Halo (franchise)#Forge

Many millions of years ago, a powerful interstellar species known as the Precursors seeded the galaxy with life as part of their experiments. One of their created races, known as the Forerunners, attacked their former masters and drove the Precursors into extinction. A few Precursors turned into a dust, intending to regenerate into themselves in the future. This dust eventually became defective, infecting and contorting organisms into a new parasitic species, connected by a hivemind: the Flood. Fighting the Flood, ancient humanity, a spacefaring people, came into conflict and warfare with the Forerunners. After defeating humanity, the Forerunners reduced their technology to a primitive level, while they concentrated on the threat of the Flood. Exhausting all other strategies, the Forerunners conceived the Halo Array—ring-shaped megastructures and weapons of last resort that would destroy all sentient life in the galaxy to stop the Flood's spread. A civil war began between the Forerunners' commander, known as the Ur-Didact, who wanted to assimilate all the humans on Earth into his army as AIs, thus immune to the Flood, and his wife, the Librarian, who created the Ark, an instrument that was to shelter sentient species outside the galaxy and allow for the mass creation of Halo installations which could all be activated simultaneously. The Librarian, along with all the remaining Forerunners, trapped her husband inside a Forerunner repository of knowledge known as the Domain, and disappeared as the Array was activated, thus destroying all sentient life in the galaxy and ending the outbreak of the Flood— though some Forerunners are known to have left the Milky Way galaxy for a different, unknown galaxy.

{{stack|File:Halo3 ark-and-halo-reborn.png (2007).]]}}

Nearly a hundred thousand years later, in the 26th century, humanity—under the auspices of the Unified Earth Government, or UEG, and their United Nations Space Command, or UNSC— has colonized many worlds thanks to the development of faster-than-light "slipstream space" (i.e., hyperspace) travel. Tensions between the government and colonies desiring independence sparked violent clashes. The UNSC's Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) created the SPARTAN-II Project to create an elite group of enhanced supersoldiers to suppress the rebellions covertly. In the year 2525, human worlds came under attack by a theocratic alliance of alien races known as the Covenant, whose leadership declared humanity heretics and an affront to their gods: the Forerunners. The Covenant began a genocidal holy war. Their superior technology and numbers proved to be decisive advantages; although effective, the Spartans were too few to turn the tide of battle in humanity's favor. After the Covenant invaded Reach in 2552, the UNSC's last major stronghold besides Earth, Master Chief John-117 was left as one of the few remaining Spartans.

The rediscovery of the Halo rings prompts a desperate battle against the Covenant, who believe they are instruments of transcendence, not destruction. Master Chief and his artificial intelligence Cortana are instrumental in the destruction of a Halo ring to stop the Covenant and the threat of the Flood. The assassination of one of the Covenant high prophets, turmoil within the Covenant, and the revelation of the Halo Array's true purpose leads to civil war. The disgraced former Covenant Sangheili commander known as the Arbiter, along with many of his species, helps the humans stop the Prophet of Truth from activating the Halo Array via the Ark. The Human-Covenant War ends, though new conflicts begin to emerge throughout the universe.

In the post-war era, the UNSC trains a new generation of Spartans, and tensions between the UNSC and colonist rebels resumes. The Master Chief and Cortana accidentally free the Didact and he briefly returns to assert supremacy over humanity. Master Chief and Cortana halt his plans, although Cortana is initially believed dead in the attempt. Cortana's survival through the Domain leads her to break with the UNSC and assert a new hegemony over the galaxy, with artificial intelligence (the "Created") in control.{{Cite book |last1=Easterling |first1=Jeff |title=Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo |last2=Patenaude |first2=Jeremy |last3=Peters |first3=Kenneth |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2016 |isbn=9781681193564 |editor-last=Fortune, Emil}} After two years of a scattered war between Cortana and the UNSC, Cortana attacks the Banished, a mercenary organization largely led by the Jiralhanae species. The Banished win the resultant conflict, terminating Cortana and battling the UNSC for control of Zeta Halo.

{{VG timeline

| subtitle = Mainline number entries in bold

| compressempty = yes

| 2001 = Halo: Combat Evolved

| 2004 = Halo 2

| 2007 = Halo 3

| 2009a = Halo Wars

| 2009b = Halo 3: ODST

| 2010 = Halo: Reach

| 2011 = Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

| 2012 = Halo 4

| 2013 = Halo: Spartan Assault

| 2014 = Halo: The Master Chief Collection

| 2015a = Halo: Spartan Strike

| 2015b = Halo 5: Guardians

| 2017 = Halo Wars 2

| 2018a = Halo: Fireteam Raven

| 2018b = Halo Recruit

| 2021 = Halo Infinite

}}

Video game studio Bungie was founded in 1991 by Alex Seropian in Chicago, Illinois, who partnered with programmer Jason Jones the following year to market and release Jones' game Minotaur: The Labyrinths of Crete. Focusing on the Mac game market because it was smaller and easier to compete, Bungie became a preeminent game developer on the platform, releasing the successful Myth and Marathon. Bungie began development on a new game in 1998, referring to it by the temporary code names "Monkey Nuts" and later "Blam!" after Jones could not bring himself to say the previous codename to his mother.{{cite web|last=McLaughlin|first=Rus|date=July 14, 2016|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/11/ign-presents-the-history-of-halo-2|title=IGN Presents: The History of Halo|website=IGN|access-date=January 24, 2025}}{{Cite book |last=Trautmann |first=Eric |title=The Art of Halo |publisher=Del Ray Publishing |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-345-47586-2}}{{rp|ix}} "Blam!" was conceived as a science fiction real-time strategy game and took place on a hollowed-out world called Solipsis. The planet eventually became a ringworld called "Halo", in turn giving the game its title.

As the development team began experimenting with incorporating vehicles with realistic physics simulations, they began moving the distant third-person camera closer to the action. Bungie decided it would be more fun to directly control units than direct them, and the game shifted to a third-person shooter.{{cite web|author=Haske, Steven|date=May 30, 2017|url=https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/xwqjg3/the-complete-untold-history-of-halo-an-oral-history|title=The Complete, Untold History of Halo|work=Vice|url-status=live|access-date=March 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315011247/https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/xwqjg3/the-complete-untold-history-of-halo-an-oral-history|archive-date=March 15, 2018}} Halo was announced on July 21, 1999, during the Macworld Conference & Expo. The title of the game was finalized only days before it was announced at Macworld.

Bungie was undergoing financial difficulties, and Microsoft was looking for games for its upcoming Xbox video game console. In June 2000, Microsoft announced their acquisition of Bungie, and Halo—now having morphed into a first-person shooter—became a launch title for the Xbox video game console. Relocated from Chicago to Redmond, Washington, Bungie had roughly 14 months to finish the game before the Xbox launched. The story slowly began to take shape, with an internal debate at Bungie over how much personality to give the main character. Writer Joe Staten wanted to do more than have the player character be an "empty vessel" like Half-Life{{'}}s Gordon Freeman, so they wrote him with a sense of humor. Deciding he should be referred to by his naval rank, Bungie decided on "Master Chief". Despite a difficult and hectic development schedule, Halo: Combat Evolved shipped as a launch title for the Xbox on November 15, 2001.{{cite book|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|editor-last=Yeffeth|editor-first=Glenn|date=March 11, 2007|title=Halo Effect: An Unauthorized Look at the Most Successful Video Game of All Time|chapter=The Making of Halo and Halo 2|publisher=BenBella Books|isbn=978-1-933771-11-3}}{{rp|112–113}} The Xbox's marketing heavily featured Halo, whose green color palette meshed with the console's design scheme.{{Cite web |last=Alexander|first=Leigh |date=August 14, 2009 |title=Interview: Former Microsoft Exec Fries Talks Xbox's Genesis |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24831 |access-date=August 17, 2009 |website=Gamasutra |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606120130/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24831 |url-status=dead}} Halo was a critical and commercial success, selling alongside half of every Xbox sold.{{cite magazine|last=Patrizio|first=Andy |date=January 9, 2002 |url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2002/01/49600 |title=Xbox Assault Only Starting |magazine=Wired |access-date=September 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216142548/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2002/01/49600 |archive-date=December 16, 2008}} By July 2006, the game had sold 4.2 million copies and earned $170 million in the United States.{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165955/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |title=The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century |author=Staff |date=August 25, 2006 |magazine=Edge |archive-date=October 17, 2012}}

Halo: Combat Evolved introduced many elements common to the franchise. Players battle enemies on foot and in vehicles to complete objectives across a mysterious alien landscape. Halo limited the number of weapons players could carry to two, forcing them to carefully select their preferred armament.{{Cite web |last=Fielder |first=Joe |date=November 9, 2001 |title=Halo: Combat Evolved review at GameSpot |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/halo-review/1900-2823816/ |access-date=August 2, 2006 |website=GameSpot |archive-date=January 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126121430/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/halo-review/1900-2823816/ |url-status=live}} Players fight with ranged and melee attacks, as well as grenades. Bungie referred to the "weapons-grenades-melee" format as the "Golden Triangle of Halo".{{cite web|last=Terence|first=Anthony|date=December 4, 2021|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/how-halo-infinites-equipment-reshapes-its-golden-triangle|title=How Halo Infinite's Equipment Reshapes Its Golden Triangle|website=IGN|access-date=January 30, 2025}} The player's has health measured in hit points that must be replenished with health packs, but also has a perpetually recharging energy shield.{{Cite web |last=Accardo |first=Sal |date=November 15, 2001 |title=GameSpy's review of Halo: Combat Evolved for the Xbox |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/november01/halo/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019185322/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/november01/halo/ |archive-date=October 19, 2006 |access-date=September 2, 2006 |publisher=GameSpy}}

While Halo had not been intended as a franchise, the Bungie team wanted to make an ambitious sequel, looking to story and gameplay ideas that had been ultimately cut from Combat Evolved, and inspired by how fans had received the game.{{Cite web |last=Fahey|first=Rob |date=April 11, 2010 |title=Better Than Halo: The Making of Halo 2 |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/better-than-halo-the-making-of-halo-2-article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411122608/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/better-than-halo-the-making-of-halo-2-article |archive-date=April 11, 2010 |access-date=April 11, 2010 |website=Eurogamer |pages=1–7}} In particular, Bungie was surprised by how many fans used the System Link capability to network consoles together and play multiplayer in LAN parties. With the launch of the Xbox Live online multiplayer service, Bungie wanted to bring Halo multiplayer to the internet.

