Microsoft's decision to release Halo 4 last year made it impossible for the company to bring out a new Halo title for the launch of Xbox One, corporate vice president Phil Spencer told Kotaku, explaining the lack of Master Chief in this year's launch window line up.

"A couple of years ago we had the discussion of: 'Should we do Halo at launch and not do Halo 4 last year?'" said Spencer.

"But I was committed to getting Halo 4 done last year, and there was no way we were going to turn around with 343 a full Halo game in a year. So that was the plan we set on. I feel good about that."

In order to create a new title in the series in time for the launch of the new console, Microsoft would have had to begun development in 2010, he added; However, allowing developer 343 Industries to ship their internally developed project first was the priority.

"Unlike some franchises that manage through 1,000 people, Halo is 343 and that team obviously has tight control.They are our Halo team," he explained.

"A discussion around having a Halo game at launch, a true Halo at launch, meaning like a Halo 4 or 5-size game, would have been something we'd have had to start two or three years ago. We had the discussion, and we thought having Halo 4 come out when it came out from 343 and having them really land their first full version of Halo that they developed internally would be great for the 360 customers, great for 343 in shipping something."

Halo 4 launched last year, making $300 million in its first week. A new game in the series is confirmed to be in development for Xbox One.

http://www.polygon.com/2013/11/26/5147210/microsoft-explains-why-there-is-no-halo-at-xbox-one-launch

It would have been nice for at least a Halo 2 HD/anniversary but it will be 10 years next year so that'd make no sense. And that's probably when they plan to release Halo 5/ReachOdst so again it wouldn't make any sense.
I just want Halo 2 HD Microsofts, give it to me please.

What's the point? XB1 is going to sell during the launch / holiday period regardless, and the 360 sold well its first 2 years on the market despite not having a Halo game until Sept '07.

Halo 5 for holiday '14 or sometime in '15 makes way more sense. Launch games really aren't that big a deal these days... case in point, just look at PS4/XB1 launches... they both easily sold over a million units day 1 despite having arguably the weakest launch lineups of all time in terms of exclusives.

I feel silly remembering how everyone kept thinking halo 4 was going to come out after the 720 launched. Everyone was wanting it to be moved to the next gen system.

no one seems to get this when it come to GT6

This, although there's still a decent chance that it could be developed for the 360 imo.

I wish they'd come to the same conclusion for Forza. It doesn't seem worth having an entry in a main franchise as a launch title, as you'll take a critical and commercial hit.

Dont get why people think its silly to fully support both there home console products. Especially when the former will be making alot more money right now. 

343 was working on Halo 5 before Halo 4 launched. It will be in production for at least 2 1/2 years by next fall. They will use the Halo 4 engine and upgrade it for next gen. It will be fine.

My theory is Halo 5 only on Xbox One and the Halo 2: Anniversary on 360. Makes people want an Xbox One without shunning away the dedicated 360 owners.