According to the Halo 4 panel held on on the last day of PAX Prime 2011, members of 343 Industries revealed that the next trilogy in the Halo series will be dubbed the "Reclaimer Trilogy." The main focus of the titles will continue to be John-117 (Master Chief) with Cortana also having a major role.
Series staples such as the Forge mode, co-op, and more will return for Halo 4. The team wants to put a bit more emphasis on character development, but they are quick to note that the generally stoic Master Chief will not suddenly start to talk everyone's ear off.
Halo 4 will take place immediately after the events of Halo 3. In the game's Legendary difficulty ending, Master Chief is seen hurling toward a planet-like structure in space. In the Halo 4 teaser trailer, Chief is awoken by Cortana to investigate the structure. As Chief looks on, a gate opens shining a bright beam on Chief and Cortana's ride, the severed UNSC frigate Forward Unto Dawn.
According to 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor, humanity is no longer being pushed back on its heels from constant attack from the Covenant. It is during this time that a volatile political struggle begins between both sides. The upcoming novel Halo: Glasslands connects some of these elements to Halo 4's story, and features characters familiar to fans of the franchise, including the Arbiter.
Humanity also has time to research and investigate new technologies, including those left behind from the Forerunners, O'Connor noted in response to questions about new weapons and vehicles in Halo 4. ""You're going to see things in this game that are both familiar and new," Holmes said.
"Karen Traviss' novel Glasslands is going to touch on how the human race, when it's not being rocked back on its heels, is actually a fairly formidable force. Given time and given the scientific curiosity we have as a species, all of this stuff is going to be really interesting in terms of how we can advance our technology. But the UNSC stuff will still be gritty and war-like and very human. But there's lots more to come." This certainly sounds like Forerunner technology will help push human advancement as Covenant tech did before it.
According to 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor, humanity is no longer being pushed back on its heels from constant attack from the Covenant. It is during this time that a volatile political struggle begins between both sides. The upcoming novel Halo: Glasslands connects some of these elements to Halo 4's story, and features characters familiar to fans of the franchise, including the Arbiter.
Humanity also has time to research and investigate new technologies, including those left behind from the Forerunners, O'Connor noted in response to questions about new weapons and vehicles in Halo 4. ""You're going to see things in this game that are both familiar and new," Holmes said.
"Karen Traviss' novel Glasslands is going to touch on how the human race, when it's not being rocked back on its heels, is actually a fairly formidable force. Given time and given the scientific curiosity we have as a species, all of this stuff is going to be really interesting in terms of how we can advance our technology. But the UNSC stuff will still be gritty and war-like and very human. But there's lots more to come." This certainly sounds like Forerunner technology will help push human advancement as Covenant tech did before it.
Series staples such as the Forge mode, co-op, and more will return for Halo 4. The team wants to put a bit more emphasis on character development, but they are quick to note that the generally stoic Master Chief will not suddenly start to talk everyone's ear off.