Halo 2, was announced on August 8, 2002, at Microsoft's X02 press event,{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2002 |title=Halo 2 and Project Gotham Racing 2 Announced! |url=http://xbox.ign.com/articles/367/367129p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020813001604/http://xbox.ign.com/articles/367/367129p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 13, 2002 |access-date=March 19, 2008 |website=IGN}} and an impressive demo of the game was shown at Electronic Entertainment Expo the following year. The demo showed off new features like dual-wielding weapons and hijacking enemy vehicles, but behind the scenes the game was undergoing a troubled development; Bungie had to scrap the ambitious graphics engine as it would not run effectively on the Xbox hardware, leadership changes resulted in more infighting, and artists and designers wasted time developing assets that would ultimately not ship in the game. A planned massive multiplayer mode was entirely cut, leading to developer Max Hoberman's smaller-scale local mode becoming the only multiplayer offering. As the game's release date slipped, the studio entered a sustained period of crunch to finish the game, with other Bungie games being canceled and their staff absorbed into the Halo team. The final act of the game had to be cut entirely in the rush to complete the game. Halo 2 was released on the Xbox on in November 2004, and later for Windows Vista in 2007.{{cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Richard|date=May 24, 2007|url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-05-24-halo-2-vista-ships-may-31-in-us-europe-june-8.html|title=Halo 2 Vista ships May 31 in US, Europe June 8|website=Engadget|access-date=April 13, 2025}}{{cite web|last=McCaffrey|first=Ryan|date=November 9, 2024|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/halo-2-at-20-remembering-my-favorite-xbox-game-ever|title=Halo 2 at 20: Remembering My Favorite Xbox Game Ever|website=IGN|access-date=April 13, 2025}} Part of the marketing took the form of an alternative reality game, I Love Bees, centered around a website apparently hacked by a mysterious intelligence. Over the course of the game, audio clips were released that formed a narrative set on Earth between Halo and Halo 2.{{Cite magazine |last=Terdiman |first=Daniel |date=October 18, 2004 |title=I Love Bees Game a Surprise Hit |url=http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/10/65365 |magazine=Wired News |access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015184726/http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/10/65365 |url-status=live}} Halo 2 was a critical and commercial success, grossing $125 million in the first day and becoming the highest-grossing release in entertainment history up to that point; it would ultimately sell 8 million copies, becoming the best-selling Xbox game.{{Cite news |last=Moses, Asher |date=August 30, 2007 |title=Prepare for all-out war |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/prepare-for-allout-war/2007/08/30/1188067256196.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106053430/http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/prepare-for-allout-war/2007/08/30/1188067256196.html |archive-date=November 6, 2012}} Halo 2 was also a significant motivator for subscriptions to the Xbox Live multiplayer service.{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2006 |title=Halo 2 tops Live most-played list |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=62981 |access-date=December 10, 2006 |website=Eurogamer |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216143357/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=62981 |url-status=live}}

Frustrated by the development of Halo 2 and wanting to move on to new non-Halo projects, Bungie wanted to wrap things up in a satisfying manner with Halo 3. Burned out by Halo 2, Jason Jones went on an extended sabbatical, and the Halo 3 effort started without direction as no one was definitively in charge. Designer Paul Bertone recalled that the large development staff (70–80 people) meant more meetings and less efficiency. Multiple staff members temporarily or permanently departed the development team, including Hoberman, who started his own studio, Certain Affinity after developing Halo 3{{'}}s online systems. Despite the difficult development, overall Halo 3{{'}}s development went more smoothly than Halo 2. Halo 3 was announced at the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo,{{Cite web |last=Achronos |date=May 9, 2006 |title=Halo 3 Announced |url=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3Announcement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504003627/http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3Announcement |archive-date=May 4, 2008 |access-date=August 6, 2007 |publisher=Bungie}} and released on the Xbox 360 on September 25, 2007.{{cite web|last=Gerstmann|first=Jeff|date=September 23, 2007|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/halo-3-review/1900-6179646/|title=Halo 3 Review|website=GameSpot|access-date=April 13, 2025}} It added new gameplay elements, including deployable equipment and heavy weapons.{{Cite web |last=Goldstein, Hilary |date=August 10, 2007 |title=Burn, Baby! Burn! |url=http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/812/812177p1.html |access-date=August 10, 2007 |website=IGN |pages=1–2 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720104610/http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/812/812177p1.html |url-status=live}} The game also added a limited map-editing tool, known as Forge, which allows players to insert game objects, such as weapons and vehicles, into existing multiplayer map geometry. A saved films feature allowed players to record gameplay and review it from any angle.{{Cite magazine |date=September 2007 |title=Finish the Fight |url=http://www.edge-online.co.uk/archives/2007/08/edge_179.php |magazine=Edge (UK) |issue=179 |pages=66–77 |issn=1350-1593 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183634/http://www.edge-online.co.uk/archives/2007/08/edge_179.php |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=August 7, 2007}} Backed by an extensive marketing campaign, Halo 3 was a critical and commercial success, grossing $170{{nbsp}}million in the U.S. in the first 24 hours.{{cite web|url=http://au.gamespot.com/news/halo-3s-first-day-us-haul-170-million-6179914 |website=GameSpot |title=Halo 3's first-day US haul = $170M |date=September 26, 2007 |access-date=January 16, 2008 |author=Thorsen, Tor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926044401/http://au.gamespot.com/news/halo-3s-first-day-us-haul-170-million-6179914 |archive-date=September 26, 2012}} The game was the best-selling title of the year in the U.S., and the fourteenth best-selling game of the 2000s.{{cite web|last=Grubb|first=Jeff|date=January 16, 2020|url=https://venturebeat.com/business/the-top-20-best-selling-games-of-the-decade-in-the-u-s/|title=NPD: The top 20 best-selling games of the decade in the U.S.|website=VentureBeat|access-date=November 29, 2024}}

Lingering dissatisfaction with Bungie's acquisition by Microsoft in 2000 and a desire for more favorable profit-sharing on Halo 3 led to an agreement where Bungie would become an independent studio after shipping a set number of new Halo games. Bungie announced their independence in October 2007. They were contractually obligated to produce two more Halo games as part of the deal. One project turned into the game Halo: Reach, while the other was initially going to be a production with Peter Jackson's Wingnut Interactive. When that project was scrapped, Bungie took elements prototyped for it and added them to a smaller Halo 3 expansion, originally titled Halo 3: Recon.

Produced using the Halo 3 engine and assets and with a smaller staff of only around 20 full-time employees, Recon—later renamed Halo 3: ODST—was conceived as a noir detective story, with the player character uncovering clues in a hub world that triggered playable flashbacks. The player had flexibility to explore and play missions in any order. Bungie staffers recalled that getting resources for the game was tough, as most of the studio's attention was on Halo: Reach. In the game, players assume the role of weaker Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODSTs) rather than Spartan supersoldiers. Gameplay harkens back to Combat Evolved, with the use of health packs and scoped pistols. A night-vision mode illuminates dark environments and highlights friends and foes. In addition to shipping with the complete Halo 3 multiplayer, ODST also added a cooperative survival mode called Firefight, where players fight against waves of enemies with limited lives.{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=Martin|date=July 27, 2014|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/halo-3-odst-retrospective|title=Halo 3: ODST was Bungie's grand experiment that paved the way for Destiny|website=Eurogamer|access-date=May 1, 2025}}{{cite web|last=McShea|first=Tom|date=September 21, 2009|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/halo-3-odst-review/1900-6228780/|title=Halo 3: ODST Review|website=GameSpot|access-date=May 1, 2025}} Halo 3: ODST released September 22, 2009, and was positively received, though its price as a full game (rather than a cheaper expansion) was sometimes criticized.{{cite web|last=Welsh|first=Ollie|date=February 16, 2010|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/halo-reach-x10-preview|title=Halo: Reach; For the stars|website=Eurogamer|access-date=May 1, 2025}} It was the top-selling title of the month in the U.S. and ultimately sold more than three million copies worldwide.{{cite web|last=Snider|first=Mike|date=October 19, 2009|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2009/10/halo-3-odst-top-selling-game-for-sept/1|title=Halo 3 ODST top selling game for September|work=USA Today|access-date=October 23, 2009|archive-date=October 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023091503/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2009/10/halo-3-odst-top-selling-game-for-sept/1|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Reilly|first=Jim|date=November 13, 2009|url=http://au.ign.com/articles/2009/11/13/halo-3odst-continues-its-sales-dominance|title=Halo 3: ODST Continues Its Sales Dominance|website=IGN|access-date=November 14, 2009|archive-date=October 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015010944/http://au.ign.com/articles/2009/11/13/halo-3odst-continues-its-sales-dominance|url-status=live}} Eurogamer pointed to the work Bungie put into the more experimental Halo title as influencing the direction of its first post-Halo game, Destiny.

Tired of focusing on the character of Master Chief, Bungie cast Halo: Reach as a prequel to Combat Evolved, taking place on the doomed human world of Reach as it falls under attack from the Covenant. The step backwards in the timeline was mirrored by the gameplay, which Bungie wanted to harken to Combat Evolved with more open environments and exploration, and the return of health packs. Among the new additions were the replacement of single-use equipment with persistent armor abilities that enables sprinting, jetpacks, or temporary invincibility.https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/12/halo-reach-review The game's release was preceded by an beta to help balance the game and squash bugs.https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/a6117/how-halo-reach-was-created-insiders-guide/ Reach released September 14, 2010 and was a success, making $200 million its first day and selling more than 4.7 million units by September 2011.{{Cite web |last=Graft |first=Kris |date=September 16, 2010 |title=Analyst: Halo Reach Sales Bode Well For Core Gamer Market |url=http://gamasutra.com/view/news/30466/Analyst_Halo_Reach__Sales_Bode_Well_For_Core_Gamer_Market.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920081149/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/30466/Analyst_Halo_Reach__Sales_Bode_Well_For_Core_Gamer_Market.php |archive-date=September 20, 2010 |access-date=September 29, 2010 |website=Gamasutra}}{{Cite web |last=Orland, Kyle |date=November 8, 2011 |title=Black Ops Leads 2010–2011 U.S. Sales With 15M Units = |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/38447/Black_Ops_Leads_20102011_US_Sales_With_15M_Units.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202195603/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/38447/Black_Ops_Leads_20102011_US_Sales_With_15M_Units.php |archive-date=December 2, 2011 |access-date=December 2, 2011 |website=Gamasutra}}

