Bungie had already hinted in a recent podcast that something could be coming our way this E3 but now GameSpot claims to have a source that lets slip this unlikely bogus news. Apparently the next Halo game is a tactical shooter that follows a squad of marines. While other details were left sketchy, it would support co-op play throughout the campaign.
An updated fact sheet on Ensemble Studios real-time strategy for the Xbox360 shows gamers will get their marching orders sometime before summer next year. The game has been worked from the ground up for the console and the campaign will let fans bark your orders to familiar faces and units from the Halo universe.
During an interview segment with MTV News at E3 Microsoft's Don Mattrick revealed a new Halo game is in the works with Bungie, and it's not linked with Peter Jackson. It's not linked with Ensemble Studios Halo Wars either; it's an entirely new piece in the Halo universe. An apology has been posted on the Bungie site to disappointed fans.
Microsoft has responded to the growing rumblings of discontent among Halo gamers by explaining why they made the decision to snip the new Halo's announcement. Speaking with the L.A. Times Microsoft's Don Mattrick said it was to cut the 2 1/2 hours to under 90 minutes for the benefit of reporters, presumably who can't sit still.
Bungie have outlined their plans to reveal some "brand new" Halo 3 multiplayer goodness at this year's Penny Arcade Expo (PAX). In the same announcement on the site they also reveal the studio is working on three differing projects. The 'big announcement' fans are waiting for won't be at PAX sadly.
Bungie's top cheese Harold Ryan says he most certainly wasn't "laughing" when Microsoft's Don Mattick told him the announcement was cut from E3. Ryan said the team is "always concerned first and foremost with our fans." Mattick has stated an event later in the year would let gamers "interact" with the new Halo.
A gamer has sent in an image to VE3D that shows the 'Halo 3' logo part of a "Free trials at Microsoft Game Studios" advertisement. The other two game titles shown are Zoo Tycoon and Gears of War - both available on PC. It would certainly be a boon for PC gamers and Halo fans to get their modding mitts on it.
According to movie site Latin Review a new spec script penned by Stuart Beattie is based on the novel Halo: Fall of Reach, and is floating around Hollywood right now. So excited is Hollywood that conceptual artist Kasra Farahani, whose work includes Hancock and Spiderman 3, has already put some scenes together.
It's been swirling around a little this rumour, that Gearbox's top secret title project is in fact Halo 4. Bungie, creator of all things Master Chief, pointed to Microsoft for answers. The IP is in the corporate giants hands so we should "take it up with them," not Bungie they say. OXM say Gearbox's rumoured Halo 4 is a next Xbox launcher too.
The new multiplayer map for Xbox 360's Halo 3, which was known as Purple Reign, was showcased at the PAX event over the weekend. The Bungie team currently have "no information" on when they'll release the map for Halo junkies. "When we know, we'll let you know. We promise."
Microsoft has recently posted a job opening for a Program Manager with their Halo Studio development team. The job posting gives hints at working on the next generation of software gaming technology and is clearly looking for someone that will "lead the development of the engine that will power future experiences for the next generation of gaming platforms."
In part one of an interview with GameIndustry.biz Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Game Studeos, said that multiple new Halo projects were currently underway. "Well, there's more than one team building Halo games right now. There are more than two or three teams building Halo things right now. Some of them we will own, some of them we won't. It's never been, for me, about who you own or don't own - it's about working with the best creative talent in the industry"
A fascinating article on Gamasutra reveals that one of the projects at the closing Ensemble Studio would have been an MMO in the Halo universe. The article shows a number of prototype artwork which was posted at one of the Ensemble artists' personal web page. It is speculated that the actual MMO project by Ensemble was canceled by internal executives sometime in mid to late 2007.
Bungie's website has a splash page which features a countdown clock, ticking away the minutes until a new game is announced for presumably the Halo universe. This important announcement is going to be revealed just after 3pm UK time.
Bungie has released a short teaser trailer for what appears to be an expansion to Halo 3, as the trailer shows the Halo 3 logo after a scene that features city streets burnout out after a meteor impact. Bungie says that this will be available on the Xbox Live Marketplace soon. We are just uploading the Teaser Trailer to our servers now.
Phil Spencer, head honcho at Microsoft Game Studios has revealed to Edge that they've scored a "group of industry heavy hitters". Ex-Kojima Ryan Payton nabbed. Also it was mentioned that team Bungie will be making a 'major announcement' in regards to the recently released Halo teaser trailer. The show begins on the 9th.
Microsoft has let it be known that Halo 3 is indeed getting an expansion and it'll be dropping from orbit sometime in the fall next year. Set before the events of Halo 3's main story the player takes control of a "new hero in the Halo universe," a UNSC marine. It adds hours of new gameplay and multiplayer too.
Brian Jarrard, director of PR for Bungie has told GamesIndustry.biz that once Recon "wraps up in a couple of months" the teams will be moving on. Part will start something new and part will join existing projects at the studio he explained. Map packs are the only thing left on Bungies Halo radar it seems.
Brian Jarrard, PR and community director at team Bungie has said plunges into a Halo MMO would be a "pretty challenging" ordeal, mainly because of lore. He admits that the universe of Halo itself is vast in riches "but then again it's hard for me to imagine." Another thing is that everyone wants to be Master Chief, or at least Spartan.
Brian Jarrard, Community Director for Bungie Studios, revealed some tidbits about the upcoming Halo 3: Recon release in an interview with Joystiq. Jarrard confirmed the presence of at least one new weapon, a new soundtrack and hinted at other new features as well. He also spoke extensively on Bungies' choice to retell part of the Halo 2 story. "Halo 3: Recon is really a labor of love for our fans. Just doing more of the same wasn't good enough for us, so the team started working on ideas to change things up a bit. The ODSTs have always been fan favorites and the events that unfolded on Earth is something fans still clamor for after being "short changed" in Halo 2," said Jarrard.