: Guardians</em>, the lore community was abuzz with speculation on the new craft being encountered as Fireteam Osiris descended upon the icy surface of Kamchatka. So what’s up with these new craft? To start, for the most part these are Sangheili warships whose designs predate the Writ of Union. As such, they do not formally use the Covenant ship classification system (CCS, SDV, CAS, etc.). These craft were all designed with specific roles in mind, in contrast to the multipurpose functions that many Covenant warships served. As for the aesthetics, Sangheili warships nearly always have strong biomimetic elements, eschewing the elaborate ornamentation of San’Shyuum preference for the aggressive shapes of wildlife native to Sanghelios and other Elite colony worlds. In <em>Halo 5: Guardians</em>, players encountered four classes of Sangheili warship employed by both sides of the conflict, which we’ll review now.</p>



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



<p><strong>Length: 6,367 m (20,889 ft)</strong></p>



<p>Centuries after being rendered obsolete as a mainline warship, the Brigantine served in exploratory Covenant proselytization-tithe fleets throughout much of the alliance’s reign. In the years since the Great Schism, the Brigantine has been pressed back into frontline service as a heavy carrier and fleet command ship for both factions in the Sangheili civil war.</p>



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



<p><strong>Length: 2,819 m (9,249 ft)</strong></p>



<p>Whereas the San’Shyuum preferred multi-role vessels that could be complete a wide variety of tasks throughout the Covenant, the warring Sangheili factions do not have that luxury. With more advanced vessels destroyed or locked in bitter conflict elsewhere, Sangheili fleetmasters have found that ancient Carrack merchant cruisers are surprisingly capable and resilient troop and materiel transports in modern wars.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BLOCKADE RUNNER</h3>



<p><strong>Length: 2,020 m (6,627 ft)</strong></p>



<p>Eschewing protection for speed and firepower, Blockade Runners have been thrown into supporting ground operations on Sanghelios against the better judgment of their shipmasters. Once-hushed Sangheili war-stories tell of a legendary Blockade Runner <em>Joori’s Light</em>, whose shipmaster and crew were able to evade both capture and destruction at the hands of the San’Shyuum during the War of Beginnings. Rather than bend to the tenants of the Writ of Union, both craft and crew escaped to uncharted space, and were never heard from again.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">MAN O’ WAR</h3>



<p><strong>Length: 526 m (1,726 ft)</strong></p>



<p>Created using Forerunner secrets unlocked before the War of Beginnings, the Man O’ War represents a pinnacle of Sangheili warship design that, in many respects, was never equaled by Covenant patterns. Reticence to share deeper details about the craft and its capabilities remains strong even today.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CRAFTY COMPARISON</h2>



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<p>To put these newly-encountered craft into better perspective, <a href="http://www.spartangames.co.uk/meet-the-big-hitters">our friends at Spartan Games</a> whipped up this handy scale chart to show some of these new ships in comparison to others fans are more familiar with. Even I am always intrigued when seeing side-by-side comparisons like this. Hope you enjoy it just as much! (Click it to big it)</p>



<p>And that will do it for us this issue. Here’s hoping that you enjoyed your little holiday gift, and that the next week brings love, joy, and happiness to you and yours. Also, we hope that many of you have been enjoying all the new possibilities that come with the new and evolved Forge mode in <em>Halo 5: Guardians</em>. We’re already seeing some amazing community creations start to flow in – and we know that it’s just the tip of the iceberg. And if we happen to see something that fits this feature particularly well, don’t be surprised if you see it pop up on these pages for more players to enjoy…</p>



<p>Until next time… Live well, play Halo, and have a wonderful and happy set of holidays – no matter where you are in the galaxy, or what you celebrate!</p>



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEW UNIVERSE ENTRY THIS WEEK!</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">031 EXUBERANT WITNESS</h4>



<p>Tasked with maintaining the mysterious world of Genesis, 031 Exuberant Witness aided Spartans against the inexorable rise of the Created.</p>


Canon Fodder – Holiday Shipping

Esports


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<p><strong>Halo Championship Series League Introduction</strong></p>



<p>The Halo Championship Series is the official Halo eSports league, designed to curate a quality experience for pro players, enthusiasts and spectators. The HCS will celebrate Halo’s rich competitive gaming legacy while building an all-new platform for the future of Halo eSports.</p>



<p>We’ll be releasing the official HCS rules in the coming weeks, but for now, here’s a quick look at what the Halo Championship Series is all about.</p>



<ul><li>The first season of the Halo Championship Series will kick off shortly after the launch of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and run from November (preseason) through March of 2015.</li><li>The official game of the Halo Championship Series is Halo 2: Anniversary.</li><li>Teams of four Spartans will compete in a structured series of online and in-person LAN events.</li><li>All officially sanctioned tournaments (LAN and online) will award HCS points to the top teams.</li><li>HCS LAN event point allocations will be broken down into tiers based on total prize pool and bracket size. For example, a tournament with a $5,000 prize pool will award less points than a tournament with a $25,000 prize pool.</li><li>Several established tournament organizers are already on board, and will be announcing their events shortly. In the coming weeks, additional tournament organizers will be able to apply to become an official HCS sanctioned partner.</li><li>At the end of season 1, teams with the highest HCS point totals will be invited to compete at the HCS season finals in March 2015. More details to be announced.</li><li>In addition to awarding official HCS points, 343 Industries and Twitch look forward to working with and supporting tournament organizers in a variety of ways to ensure the best experience possible for players and fans alike. This includes, but is not limited to financial support, tech support, promotional support, talent and production support, and more.</li></ul>