File:343 Industries logo.svg

While Bungie finished their association with Halo, the rights to the franchise remained with Microsoft.{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2003928945_bungie06.html |title=Microsoft, 'Halo' maker Bungie split |last=Romano |first=Benjamin |date=October 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018002238/http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2003928945_bungie06.html |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |access-date=January 6, 2013}} Bonnie Ross, Xbox general manager at the time, recalled that her colleagues felt Halo was a waning property and wanted to outsource new game development,{{cite news|last1=Brustein|first1=Joshua|date=October 22, 2015|title=Can the Woman Behind Halo 5 Save the Xbox?|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-halo-5-bonnie-ross/|website=Bloomberg News|access-date=April 11, 2021|archive-date=October 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023015630/http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-halo-5-bonnie-ross/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=McCaffrey |first=Ryan |date=February 26, 2019 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/02/26/how-bonnie-ross-is-shaping-the-future-of-halo-a-ign-unfiltered-39 |title=How Bonnie Ross Is Shaping the Future of Halo - IGN Unfiltered #39 |website=IGN |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412173003/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/02/26/how-bonnie-ross-is-shaping-the-future-of-halo-a-ign-unfiltered-39 |url-status=live |access-date=April 12, 2021}}{{rp|21:45–23:00}} while Ross argued for an internal studio.{{rp|26:15–27:05}} Ross' vision won out, and she was put in charge of a new internal Halo studio, 343 Industries, named after the character 343 Guilty Spark.{{cite news |last=Thorsen |first=Tor |date=July 20, 2009 |title=Microsoft names internal Halo label? |website=Gamespot|url=http://au.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-names-internal-halo-label-6213640 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003044602/http://au.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-names-internal-halo-label-6213640 |archive-date=October 3, 2013}}{{cite magazine |last=Vore|first=Bryan |date=November 2011 |title=Taking Over 'Halo' |magazine=Game Informer |volume=11 |issue=223 |pages=28–33 |issn=1067-6392}}{{Cite news |last=Fritz, Ben |date=July 22, 2009 |title=Video game publishers Microsoft, Ubisoft invading Hollywood's turf |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/07/video-game-publishers-microsoft-ubisoft-invading-hollywoods-turf.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724220359/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com//entertainmentnewsbuzz//2009//07//video-game-publishers-microsoft-ubisoft-invading-hollywoods-turf.html |archive-date=July 24, 2009}}{{Cite news |last=Milian |first=Mark |date=May 11, 2011 |title='Halo' and creators move on after divorce |website=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming.gadgets/05/11/bungie.halo/ |access-date=July 10, 2014 |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109221558/http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming.gadgets/05/11/bungie.halo/ |url-status=live}} The studio started with a small staff in late 2007.{{rp|28:22}}

While 343 Industries worked with Bungie on ODST and Reach, the new company's first game project was Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, a remaster of the franchise's debut title. The game was developed in partnership with Saber Interactive, with 343 Industries handling creative and Saber the engineering.{{rp|29:00–30:55}} Saber had just one year to develop the game in anticipation of Combat Evolved{{'}}s tenth anniversary.{{Cite magazine |last=Iones|first=Andrey |date=March 2012 |title=Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary |url=http://www.gdmag.com/issue/2012/March |url-status=dead |magazine=Game Developer Magazine|volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=20–27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123035244/http://gdmag.com/issue/2012/March |archive-date=January 23, 2013}} Players can switch between the original graphics and updated visuals with a button press.{{Cite web |last=Hiller|first=Brenna |date=June 10, 2011 |title=Halo Anniversary to run two engines side by side |url=http://www.vg247.com/2011/06/10/halo-anniversary-to-run-two-engines-side-by-side/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613133723/http://www.vg247.com/2011/06/10/halo-anniversary-to-run-two-engines-side-by-side/ |archive-date=June 13, 2011 |access-date=April 15, 2013 |website=VG247}} Both classic and new graphics are presented in high-definition, 16:9 widescreen compared to the original game's 480i resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio.{{Cite web |last=Sheffield|first=Brandon |date=November 15, 2011 |title=Making Halo: Anniversary Work |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6546/making_halo_anniversary_work.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116184702/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6546/making_halo_anniversary_work.php |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |access-date=April 15, 2013 |website=Gamasutra}} Certain Affinity helped develop multiplayer maps for the game, beginning a long collaboration between the two studios. Reviews were generally positive,{{Cite web |title=Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124164325/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary |archive-date=November 24, 2012 |access-date=April 15, 2013 |website=Metacritic}} though critics disagreed if the original, unaltered gameplay held up to modern standards.{{Cite web |last=Wilcox|first=Mike |date=January 12, 2012 |title=Xbox pioneer has familiar ring to it |url=http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/xbox-pioneer-has-familiar-ring-to-it-20120111-1pu06.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508021823/http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/xbox-pioneer-has-familiar-ring-to-it-20120111-1pu06.html |archive-date=May 8, 2012 |access-date=April 15, 2013 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Hopper |first=Steven |date=November 14, 2011 |title=Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/14/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830080633/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/14/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary-review |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |access-date=April 15, 2013 |website=IGN}}

343 Industries began staffing up their studio while beginning development on the next major Halo title, eventually growing to nearly 200,{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/191234/making_halo_4_a_story_about_.php?page=2 |title=Making Halo 4: A Story About Triple-A |work=Gamasutra |last=Graft |first=Kris |date=April 26, 2013 |access-date=October 7, 2013 |pages=1–3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219191713/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/191234/making_halo_4_a_story_about_.php?page=2 |archive-date=February 19, 2015 |url-status=dead}} and decided where they wanted to take Master Chief's story over the course of future games. Ryan Payton was initially offered the role of creative director, but his ideas for the game did not mesh with the expected first-person shooter focus, and before prototyping was done Payon was replaced and ultimately left in 2011. Josh Holmes took over as creative designer, and the studio shifted focus from ideating to producing the game in earnest. The end result was a more safe, straightforward sequel to Halo 3. Holmes wanted the game's story mode to explore Master Chief's relationship with Cortana, who would break down into a dementia-like state.{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/events/gdc-2013/story.html?sid=6406202 | title=343 was 'skeptical' about Chief-Cortana story in Halo 4 | work=GameSpot | date=March 29, 2013 | access-date=March 31, 2013 | last=Makuch | first=Eddie | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603103911/http://uk.gamespot.com/news/343-was-skeptical-about-chief-cortana-story-in-halo-4-6406202 | archive-date=June 3, 2013 | url-status=live}} Struggling with making the plot accessible for new players, the team considered dropping the storyline. Holmes, drawing inspiration from his own mother's battle with dementia, insisted it stayed in.

Halo 4 was announced at E3 2011 and released November 6, 2012.{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=August 28, 2011 |title=Halo 4, 5, 6 the "Reclaimer Trilogy" |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-28-halo-4-5-6-the-reclaimer-trilogy |access-date=July 1, 2013 |website=Eurogamer |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629061432/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-28-halo-4-5-6-the-reclaimer-trilogy |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2012 |title=Halo 4 release date confirmed for November by Microsoft |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17755467 |access-date=June 14, 2012 |website=BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat |publisher=BBC |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502122545/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17755467 |url-status=live}} The game picks up years after the events of Halo 3, as Master Chief and Cortana fight against a reawakened Forerunner.{{cn|date=February 2025}} The game achieved record first-day sales for the franchise.{{Cite web |last=Molina |first=Brett |date=November 12, 2012 |title='Halo 4' snags $220 million on first day |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2012/11/12/halo-4-sales-first-day/1700277/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204192355/http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2012/11/12/halo-4-sales-first-day/1700277/ |archive-date=December 4, 2012 |access-date=November 12, 2012 |website=USA Today}} While reviews were generally positive,{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/halo-4/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 | title=Halo 4 | website=Metacritic | access-date=December 8, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216101817/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/halo-4 | archive-date=February 16, 2015 | url-status=live}} the story was dinged for being incomprehensible to casual players and relying on knowledge of the wider franchise media.{{cite web|last=Carter|first=Justin|date=November 6, 2022|url=https://gizmodo.com/halo-4-10-year-retrospective-343-industries-1849749879|title=Halo's Identity Problem Began With an Admirable Mess|website=Gizmodo|access-date=February 2, 2025}}

Intending to create a 10th anniversary edition of Halo 2, like they had with Combat Evolved, 343 Industries, Saber Interactive, Certain Affinity and other studios collaborated on Halo: The Master Chief Collection, repacking Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4 in a single collection for the Xbox One console. The launch was marred with glitches and matchmaking issues, which required numerous patches to fix.{{cite web|last=Donaldson|first=Alex|date=July 28, 2020|url=https://www.vg247.com/master-chief-collection-might-best-worst-thing-ever-happen-halo|title=Master Chief Collection might be the best-worst thing to ever happen to Halo|website=VG247|access-date=February 2, 2025}} Ross apologized to fans for the state of the game, and promised future Halo games would have public betas.{{cite web|last=Osborn|first=Alex|date=June 10, 2015|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/11/all-future-halo-games-will-have-betas-says-343-industries|title=All Future Halo Games Will Have Betas, Says 343 Industries|website=IGN|access-date=April 10, 2021|archive-date=August 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830222306/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/11/all-future-halo-games-will-have-betas-says-343-industries|url-status=live}} Reach and ODST were subsequently added to the collection, which was ported to PC and received enhancements for the Xbox Series X.Cited to:

• {{cite web|last=Albert|first=Brian|date=December 19, 2014|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/20/343-adding-odst-campaign-to-halo-mcc-for-free|title=343 Adding ODST Campaign to Halo: MCC for Free|website=IGN|access-date=February 12, 2025}}
• {{cite web|last=Chalk|first=Andy|date=March 12, 2019|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/halo-the-master-chief-collection-is-coming-to-pc/|title=Halo: The Master Chief Collection is coming to Steam|website=PC Gamer|access-date=February 12, 2025}}
• {{cite web|last=Makuch|first=Eddie|date=November 18, 2020|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/huge-halo-mcc-update-is-out-now-adds-series-x-enhancements-cross-play-and-brings-halo-4-to-pc/1100-6484526/|title=Huge Halo: MCC Update Is Out Now, Adds Series X Enhancements, Cross-Play, And Brings Halo 4 To PC|website=GameSpot|access-date=February 12, 2025}}

343 Industries' next installment, Halo 5: Guardians, was announced in 2014.{{cite magazine|last=Peckham|first=Matt|date=May 16, 2014|url=https://time.com/102728/halo-5-guardians-xbox-one/|title=Halo 5 Guardians Will Be the Xbox One’s Maiden Halo|magazine=Time|access-date=February 13, 2025}} The game takes place across many worlds, mainly the Elite homeworld, and revolves around Spartan Locke's hunt for the rogue Master Chief, who is trying to find a still-living Cortana.{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=September 23, 2015 |title=Halo 5: Guardians' story shows Master Chief at his most vulnerable |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/9/23/9372765/halo-5-guardians-campaign-mode-hands-on |access-date=November 8, 2015 |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |archive-date=November 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112183804/http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/23/9372765/halo-5-guardians-campaign-mode-hands-on |url-status=live}}

