IGN

Was the Halo trailer shown at E3 two weeks ago actually Halo 5? And does its advertised 2014 release date eliminate the possibility of the fan-requested Halo 2 Anniversary, since that game’s tenth birthday happens the same year? IGN sat down with Microsoft Game Studios vice president Phil Spencer to try and get to the bottom of it.

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

And yet, Spencer did have a plan: “But I did want Bonnie to come out and say, ‘First-person shooter. Master Chief.’ Because they’ll get the questions – ‘Hey, is this ODST? What are you guys doing?’ Bonnie comes out and reaffirms that 343 is building this game. It’s Master Chief. It’s a first-person shooter at 60 frames per second. It’s coming in 2014.”

When I asked why show Halo now without a game to formally announce, his answer was…intriguing. “If you go back in Halo history, and I’ve been around all of the Halos since Halo 1… Halo usually has two E3s.”

But back to the 2014 timing. Does this mean Halo 2 Anniversary won’t happen? Because surely Microsoft wouldn’t release two Master Chief-starring first-person Halo games in the same year, right? “I’ll be open,” Spencer began. “We have discussions about it. It’s more about the right time and making sure that we really would do the right thing for the franchise.

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

http://ie.ign.com/articles/2013/06/25/microsoft-on-halo-5-halo-2-anniversary

I could live without a Halo 2 remake. Their remake of Halo: CE was nothing but updated visuals and butchered sound effects anyway. Prefer playing the original.


I'd love for this to be an ODST-style sequel though.

My interpretation is:

No Halo 2 Anniversary planned.

The Halo game in 2014 will be a ODST-style spin-off rather than Halo 5.

But I hate that they feel the need to be so cryptical about it. Just come out and say it. I was so glad yesterday when I read the interview with Remedy, where they explained how important it is to be transparent about your plans.

I couldn't care less what it is ... just give me Halo! ODST was great in any event, so I don't mind the direction they take. Though I would prefer Halo lite after just coming off Halo 4 than jumping into Halo 5 so soon.

Wish MS could've ended the 360 with a Halo 2 Anniversary.

Halo2 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Halo5!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm feeling this is not so much of a Halo spinoff as a story in between Halo 4 & 5. It looks to me that Chief has been on his own for awhile now. Could be a solo journey story before he meets back up with the UNSC and Halo 5 takes place. Regardless I'm pumped to see more. I think we'll get some sort of gameplay or longer trailer during the Spike video game awards.

I really want Halo 2 anniversary since I only played Lan back in those days. Excited to see more details about Halo (xbox one).

Halo 2 remake would mean more because it would bring back the killed MP, MP that many argued was their favourite.