<p>There’s lots more on the way, and we hope you’re as excited as we are. Tune into the Launch Invitational this weekend at <a href="http://twitch.tv/halo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitch.tv/Halo</a> to learn more about the Halo Championship Series and what’s ahead for Halo.</p>


Introduction


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<p>In anticipation of the release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection next week, 343 Industries is excited to announce the “Halo Championship Series”, the official eSports league that will celebrate the franchise’s rich competitive gaming legacy while building an all-new platform for the future of Halo eSports.</p>



<p>The “Halo Championship Series”, or HCS, was born of 343 Industries’ desire to curate a quality eSports experience – for pro players, enthusiasts, and spectators – by creating a single sanctioning body for Halo. Designed to foster the best environment and platform for competitive multiplayer, the HCS will showcase, sponsor and support existing tournament organizers in the growing landscape of eSports today. To help fulfill this ambition, 343 Industries has teamed up with Twitch, ESL, and various tournament organizers to create a year of high-stakes action featuring Halo 2: Anniversary, the newly reimagined multiplayer engine within Halo: The Master Chief Collection.</p>



<p><strong>Halo Championship Series Details:</strong></p>



<ul><li>The first season of the Halo Championship Series will kick off shortly after the launch of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and run from November (preseason) through March of 2015.</li><li>Teams of four Spartans will compete in a structured series of online and in-person LAN events.</li><li>All officially sanctioned tournaments (LAN and online) will award HCS points to the top teams.</li><li>At the end of each season, teams with the highest HCS point totals will be invited to compete at the HCS season finals in March 2015. More details to be announced.</li></ul>



<p>“Halo was one of the first console eSports titles to rise to popularity a decade ago,” said Che Chou, Franchise Media Director, 343 Industries. “With the HCS, we’re harnessing that passion and investing back into the community that’s still vibrant today. In addition, our partnerships with ESL and Twitch – both parties with years of invaluable expertise – will help us realize our vision of quality and equality for the HCS.”</p>



<p>“This is a significant moment for both the huge Halo community on Twitch and the game’s overall fanbase,” said Ernest Le, Director of Publisher & Developer Partnerships, Twitch. “Partnering with 343 on the Halo Championship Series allows us to invest in the players and tournament organizers. We can then build on that foundation to benefit Halo fans worldwide.”</p>



<p>“Halo is one of the most storied franchises in gaming and has such a rich eSports legacy,” said Craig Levine, Vice President, ESL America. “ESL brings a proven track record of hosting world class competitions and broadcasts and are excited to be an official partner of the Halo Championship Series. In 2015, the HCS will crown a new generation of Halo champions and showcase Halo to millions of eSports fans around the world.”</p>



<p>Players and fans can see an overview of league information at HaloWaypoint.com/HCS.Within the coming weeks, 343 Industries will publish the official rules handbook of the HCS, and players will also be able to register their teams and begin competing online in the official ESL HCS league, view their global Halo rankings, and more.</p>



<p>343 Industries will be sharing more details about the Halo Championship Series at the Halo: The Master Chief Collection Launch Invitational tournament, taking place this Saturday, November 8 and Sunday November 9, where 32 of the world’s biggest names in FPS eSports will be facing off for their share of $50,000 to celebrate the launch of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It all starts on Saturday, November 8<sup>th</sup> – tune into <a href="http://www.twitch.tv/Halo">Twitch.tv/Halo</a> at 2PM PST to catch the action and learn more about what’s ahead for eSports and the Halo Championship Series.</p>



<p><strong>343 Industries:</strong><br>343 Industries is the developer of the blockbuster “Halo” series of video games and, as part of Microsoft Studios, oversees the “Halo” franchise, including games, linear programming, novels, comics, licensed collectibles, apparel and more. 343 Industries is home to world-class talent that delivered award-winning titles like “Halo 4” and “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” as well as the action-shooter “Halo: Spartan Assault” and the live-action digital series “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.” The studio is currently developing “Halo: The Master Chief Collection,” “Halo: Spartan Strike” and the next installment in the legendary saga of the Master Chief, “Halo 5: Guardians,” while continuing to transform entertainment experiences across the “Halo” universe with groundbreaking projects, including the “Halo Channel,” an upcoming Halo television series, and the all-new digital series, “Halo: Nightfall.”</p>



<p><strong>ESL:<br></strong>ESL – is world’s largest, independent eSports brand, leading the industry across various games with numerous online and offline competitions. This includes high profile international and national leagues and tournaments such as the Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL One, ESL Pro Series, Starcraft® II World Championship Series, as well as grassroots amateur cups, leagues and matchmaking systems. ESL covers a broad field of services in gaming technology, event management, advertising and TV production, fully catering to the needs of the eSport’s ecosystem. With offices in Germany, Russia, France, Poland, Spain, China and North America, it has a true global footprint. <a href="http://www.eslgaming.com/">www.eslgaming.com</a></p>



<p><strong>Twitch:<br></strong>Twitch is the world’s leading live video platform and community for gamers where more than 60 million gather every month to watch and talk about video games with more than 1.1 million broadcasters. Twitch’s video platform is the backbone of both live and on-demand distribution for the entire video game ecosystem. This includes game developers, publishers, media outlets, events, user generated content, and the entire eSports scene. In February 2014, Twitch was ranked the 4th largest website in terms of peak internet traffic in the U.S., fortifying the brand as an entertainment industry leader and the epicenter of social video for gamers. For more information visit: <a href="http://www.twitch.tv/">www.twitch.tv</a>.</p>