The third part of the Reclaimer Saga, Halo Infinite, was announced during E3 2018.{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Steve |title=E3 2018: Halo Infinite Revealed As New Halo Xbox One Game |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2018-halo-infinite-revealed-as-new-halo-xbox-on/1100-6459571/ |access-date=June 10, 2018 |website=GameSpot}} It brings the focus back to Master Chief, and Halo's roots by taking place on the new Zeta Halo. The story mainly focuses on exploring the deeper lore of the Halo series, finding what happened to Cortana, and battles with the Banished.{{Cite web |last=Byford |first=Sam |date=December 6, 2021 |title=Halo Infinite Campaign Review: Playing the Hits |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/6/22820011/halo-infinite-campaign-review-xbox-series-x |access-date=February 27, 2022 |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media}} It released December 2021.{{cite web|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=August 25, 2021|url=https://www.theverge.com/22637945/halo-infinite-release-date-launch|title=Halo Infinite is launching on December 8th|website=The Verge|access-date=October 26, 2021|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026180621/https://www.theverge.com/22637945/halo-infinite-release-date-launch|url-status=live}}

On October 6, 2024, 343 Industries unveiled a seven-minute video where they confirmed multiple new games were currently in development using Unreal Engine 5 as opposed to the proprietary Slipspace Engine. They also rebranded as Halo Studios.{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |date=October 6, 2024 |title=Future Halo Games Moving to Unreal Engine 5 as 343 Industries Rebrands, 'Multiple Projects' in Development |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/future-halo-games-moving-to-unreal-engine-as-developer-343-industries-officially-changes-its-name |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=IGN}} Studio head Pierre Hintze explained that the decision to rebrand the studio came from an internal shift in development philosophy behind the franchise, giving the team a "clean break" as was the case with transitioning between Bungie and 343.{{Cite web |last=Skrebels |first=Joe |date=October 6, 2024 |title=Halo Studios: New Name, New Engine, New Games, New Philosophy |url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/10/06/halo-studios-unreal-engine-interview/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Xbox Wire |language=en-US}}

File:Halo Fireteam Raven.jpg, UK]]

Halo returned to its real-time strategy roots with Halo Wars, developed by Ensemble Studios for the Xbox 360 and released in 2009. The game takes place 21 years prior to the events of Halo: Combat Evolved.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Ensemble focused their efforts on developing a control scheme that was simple and intuitive for console strategy games, traditionally considered inferior to their keyboard-and-mouse-driven computer game siblings.{{cn|date=February 2025}} The game received generally positive reviews from critics,{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/halo-wars/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 |title=Halo Wars for Xbox 360 Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=February 21, 2009 |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105082916/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/halo-wars |url-status=live }} and sold an estimated 2.6 million units, a massive success for the genre on consoles. Halo Wars was Ensemble's last project as a studio before shuttering; post-release updates and content were developed by Robot Entertainment.{{cite web|author=Bramwell|first=Tom|date=February 18, 2009|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/new-dev-working-on-halo-wars-dlc|title=New dev working on Halo Wars DLC|website=Eurogamer|access-date=March 14, 2009|archive-date=March 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326021845/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/new-dev-working-on-halo-wars-dlc|url-status=live}} A sequel, Halo Wars 2, was developed by Creative Assembly and released on Xbox One and PC platforms simultaneously in February 2017.{{cite web | url=https://www.gamestm.co.uk/features/the-making-of-halo-wars-2-with-343-and-creative-assembly/ | title=The making of Halo Wars 2 with 343 and Creative Assembly | work=GamesTM | date=January 25, 2017 | access-date=March 5, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214212243/https://www.gamestm.co.uk/features/the-making-of-halo-wars-2-with-343-and-creative-assembly/ | archive-date=February 14, 2017 | url-status=live}}

Interested in bringing Halo to mobile devices, 343 Industries partnered with Vanguard Games to produce Halo: Spartan Assault, a twin-stick shooter initially released on Windows 8 tablets and phones in 2013; the game later came to the Xbox One and iOS platforms.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Spartan Assault was followed by a sequel, Halo: Spartan Strike, in 2015.{{cite web|last=Gilbert|first=Ben|date=April 20, 2015|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/halo-for-iphone-2015-4|title='Halo' is finally on your iPhone|website=Business Insider|access-date=July 19, 2021}}

Other Halo spinoffs include a virtual reality experience, Halo Recruit,{{cite web|last=Holly|first=Russell|date=November 20, 2018|url=https://www.windowscentral.com/halo-recruit-tasty-bite-mixed-reality-goodness-and-i-need-more-0|title=Hands-on with Halo Recruit, a tasty bite of Windows Mixed Reality goodness you'll love|website=Windows Central|access-date=February 12, 2025}} and {{vanchor|Halo: Fireteam Raven}}, a coin-operated arcade game developed by Raw Thrills and PlayMechanix released in 2018, starting with Round1 USA and Dave & Buster's arcades.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=May 17, 2018 |title=Microsoft's new Halo arcade game lives inside a giant coin-operated machine |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/17/17365780/halo-fireteam-raven-arcade-game-details |access-date=May 17, 2018 |website=The Verge |archive-date=May 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518060716/https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/17/17365780/halo-fireteam-raven-arcade-game-details |url-status=live}} Fireteam Raven takes place during the events of Halo: Combat Evolved and puts the players in control of up to four ODST Members battling Covenant forces and the Flood within 6 levels.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

In the 2000s, spin-off titles were rumored or pitched for the Game Boy Advance,{{Cite web |last=Thorsen|first=Tor |date=June 18, 2004 |title=Rumor Control: Halo GBA and Dirty Harry: The Game |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6100959.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219060039/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6100959.html |archive-date=February 19, 2006 |access-date=June 6, 2008 |website=GameSpot}} Gizmondo,{{Cite web |last=Grant|first=Christopher |date=May 5, 2006 |title=Gizmondo Halo "project" used cam-mouselook |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/05/gizmondo-halo-project-used-cam-mouselook/ |access-date=June 6, 2008 |website=Joystiq |archive-date=November 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107013755/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/05/gizmondo-halo-project-used-cam-mouselook/ |url-status=dead}} Ultra-Mobile PC,{{Cite web |last=Thorsen|first=Tor |date=March 9, 2006 |title=Origami officially unveiled |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145658.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007085757/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145658.html |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=June 12, 2008 |website=GameSpot}} and Nintendo DS.{{cite web|last=Argüello|first=Diego|date=November 29, 2021|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/22808131/canceled-halo-games-halo-mmo-peter-jackson-halo-ds|title=The Halo games that weren't|website=Polygon|access-date=January 30, 2025}} An episodic video game, Halo: Chronicles, was announced in 2006. To be developed by film director Peter Jackson's Wingnut Interactive, it was canceled as part of budget cuts tied to job layoffs in January 2009.{{Cite news |last=Fritz|first=Ben |date=July 27, 2009 |title=Halo project dead, Peter Jackson's working on original video games |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/07/peter-jacksons-halo-projects-dead-working-on-original-video-games.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731111522/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/07/peter-jacksons-halo-projects-dead-working-on-original-video-games.html |archive-date=July 31, 2009}} Ensemble Studios developed a Halo-themed massively multiplayer online game, Titan. The project was canceled internally in 2007–2008, as Microsoft lost interest in a PC-based game.{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=September 23, 2008 |title=Exclusive: Ensemble Studios' Canceled Project Was Halo MMO |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20153 |access-date=October 27, 2009 |website=Gamasutra |archive-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110174502/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20153 |url-status=dead}} Certain Affinity was slated to develop their own Halo title, but it was never greenlit because the team was needed to develop the Halo Waypoint online portal instead. A Mega Bloks-branded spinoff game, similar to the style of Lego video games, was prototyped for the Xbox 360 but not pursued; footage of the game leaked several years later in 2017.

{{anchor|Halo Online}}

343 Industries announced a free-to-play Halo multiplayer game for Windows PC, Halo Online, in 2015. The game launched with a closed beta test limited to Russia that year. The title was developed with Saber Interactive using modified version of the Halo 3 engine, and published by Innova Systems. The project was canceled in August 2016.{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Bryant |date=August 25, 2016 |title=Microsoft cancels free-to-play Halo Online |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/microsoft-cancels-free-to-play-i-halo-online-i- |access-date=August 25, 2016 |website=Gamasutra |publisher=UBM |archive-date=August 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825231154/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/279960/Microsoft_cancels_freetoplay_Halo_Online.php |url-status=live}} Players modified the game to circumvent the region limitations and add new content after the project's official cancellation.{{Cite web|last=Chalk|first=Andy|date=January 16, 2016 |title=Unofficial Halo Online mod adds six new maps from Halo 3 |language=en |website=PC Gamer |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/unofficial-halo-online-mod-adds-six-new-maps-from-halo-3/ |access-date=January 30, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202060237/http://www.pcgamer.com/unofficial-halo-online-mod-adds-six-new-maps-from-halo-3/ |url-status=live}} This "ElDewrito" project saw legal takedowns from Microsoft for violating its game usage rules.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/halo-online-eldewrito-1202786417/|title=ElDewrito: Microsoft Freezes Development of Fan-Made 'Halo Online' Mod|website=Variety|access-date=2018-04-25|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127115356/https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/halo-online-eldewrito-1202786417/|url-status=live}} The modders claimed its ElDewrito's popularity hastened Microsoft's plans to release a Windows version of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which would later include content from Halo Online.{{Cite web|last=Capel|first=Chris|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/halo-the-master-chief-collection/halo-eldewrito-mod-mcc|title=Halo ElDewrito modders are the reason MCC is coming to PC 'right now'|website=PCGamesN|date=March 23, 2019 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-06-21|archive-date=December 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205220907/https://www.pcgamesn.com/halo-the-master-chief-collection/halo-eldewrito-mod-mcc|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen|first=Zack|date=August 28, 2021 |title=It's 2021 And Halo 3 Is Still Getting New Maps |url=https://kotaku.com/its-2021-and-halo-3-is-still-getting-new-maps-1847577777 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}

Bungie acknowledged that the Halo series' use of ring-shaped megastructures followed on from concepts featured in Larry Niven's Ringworld and Iain M. Banks' Culture series (of which Consider Phlebas and Excession were said to be particularly influential.){{Cite web |last=O'Connor, Frank |date=April 12, 2006 |title=The Bungie Guide to Sci Fi |url=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=bungiescifiguide |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018134222/http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=bungiescifiguide |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=May 12, 2012 |publisher=Bungie}} Jaime Griesemer commented that the influence of Ringworld was less in the appearance of the Halo rings, but instead "in that feeling of being somewhere else. That sense of scale and an epic story going on out there."{{cite magazine |editor1-first=Tony |editor1-last=Mott |last1=Anon. |year=2010 |title=2001: A Space Odyssey |magazine=Edge |issue=215 |page=86}} Published online as: {{Cite magazine |date=April 29, 2011 |title=The Best Games Of 2000 To 2009: Halo: Combat Evolved |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/best-games-2000-2009-halo-combat-evolved |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629020808/http://www.edge-online.com/features/best-games-2000-2009-halo-combat-evolved |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=May 12, 2012 |magazine=Edge-Online.com}} Griesemer also explained, "One of the main sources of inspiration was Armor [by John Steakley], in which a soldier has to constantly re-live the same war over and over again. That sense of hopelessness, a relentless battle, was influential." The Flood were influenced by the assimilating alien species in Christopher Rowley's The Vang; it has also been speculated that the Master Chief's name "John 117" may have been a reference to a character named Jon 6725416 in Rowley's Starhammer, or to the John Spartan character of Demolition Man.{{Cite book |last=Stover, Matthew |url=https://archive.org/details/haloeffectunauth0000unse |title=Halo Effect |publisher=Benbella Books |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-933771-11-3 |editor-last=Yeffeth, Glenn |series=You Are the Master Chief |location=Dallas, Texas}} An IGN article exploring the literary influences present in the Halo franchise commented on similarities between Halo and Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game: aspects of the SPARTAN Project and the design of the Covenant Drones are perceived as reminiscent of the super soldier program and Buggers found in the novel.{{Cite web |last=Perry, Douglass C. |date=March 17, 2007 |title=The Influence of Literature and Myth in Videogames |url=http://xbox.ign.com/articles/709/709122p5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220080109/http://xbox.ign.com/articles/709/709122p5.html |archive-date=February 20, 2009 |access-date=December 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |website=IGN}} Bungie has also acknowledged James Cameron's film Aliens as a strong cinematic influence.{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2010 |title=All the Right Moves |url=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=24843 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607225256/http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=24843 |archive-date=June 7, 2010 |access-date=June 20, 2010 |publisher=Bungie}}

A report written by Roger Travis and published by The Escapist compares Halo with the Latin epic Aeneid, written by classical Roman poet Virgil. Travis posits similarities between the plots of both works and compares the characters present in them, with the Flood and Covenant taking the role performed by the Carthaginians and Master Chief taking the role of Aeneas.{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Roger |date=October 10, 2006 |title=Bungie's Epic Achievement: Halo and the Aeneid |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_66/384-Bungie-s-Epic-Achievement |access-date=December 10, 2007 |publisher=The Escapist |archive-date=November 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121205817/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_66/384-Bungie-s-Epic-Achievement |url-status=dead}}

The Halo franchise draws heavily from religious iconography and nomenclature. The Flood and especially the Gravemind serve as demonic or satanic figures,{{cite journal|year=2018|author=Paulissen, P.C.J.M.|title=The Dark of the Covenant: Christian Imagery, Fundamentalism, and the Relationship between Science and Religion in the Halo Video Game Series|journal=Religions|volume=9|issue=4|pages=126|doi=10.3390/rel9040126|doi-access=free}} and the Master Chief's first encounter with the Flood can be likened to a journey to hell.{{cite book|author=Starr, Charlie|year=2006|chapter=Broken Halos|title=Halo Effect: The Unauthorized Look at the Most Successful Video Game of All Time|editor=Glenn Yeffeth|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=BenBella Books|isbn=1-933771-11-9|page=81}} Academic P.C. Paulissen notes that the name 'Flood' suggests a reference to the biblical deluge, with the Forerunner Ark being shelter from the Flood's destructive and cleansing power akin to the Bible.{{cite journal|year=2018|author=Paulissen, P.C.J.M.|title=The Dark of the Covenant: Christian Imagery, Fundamentalism, and the Relationship between Science and Religion in the Halo Video Game Series|journal=Religions|volume=9|issue=4|pages=126|doi=10.3390/rel9040126|doi-access=free}}

Players began creating impromptu Halo tournaments and local parties after the release of the first game. Bungie looked at the success of these matches as inspiration for crafting the online multiplayer components of Halo 2.{{Cite web |last=Agnello, Anthony |date=November 11, 2019 |title=When 'Halo 2' Invaded Planet Earth |url=https://www.theringer.com/2019/11/11/20958715/halo-2-anniversary-first-person-shooter-xbox-master-chief-history-i-love-bees |access-date=January 24, 2020 |website=The Ringer |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218065943/https://www.theringer.com/2019/11/11/20958715/halo-2-anniversary-first-person-shooter-xbox-master-chief-history-i-love-bees |url-status=live}} Larger organizations soon began operating Halo competitive games. In August 2002, G4 hosted the Halo National Championship Finals, a FFA [free-for-all] tournament involving sixteen players from across the country (hosted by Wil Wheaton of Star Trek fame.){{Cite web |last=Mnemesis |date=August 31, 2002 |title=Halo National Finals |url=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=38 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013173945/http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=38 |archive-date=October 13, 2014 |access-date=August 17, 2020 |website=Bungie.net}} The Associates of Gaming Professionals (AGP), which focused solely on Halo, held its first event in November 2002.{{Cite web |last=Jarrard, Brian |date=November 7, 2003 |title=Interview with the AGP |url=https://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=87 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013171249/http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=87 |archive-date=October 13, 2014 |access-date=August 17, 2020 |website=Bungie.net}} Inspired by friends placing bets on their Halo matches, Mike Sepso and Sundance DiGiovanni formed Major League Gaming the same year.{{Cite book |last=Kix, Paul |title=Halo Effect |publisher=BenBella Books |year=2005 |editor-last=Yeffeth, Glenn |chapter=Have Gun Will Travel}}

Microsoft and 343 Industries sponsored their own professional Halo league, called the Halo Championship Series (HCS), in 2014.{{Cite web |last=Gies |first=Arthur |date=November 5, 2014 |title=Halo gets serious about eSports with the Halo Championship Series |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/5/7160695/halo-gets-serious-about-esports-with-the-halo-championship-series |access-date=December 8, 2015 |website=Polygon |archive-date=December 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210224047/http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/5/7160695/halo-gets-serious-about-esports-with-the-halo-championship-series |url-status=live}} It was started in partnership with the Electronic Sports League (ESL). Seasons 1 and 2 ran on The Master Chief Collection.{{Cite web |last=Puga |first=Lauren |date=November 4, 2015 |title=Halo Gets Official eSports League: Halo Championship Series |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/11/05/343-industries-announces-the-halo-championship-series |website=IGN |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=March 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325182354/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/11/05/343-industries-announces-the-halo-championship-series |url-status=live}} In August 2015 Microsoft announced it would be increasing the total prize pool of the HCS to US$1 million, for the newly announced Halo World Championship, which will be the debut event for Halo 5.{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Saira |date=August 4, 2015 |title=Microsoft's 'Halo' eSports Tournament, Halo Championship Series, Offers $1 Million Prize Money |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/microsofts-halo-esports-tournament-halo-championship-series-offers-1-million-prize-2037971 |access-date=December 8, 2015 |website=International Business Times}} Crowd-funding contributed to a US$2.5 million prize pool, the largest console esports prize pool ever.{{Cite web |last=Stubbsy |first=Mike |date=May 14, 2016 |title=The 10 largest console eSports prize pools ever |url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/the-10-largest-console-esports-prize-pools-ever |website=Red Bull |access-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206063723/https://www.redbull.com/us-en/the-10-largest-console-esports-prize-pools-ever |url-status=live}}

File:Martin O'Donnell.png, lead composer for the Bungie Halo games]]

{{Main|Halo Original Soundtrack|l1=Halo Original Soundtrack|Halo 2 Original Soundtrack|l2=Halo 2 Original Soundtrack|Halo 3 Original Soundtrack|l3=Halo 3 Original Soundtrack|Halo 4 Original Soundtrack|l4=Halo 4 Original Soundtrack}}

Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori collaborated to produce the soundtracks for Bungie's Halo games. Approached by Bungie to produce something ancient and mysterious for Halo{{'}}s debut, O'Donnell decided to use Gregorian chant, joining in with others to sing the vocal parts. The music was designed to change dynamically based on what was occurring in-game;{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Aaron |date=December 2, 2002 |title=The Use and Effectiveness of Audio in Halo: Game Music Evolved |url=http://music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011064541/http://music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=24 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=September 6, 2006 |website=Music4Games}} for a more enjoyable listening experience on the soundtrack releases, O'Donnell arranged the music into standalone suites.{{Cite AV media notes |author-link=Martin O'Donnell |last=O'Donnell |first=Martin |chapter=Introduction |year=2002 |title=Halo: Original Soundtrack |publisher=Sumthing}} For Halo 2, the soundtrack included licensed music from Incubus and Breaking Benjamin alongside the orchestral score; rock guitar virtuoso, Steve Vai, performed various solos throughout the score.{{cn|date=February 2025}} For Halo 3, brought back themes from the original game to help tie together the end of the trilogy.{{Cite web |last1=O'Connor, Frank |last2=O'Donnell, Martin |last3=Smith, Luke |last4=Jarrard, Brian |title=Bungie Podcast Ep. 51: With Martin O'Donnell |url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/8/5/d85ce76f-0cb2-41df-aaae-a8c96790332b/BungiePodcast%5FEpisode%5F1.mp3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713133701/http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/8/5/d85ce76f-0cb2-41df-aaae-a8c96790332b/BungiePodcast_Episode_1.mp3 |archive-date=July 13, 2007 |access-date=December 10, 2007 |publisher=Bungie}} Unlike previous soundtracks, where much of the music had been synthesized on computer, the soundtrack for Halo 3 was recorded using a 60-piece orchestra, along with a 24-voice chorus.{{Cite AV media notes |author-link=Martin O'Donnell |last=O'Donnell |first=Martin |chapter=Introduction |year=2007 |title=Halo 3 Original Soundtrack |publisher=Sumthing}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=September 20, 2007 |title=Interview with Halo 3 Composer Marty O'Donnell |url=http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=172 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309025232/http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=172 |archive-date=March 9, 2008 |access-date=April 13, 2008 |publisher=Music4Games}}{{Cite news |last=Traiman |first=Steve |date=December 1, 2008 |title="Halo Trilogy" soundtrack set previews new game |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE4B07BZ20081201 |access-date=December 3, 2008 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141906/http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE4B07BZ20081201 |url-status=live}} ODST incorporated more jazz and noir elements such as a saxophone, while O'Donnell wrote more somber music to reflect the darker campaign for Reach.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

The music of Halo 4 was composed by Neil Davidge and Kazuma Jinnouchi. The music by Neil Davidge and Kazuma Jinnouchi for Halo 4 received mixed reviews, being recognized as creative music but too different from the original Halo formula. Jinnouchi returned to compose the music for Halo 5: Guardians.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The music for Halo Infinite was a collaboration between Gareth Coker, Curtis Schweitzer, Joel Corelitz, Alex Bhore, and Eternal Time & Space, overseen by 343 Industries Music Supervisor Joel Yarger. Infinite's soundtrack was released digitally on December 8, 2021, in two albums, one covering the score for the campaign, and another covering the music for the game's multiplayer component.

Other composers who have worked on Halo titles includes Stephen Rippy, who listened to O'Donnell's soundtracks for inspiration and incorporated the Halo theme into parts of his arrangements for Halo Wars;{{Cite web |last=Bedegian, Louis |date=February 13, 2009 |title=GameZone Chats with Halo Wars Composer Stephen Rippy |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/02_13_09_09_00AM.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123212025/http://www.gamezone.com/news/02_13_09_09_00AM.htm |archive-date=January 23, 2010 |access-date=February 17, 2009 |website=GameZone}} Gordy Haab, Brian Lee White and Brian Trifon working with Paul Lipson on the sequel, Halo Wars 2; and Tom Salta who has worked on Spartan Assault, Spartan Strike, and the rerecording of music for Halo 2 Anniversary.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The music of Halo helped spur a renewed interest in chant music.{{Cite news |last=Schweitzer |first=Vivien |date=December 26, 2008 |title=Aliens Are Attacking. Cue the Strings. |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/arts/music/28schw.html?pagewanted=2&fta=y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918195410/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/arts/music/28schw.html?pagewanted=2&fta=y |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |access-date=February 12, 2020 |work=The New York Times}} The Halo theme is a gaming anthem, and in the late 2010s led to videos of teenagers congregating to sing the tune.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=2018-05-25 |title=Revived Halo theme-song meme may owe its newfound life to the Philadelphia Eagles |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/25/17396112/halo-meme-bathroom-high-school-philadelphia-eagles |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=How the ‘Halo’ Theme Song Inspired a Generation of Bro Choirs |url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/halo-theme-song-choirs |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=MEL Magazine |language=en-US}}

{{Further|List of Halo media|l1=List of Halo media}}

The Halo franchise includes various types of merchandise and adaptations outside of the video games. This includes bestselling novels, graphic novels, and other licensed products, from action figures to a packaging tie-in with Mountain Dew.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Numerous action figures and vehicles based on Halo have been produced. Joyride Studios created Halo and Halo 2 action figures, while Halo 3 poseable and collectible action figures, aimed at collectors, were produced by McFarlane Toys and became some of the top-selling action figures of 2007 and 2008.{{Cite news |last=Solomon, Rizal |date=January 10, 2009 |title=Saturday Halo onslaught |page=4 |work=New Straits Times}} MEGA Bloks has partnered with Microsoft to produce Halo-themed toys.{{Cite news |last=Pachner, Joanna |date=May 29, 2009 |title=The Empire Strikes Back |page=52 |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/the-empire-strikes-back/article1149686/ |access-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-date=December 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226031843/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/the-empire-strikes-back/article1149686/ |url-status=live}}

File:Joe Staten and Eric Nylund.jpg and Eric Nylund]]

As part of Microsoft's multimedia efforts, Microsoft Studios decided to create a tie-in novel for Combat Evolved. Eric Nylund wrote Halo: The Fall of Reach in seven weeks, and it was published in October 2001.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Nylund would write additional Halo works including the novels First Strike (2003) and Ghosts of Onyx (2006).{{cn|date=February 2025}} The game itself was turned into a novelization by William C. Dietz in 2003, called Halo: The Flood.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Other novels have been written by Joseph Staten (Contact Harvest), Tobias S. Buckell, Karen Traviss, Greg Bear (The Forerunner Saga), Matt Forbeck, John Shirley, Troy Denning, Cassandra Rose Clarke, and Kelly Gay.{{cite web|author=Halo Studios|date=February 27, 2024|url=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/official-halo-book-guide|title=Official Halo Book Guide: Novel Database|website=Halo Waypoint|access-date=February 11, 2025}} Two short story collections, Halo: Evolutions (2009) and Halo: Fractures (2015), have also been released.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

The Halo universe was adapted into comics in 2006 with the release of The Halo Graphic Novel, a collection of four short stories published by Marvel Comics. Marvel produced a number of other Halo comic series. Halo: Uprising, by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, bridges the gap between the events of Halo 2 and Halo 3;{{Cite web |last=George |first=Richard |date=May 18, 2007 |title=IGN Exclusive Interview – Halo: Uprising |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/789/789811p1.html |access-date=April 24, 2008 |website=IGN |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721100314/http://comics.ign.com/articles/789/789811p1.html |url-status=live}} initially planned to conclude shortly before the release of Halo 3 in 2007, delays led to the final issue being published April 2009.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Two additional comic runs were announced in 2009.{{Cite web |last=Collura, Scott |date=February 7, 2009 |title=NYCC 09: Halo Returns to Marvel |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/952/952434p1.html |access-date=February 8, 2009 |website=IGN |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210013304/http://comics.ign.com/articles/952/952434p1.html |url-status=live}} Peter David's series, Halo: Helljumper, is set prior to Halo: Combat Evolved and focuses on the elite Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. The five-part series was published between July and November 2009.{{Cite web |last=Bailey, Kat |date=April 22, 2009 |title=Halo: Helljumpers Coming This July |url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3173869 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730095353/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3173869 |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |access-date=April 22, 2009 |website=1UP.com}} Fred Van Lente's series, Halo: Blood Line, revolves around a black ops team of Spartan supersoldiers assigned to the UNSC Office of Naval Intelligence,{{Cite web |last=George, Richard |date=February 8, 2009 |title=The Halo War Continues at Marvel |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/952/952462p1.html |access-date=February 14, 2009 |website=IGN |archive-date=February 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212194114/http://comics.ign.com/articles/952/952462p1.html |url-status=live}} and debuted in December 2009.{{Cite web |last=George, David |date=September 22, 2009 |title=Marvel's December '09 Releases |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/102/1027154p1.html |access-date=September 23, 2009 |website=IGN |archive-date=September 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926050839/http://comics.ign.com/articles/102/1027154p1.html |url-status=live}} Marvel also released a three-part comic adaptation of the novel Halo: The Fall of Reach in 2011.{{Cite web |last1=Schedeen |first1=Jesse |last2=Esposito |first2=Joey |date=April 28, 2011 |title=Halo: Orchestrating the Fall of Reach |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2011/04/29/halo-orchestrating-the-fall-of-reach |access-date=September 21, 2015 |website=IGN}}

Dark Horse Comics has produced a number of Halo series, beginning with the three-part series Halo: Initiation, released in August 2013.{{Cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=August 14, 2013 |title=Halo: Initiation #1 Review |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/08/15/halo-initiation-1-review |access-date=September 21, 2015 |website=IGN]}} Also announced was Halo: Escalation, an ongoing comic series covering the period directly after Halo 4; it ran for 24 issues from 2013 to 2015.{{Cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=July 22, 2013 |title=Comic-Con: Halo Goes Ongoing at Dark Horse |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/07/23/comic-con-halo-goes-ongoing-at-dark-horse |access-date=September 21, 2015 |website=IGN}}{{cn|date=February 2025}}

{{anchor|Film}}

In 2005, Columbia Pictures president Peter Schlessel began working outside the studio system to produce a Halo film adaptation. Alex Garland wrote a script,{{Cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |date=February 3, 2005 |title=Halo Goes Hollywood |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/585/585098p1.html |access-date=September 9, 2006 |website=IGN |archive-date=December 7, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207130047/http://movies.ign.com/articles/585/585098p1.html |url-status=live}} which was then pitched to studios by couriers dressed as Master Chief. Microsoft's terms required $10 million against 15 percent of gross; most studios passed, citing the lack of risk for Microsoft compared to their large share of potential profits. 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures decided to partner to produce the film, paying Microsoft $5 million to option the film and 10 percent of grosses.{{Cite web |last=Brodesser-Akner, Claude |date=October 6, 2010 |title=The New Halo Game Is a Hit – So What's the Status of the Halo Movie? |url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/the_new_halo_video_game_is_a_h.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009120735/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/the_new_halo_video_game_is_a_h.html |archive-date=October 9, 2010 |access-date=October 8, 2010 |website=New York}} Peter Jackson was slated to be the executive producer,{{Cite web |last=Staten |first=Joseph |title=The Great Hollywood Journey, Part II |url=http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?story=biggorilla&p=4955829 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051025080922/http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?story=biggorilla&p=4955829 |archive-date=October 25, 2005 |access-date=September 9, 2006 |publisher=Bungie}} with Neill Blomkamp as director. Before Blomkamp signed on, Guillermo del Toro was in negotiations to direct.{{Cite news |last=Hewitt, Chris |date=February 8, 2008 |title=Guillermo Del Toro Talks The Hobbit |work=Empire |url=https://www.empireonline.com/interviews/Interview.asp?IID=740 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107052950/http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/Interview.asp?IID=740 |archive-date=November 7, 2011}}

D. B. Weiss and Josh Olson rewrote Garland's script during 2006.{{Cite web |last=Fritz |first=Ben |date=October 31, 2006 |title=No home for 'Halo' pic |url=https://www.variety.com/VR1117953031.html |access-date=October 20, 2007 |website=Variety|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212054302/https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117953031.html?categoryid=1043&cs=1|archivedate=December 12, 2007}} Pre-production of the film was halted and restarted several times.{{Cite web |last=Thorsen |first=Tor |date=October 31, 2006 |title=Halo movie indefinitely postponed |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6160742.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227205244/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6160742.html |archive-date=February 27, 2007 |access-date=March 13, 2007 |website=GameSpot}} Later that year, 20th Century Fox threatened to pull out of the project, leading Universal to issue an ultimatum to Jackson and Schlessel: either reduce their large "first-dollar" revenue deals, or the project was ended. Both refused, and the project stalled. Blomkamp would produce a series of live-action shorts as promotion for Halo 3, collectively titled Halo: Landfall.{{cite web |last=Stanton |first=Rich |date=August 23, 2021 |title=Neill Blomkamp ripped his ear off in a Warthog while filming Halo |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/neill-blomkamp-ripped-his-ear-off-in-a-warthog-while-filming-halo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026182713/https://www.pcgamer.com/neill-blomkamp-ripped-his-ear-off-in-a-warthog-while-filming-halo/ |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |access-date=October 26, 2021 |website=PC Gamer}} The rights for the film reverted to Microsoft.{{Cite web |last1=Blomkamp, Neill |last2=Jackson, Peter |date=July 27, 2009 |title=Halo Movie Interview – SDCC 09: Will Halo Still Happen? |url=http://movies.ign.com/dor/objects/40236/halo/videos/sdcc09cap_inv_peterj_halo.html |access-date=July 27, 2009 |website=IGN |archive-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819174039/http://movies.ign.com/dor/objects/40236/halo/videos/sdcc09cap_inv_peterj_halo.html |url-status=live}}

{{main|Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn|l1=Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn}}

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn is a live-action film and miniseries set in the Halo universe. Although shot as a feature-length film, Forward Unto Dawn was originally released as a webseries consisting of five episodes released between October 5, 2012, and November 2, 2012. The series' plot, occurring in the early days of the Human-Covenant War, revolves around Thomas Lasky, a young cadet at Corbulo Academy of Military Science, and how John-117 inspired him to eventually become a leader. Lasky is also a prominent character in Halo 4 as a commander on the UNSC Infinity. The name of the series, aside from being a reference to the UNSC frigate Forward Unto Dawn, is given new significance in the series as part of a running motif based on a poem. The film cut was released on Blu-ray and DVD on December 4, 2012.

On April 3, 2014, it was announced that Ridley Scott and his production company, Scott Free Productions, were working on a Halo digital feature alongside 343 Industries and Xbox Entertainment Studios; Scott would be the executive producer, with David W. Zucker and Sergio Mimica-Gezzan as the directors. The feature was expected to follow the same format as Machinima's Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.{{Cite web |title=Ridley Scott and Microsoft Team for Halo Digital Feature |url=https://ign.com/articles/2014/04/03/ridley-scott-and-microsoft-team-for-halo-digital-feature |access-date=February 3, 2014 |website=IGN |archive-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403022755/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/04/03/ridley-scott-and-microsoft-team-for-halo-digital-feature |url-status=live}} On June 9, 2014, it was announced at E3 2014 that the feature, titled Halo: Nightfall, would be included with Halo: The Master Chief Collection at its November 2014 launch. The feature introduces a new character to the franchise, Agent Jameson Locke, played by actor Mike Colter; Nightfall is considered to be his origin story.{{Cite web |title=News: Halo: Nightfall first look: meet |url=http://www.totalxbox.com/79695/halo-nightfall-first-look-meet-legendary-manhunter-jameson-locke/ |access-date=September 24, 2014 |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230072845/http://www.totalxbox.com/79695/halo-nightfall-first-look-meet-legendary-manhunter-jameson-locke/ |url-status=live}} Locke is one of the Spartans portrayed on the cover art and plays a large role in the series.{{Cite web |last=Gilbert, Henry |date=July 24, 2014 |title=Halo: Nightfall is the origin story of next big Spartan |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/halo-nightfall-origin-story-halo-5s-next-big-spartan/ |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807201207/https://www.gamesradar.com/halo-nightfall-origin-story-halo-5s-next-big-spartan/ |url-status=live}} On July 24, 2014, 343 Industries released the first trailer for the feature.{{Cite web |title=Eerste boek Borderlands verschenen |url=http://www.meerdangames.nl/2014/07/eerste-trailer-halo-nightfall/ |website=Meer dan Games |date=July 24, 2014 |access-date=July 25, 2014 |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728104745/http://www.meerdangames.nl/2014/07/eerste-trailer-halo-nightfall/ |url-status=live}} Halo: Nightfall is available to watch through Halo Channel, an application for the Xbox One, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone.{{Cite web |last=LeBlanc |first=Brandon |date=November 11, 2014 |title=Immerse yourself in the Halo Universe with The Halo Channel |url=http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/11/11/immerse-yourself-in-the-halo-universe-with-the-halo-channel/ |access-date=February 24, 2015 |website=Windows Blog |publisher=Microsoft |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224063747/http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/11/11/immerse-yourself-in-the-halo-universe-with-the-halo-channel/ |url-status=live}} On March 16, 2015, the series became available to stream, download, and buy on physical disc.{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=February 24, 2015 |title=Halo: Nightfall available on demand, DVD next month |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-02-24-halo-nightfall-available-on-demand-dvd-next-month |access-date=February 24, 2015 |website=Eurogamer |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224143908/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-02-24-halo-nightfall-available-on-demand-dvd-next-month |url-status=live}}

{{main|Halo (TV series)|l1=Halo (TV series)}}

On May 21, 2013, Xbox Entertainment Studios and 343 announced that a live-action television show of Halo would be produced with Steven Spielberg serving as executive producer through what is now Amblin Television. It was originally titled Halo: The Television Series.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Later, it was announced the series would premiere on the American premium cable network Showtime.{{Cite news |last=Goldman |first=Eric |date=August 11, 2015 |title=Showtime Still Developing Halo TV Series |work=IGN |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08/11/showtime-still-developing-halo-tv-series |access-date=August 11, 2015 |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807203340/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08/11/showtime-still-developing-halo-tv-series |url-status=live}} The series subsequently sat in development hell for many years; the series began casting in 2019 and filming in 2021.{{Cite news |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Pablo Schreiber to Play Master Chief in Showtime's 'Halo' Live-Action Series |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/showtimes-halo-casts-pablo-schreiber-as-master-chief-1202661 |access-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702225641/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/showtimes-halo-casts-pablo-schreiber-as-master-chief-1202661 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=August 2, 2019 |title='Halo': Natascha McElhone & Bokeem Woodbine Among Six Cast In Showtime Series Based On Xbox Franchise |work=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/halo-natascha-mcelhone-bokeem-woodbine-cast-showtime-series-based-xbox-franchise-1202659705/ |access-date=August 2, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514183508/https://deadline.com/2019/08/halo-natascha-mcelhone-bokeem-woodbine-cast-showtime-series-based-xbox-franchise-1202659705/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/halo-trailer-paramount-pablo-schreiber/|title='Halo': Paramount+ Touts A "New Beginning" in Trailer for Video Game Series Starring Pablo Schreiber|date=December 10, 2021|access-date=December 10, 2021|archive-date=December 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210035122/https://deadline.com/video/halo-trailer-paramount-pablo-schreiber/|url-status=live}} The series premiered on Paramount+ on March 24, 2022.{{Cite web|last1=Bailey|first1=Kat|last2=Bankhurst|first2=Adam|date=January 30, 2022|title=Halo TV Series Release Date and Official Trailer Revealed|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/halo-tv-series-release-date-premiere-date-revealed-trailer|access-date=2022-01-31|website=IGN|language=en|archive-date=January 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131233123/https://www.ign.com/articles/halo-tv-series-release-date-premiere-date-revealed-trailer|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Halo Legends|l1=Halo Legends}}

Microsoft announced at Comic-Con 2009 that it was overseeing production of a series of seven short anime films, together called Halo Legends. Financed by 343 Industries, the animation was created by six Japanese production houses: Bee Train Production, Bones, Casio Entertainment, Production I.G., Studio 4°C, and Toei Animation. Shinji Aramaki, creator and director of Appleseed and Appleseed Ex Machina, served as the project's creative director. Warner Bros. distributed Legends on DVD and Blu-ray in February 2010.{{Cite web |last=Sinclair, Brendan |date=January 7, 2010 |title=Halo Legends slips to Feb. 16 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6245077.html?sid=6245077&part=rss&subj=6245077 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204062110/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6245077.html?sid=6245077&part=rss&subj=6245077 |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |access-date=January 25, 2010 |website=GameSpot}} Six of the stories are officially part of the Halo canon, with the seventh, made by Toei, intended to be a parody of the universe.{{Cite web |last1=Goldstein |first1=Hilary |last2=Brudvig |first2=Erik |date=July 23, 2009 |title=SDCC 09: Halo Panel Live Blog |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/100/1006627p1.html |access-date=July 24, 2009 |website=IGN |archive-date=July 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725222733/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/100/1006627p1.html |url-status=live}}

An animated version of The Fall of Reach is included in the Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition and Collector's Edition.{{Cite magazine |last=Futter |first=Mike |date=July 10, 2015 |title=Halo: The Fall Of Reach Animated Series Comes With Halo 5 Collector's Editions |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/halo_5_guardians/b/xboxone/archive/2015/07/10/halo-the-fall-of-reach-animated-series-comes-with-halo-5-collector-s-editions.aspx |access-date=September 21, 2015 |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |archive-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027004149/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/halo_5_guardians/b/xboxone/archive/2015/07/10/halo-the-fall-of-reach-animated-series-comes-with-halo-5-collector-s-editions.aspx |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Mejia |first=Ozzie |date=July 10, 2015 |title=Halo: The Fall of Reach gets first teaser while Halo Channel goes mobile |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/90376/halo-the-fall-of-reach-gets-first-teaser-while-halo-channel-goes-mobile |access-date=September 21, 2015 |website=Shacknews |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925000144/http://www.shacknews.com/article/90376/halo-the-fall-of-reach-gets-first-teaser-while-halo-channel-goes-mobile |url-status=live}}

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Sales of games in the Halo series were more than 81 million by 2021. Total franchise sales were reported at $6 billion the same year.{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Halo Hits 81 Million Copies Sold Ahead Of Halo Infinite's Release |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-hits-81-million-copies-sold-ahead-of-halo-infinites-release/1100-6497908/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110200821/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-hits-81-million-copies-sold-ahead-of-halo-infinites-release/1100-6497908/ |archive-date=November 10, 2021 |access-date=November 11, 2021 |website=GameSpot}} Non-game merchandise grosses counted for $1.8 billion of that figure.{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Ben|date=September 20, 2024|url=https://www.licenseglobal.com/video-games/xbox-gaming-evolved|title=Xbox: Gaming Evolved|website=License Global|access-date=February 13, 2025}} Many of the Halo novels have appeared on Publishers Weekly, USA Today and The New York Times bestsellers lists,Cited to:

• {{cite web|last=Alexander|first=Leigh|date=November 18, 2007|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/-i-halo-3-i-novel-becomes-nyt-bestseller-in-first-week|title=Halo 3 Novel Becomes NYT Bestseller In First Week|website=Game Developer|access-date=February 13, 2025}}
• {{Cite web |last=Klepek |first=Patrick |date=May 5, 2003 |title=Halo novel cracks bestseller |url=http://gaming-age.com/news/2003/5/2-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011213358/http://gaming-age.com/news/2003/5/2-15 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=September 2, 2006 |website=Gaming Age}}
• {{Cite web |last=Berardini|first=Cesar |date=August 5, 2007 |title=Halo: Ghosts of Onyx Enjoys Mass Market Debut Today |url=http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/13188/Halo-Ghosts-of-Onyx-Enjoys-Mass-Market-Debut-Today/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314193851/http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/13188/Halo-Ghosts-of-Onyx-Enjoys-Mass-Market-Debut-Today/ |archive-date=March 14, 2008 |access-date=April 13, 2008 |website=Team Xbox}}
• {{Cite news |date=January 23, 2011 |title=Best Sellers |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2011-01-23/hardcover-fiction/list.html |access-date=August 17, 2012 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020195436/http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2011-01-23/hardcover-fiction/list.html |url-status=live}}
• {{Cite news |date=December 4, 2008 |title=BC Best sellers Books USAToday |work=San Francisco Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/04/entertainment/e125424S22.DTL&hw=cole+protocol&sn=003&sc=914 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422050619/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2008%2F12%2F04%2Fentertainment%2Fe125424S22.DTL&hw=cole%2Bprotocol&sn=003&sc=914 |archive-date=April 22, 2009}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/books/best-selling/week/2020/44/page/8/|title=USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list 10/29/2020|website=USA Today|access-date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030132209/https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/books/best-selling/week/2020/44/page/8/|url-status=live}}

and multiple Halo soundtracks have charted on the Billboard 200.{{cite web|last=Lien|first=Tracey|date=November 2, 2012|url=https://www.polygon.com/2012/11/2/3589162/halo-4s-soundtrack-is-billboards-highest-charted-video-game|title=Halo 4's soundtrack is Billboard’s highest-charted video game soundtrack ever|website=Polygon|access-date=February 13, 2025|via=Joystiq}}

Variety called Halo "the equivalent of Star Wars".{{Cite news |last=Graser, Mark |date=September 4, 2010 |title='Halo': the care and feeding of a franchise |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2010/digital/features/halo-the-care-and-feeding-of-a-franchise-1118023688/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912132458/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118023688.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archive-date=September 12, 2010}} The musical theme and Master Chief are considered gaming icons, and the Chief and Halo are considered important mascots and aspects of the Xbox brand.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Halo redefined first-person shooters on consoles and was a major component in the Xbox's early success,{{cite book|year=2012|title=Encyclopedia of Video Games: The Culture, Technology, and Art of Gaming|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=}} serving as the console's killer app.{{Cite book |title=Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008 |date=March 11, 2008 |publisher=Guinness |isbn=978-1-904994-21-3 |editor-last=Glenday, Craig |series=Guinness World Records |page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/27 27] |chapter=Hardware History II |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/27}} In a retrospective of Halo 2, journalist Anthony John Agnello described the game's impact as akin to the asteroid hit that killed the dinosaurs, remaking the gaming landscape and creating the modern conception of games as shared social experiences. GamesTM stated Halo: Combat Evolved "changed video game combat forever", and Halo 2 showcased Xbox Live as a tool for communities.{{Cite journal |date=September 2007 |title=Hail to the Chief |journal=gamesTM |issue=61 |pages=30–41}} Game Daily noted Halo 2{{'}}s launch was "easily comparable to the biggest in other sectors of the entertainment industry", marking the first time a video game launch has become a major cultural event in the United States.{{Cite web |last=Brightman, James |date=November 17, 2004 |title=Halo 2's Success A Part of Pop Culture |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/halo-2s-success-a-part-of-pop-culture/67308/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220012915/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/halo-2s-success-a-part-of-pop-culture/67308/ |archive-date=February 20, 2009 |access-date=November 13, 2007 |publisher=GameDaily}}

In 2007 IGN listed Combat Evolved as the top Xbox game of all time, while readers ranked it the fourteenth best game ever on "IGN Readers' Choice 2006 – The Top 100 Games Ever".{{Cite web |last1=Perry, Douglass C. |last2=Brudvig, Erik |last3=Miller, Jon |date=March 17, 2007 |title=The Top 25 Xbox Games of All Time |url=http://xbox.ign.com/articles/772/772315p5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320012940/http://xbox.ign.com/articles/772/772315p5.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2007 |access-date=April 23, 2008 |website=IGN}}{{Cite web |year=2006 |title=Readers' Picks Top 100 Games: 11–20 |url=http://top100.ign.com/2006/011-020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831080059/http://top100.ign.com/2006/011-020.html |archive-date=August 31, 2011 |access-date=January 23, 2008 |website=IGN Readers' Choice 2006 – The Top 100 Games Ever |publisher=IGN}} IGN listed Halo 2 as the number two top Xbox game of all time in March 2007. Halo 3 was nominated for and won multiple awards; it won Time magazine's "Game of the Year" and IGN chose it as the Best Xbox 360 Online Multiplayer Game and Innovative Design of 2007.{{Cite news |last=Grossman, Lev |date=December 9, 2007 |title=50 Top 10 Lists of 2007 – Top 10 Video Games |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686305_1692236,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212030112/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686305_1692236,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |access-date=March 10, 2008}}{{Cite web |title=Best of 2007: Best Online Multiplayer Game (Xbox 360) |url=http://bestof.ign.com/2007/xbox360/17.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110230530/http://bestof.ign.com/2007/xbox360/17.html |archive-date=January 10, 2008 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |website=IGN}}{{Cite web |title=Best of 2007: Most Innovative Design (Xbox 360) |url=http://bestof.ign.com/2007/xbox360/20.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110023228/http://bestof.ign.com/2007/xbox360/20.html |archive-date=January 10, 2008 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |website=IGN}} Most publications called the multiplayer aspect one of the best features; IGN said the multiplayer map lineup was the strongest of the series, and GameSpy added that the multiplayer offering will greatly please "Halo veterans".{{Cite web |last=Goldstein, Hilary |date=September 23, 2007 |title=IGN (USA) Halo 3 Review |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/821/821911p5.html |access-date=September 23, 2007 |website=IGN |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011012123/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/821/821911p5.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Graziani, Gabe |date=September 23, 2007 |title=GameSpy Halo 3 Review |url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/halo-3/821976p1.html |access-date=September 23, 2007 |publisher=GameSpy |archive-date=October 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005002257/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/halo-3/821976p1.html |url-status=live}} Complaints focused on the game's plot. The New York Times said the game had a "throwaway" plot and Total Video Games judged the single-player aspect ultimately disappointing.{{Cite news |last=Herold, Charles |date=September 27, 2007 |title=Halo 3 Mimics Halo 2, With Some Improved Graphic |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/technology/circuits/27games.html?_r=1&ex=1191470400 |access-date=October 3, 2007}}{{Cite web |last=Wilcox, Jon |date=September 27, 2007 |title=TVG Review: Halo 3 |url=http://www.totalvideogames.com/articles/Halo_3_12180.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214103451/http://www.totalvideogames.com/articles/Halo_3_12180.htm |archive-date=December 14, 2007 |access-date=October 3, 2007 |publisher=Total Video Games}} The series' music and audio has received enthusiastic response from game reviewers.{{Cite web |last=Boulding |first=Aaron |date=November 9, 2001 |title=Halo: Combat Evolved review at IGN |url=http://xbox.ign.com/articles/165/165922p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020401234155/http://xbox.ign.com/articles/165/165922p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 1, 2002 |access-date=August 31, 2006 |website=IGN}}{{Cite magazine |last=McNamara |first=Andy |title=Halo 2 review at Game Informer |url=http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/AF4EAEF7-1136-4985-82E0-EB6588130908.htm?CS_pid=210263 |magazine=Game Informer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109094139/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/AF4EAEF7-1136-4985-82E0-EB6588130908.htm?CS_pid=210263 |archive-date=January 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 9, 2007}}

Characters and elements from the series have made their way to other games such as Killer Instinct, Guitar Hero, Forza, and Fortnite.Cited to:

• {{Cite web |last=McWhertor, Michael |date=February 21, 2016 |title=Halo's The Arbiter is coming to Killer Instinct Season 3 |url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/2/21/11084812/halo-the-arbiter-killer-instinct-season-3-xbox-one |access-date=February 22, 2016 |website=Polygon |publisher=Vox Media |archive-date=February 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223033958/http://www.polygon.com/2016/2/21/11084812/halo-the-arbiter-killer-instinct-season-3-xbox-one |url-status=live}}
• {{cite web|last=Grant|first=Christoper|date=November 21, 2007|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/rock-the-halo-theme-free-for-guitar-hero-3-tomorrow/|title=Rock the Halo theme free for Guitar Hero III tomorrow|website=Joystiq|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312153047/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/rock-the-halo-theme-free-for-guitar-hero-3-tomorrow/|archive-date=March 12, 2009}}
• {{cite web|last=Birch|first=Nathan|date=August 21, 2018|url=https://wccftech.com/forza-horizon-4-halo-event-confirmed/|title=Forza Horizon 4 Halo-Themed Event Confirmed, Beautiful New 4K Footage Released|website=Wccftech|access-date=November 17, 2022}}
• {{Cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2020/2020/12/10/halos-master-chief-is-coming-to-fortnite-with-classic-map-blood |title=Halo's Master Chief is Coming to Fortnite with Classic Map Blood Gulch |magazine=Game Informer |access-date=May 27, 2021 |archive-date= May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510150938/https://www.gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2020/2020/12/10/halos-master-chief-is-coming-to-fortnite-with-classic-map-blood |url-status=live}}

The Halo franchise spurred an array of productions in the machinima genre—the use of games for filmmaking.{{Cite web |last=Chong, David |date=April 15, 2008 |title=Turning video games into movies |url=http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/15/machinima/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927141818/http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/15/machinima/ |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |access-date=May 12, 2008 |website=Marketplace |publisher=American Public Media}} Most productions are set outside Halo canon, while others are based on fan fiction closely relating to the story. Microsoft updated its user license agreement to allow noncommercial distribution of such films.{{Cite news |last=Price, Peter |date=October 16, 2007 |title=Machinima waits to go mainstream |work=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7045018.stm |access-date=February 11, 2009 |archive-date=October 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018041600/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7045018.stm |url-status=live}} Among the notable machinima productions made with Halo is the comedy series Red vs. Blue created by Rooster Teeth Productions. It achieved an unparalleled level of success for Halo machinima specifically, and machinima in general.{{Cite book |title=Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008 |date=March 11, 2008 |publisher=Guinness |isbn=978-1-904994-21-3 |editor-last=Glenday, Craig |series=Guinness World Records |pages=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/98 98–99] |chapter=Record-Breaking Shooting Games: Halo |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/98}}{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Clive |date=August 7, 2005 |title=The Xbox Auteurs |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/07/magazine/07MACHINI.html }} Other machinima series include Arby ‘n the Chief, The Codex, and the in-game interview show This Spartan Life.{{cite web|last=Muncy|first=Julie|date=April 23, 2017|url=https://www.wired.com/2017/04/red-vs-blue-machinima/|title=Once the Darling of YouTube, Machinima Still Lives On—For Some|website=Wired|access-date=March 30, 2025}}{{cite book|last1=Harwood|first1=Tracy|last2=Grussi|first2=Ben|date=September 7, 2021|title=Pioneers in Machinima: The Grassroots of Virtual Production|publisher=Vernon Art and Science Incorporated|isbn=978-1-64889-214-1|pages=120–121}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Halo (series)}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us}}
• [http://halo.bungie.net/Projects/HaloUniverse.aspx Halo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014221125/http://halo.bungie.net/Projects/HaloUniverse.aspx |date=October 14, 2016}} at Bungie
• [http://www.halopedia.org/ Halopedia] – an external wiki

{{Halo}}

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