Halo 5: Guardians

File:Halo 5 Guardians gameplay.png

Halo 5: Guardians is a first-person shooter game. Players assume the role of powerful "Spartan" supersoldiers with a host of abilities, and use on a combination of guns, grenades, and melee attacks in story-based campaign and multiplayer modes. Players can sprint indefinitely, as opposed to the sprint limits in previous games in the series, though their damage-absorbing shield will not recharge in multiplayer; at top speed, the player character can slide across the ground or charge into an enemy.{{cite web|last=Espineli|first=Matt|date=October 24, 2015|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/everything-new-in-halo-5-guardians/1100-6431605/|title=Everything New in Halo 5: Guardians|website=GameSpot|access-date=January 13, 2023}}{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Lucy|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=February 9, 2016|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/11/11/7-new-abilities-coming-to-halo-5|title=7 New Abilities Coming to Halo 5|work=IGN}} A thruster pack allows for a speed boost or lateral movements, and players can clamber up ledges to reach higher ground. Every weapon can be aimed while zoomed in, similar to iron sights; sustaining fire will knock players out of the zoomed view. By zooming while airborne, players briefly hover; while aloft, players can target the ground for an area-of-effect attack. The game features new weapons, as well as returning ones with tweaked mechanics.

The game's campaign mode casts the player in the roles of two protagonists, the Master Chief and Jameson Locke. Each character is accompanied by a persistent fireteam of non-player character Spartans—Blue Team for Chief, and Fireteam Osiris for Locke—who are present at all times.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/in-halo-5-s-campaign-you-ll-always-have-three-comp/1100-6427933|last=Pereira|first=Chris|title=In Halo 5's Campaign, You'll Always Have Three Companions|date=June 9, 2015|access-date=February 9, 2016|website=GameSpot}} During cooperative play, other human players assume control of these Spartans, who each have different loadouts and attributes. Players can control computer-controlled fireteam members with simple directions via the d-pad; for example, picking up a weapon, getting into a vehicle, or prioritizing a selected enemy. If any Spartan takes too much damage, they enter an incapacitated state, and can be revived by another fireteam member before dying. The game's difficulty scales to compensate for the number of human players.

Xbox Live multiplayer features a variety of competitive and cooperative game modes. Established four-versus-four arena modes like deathmatch or capture the flag return. New to Halo 5 is Warzone, a 24-player game mode that pit two teams against each other. In addition to fighting the enemy team, players can earn points by capturing locations on the map or defeating computer-controlled bosses; the game ends either when one team destroys the other team's home base, or they earn 1000 points. Players earn requisition or "REQ" points over the course of a match, which can be used to summon weapons, vehicles or powerups into the map based on rewards the player has earned from REQ packs. These packs can be earned in-game via a progression system, or else bought with real-world currency. In ranked play, players complete a series of placement matches to obtain one of seven competitive skill rank ratings, which can go up or down based on winning or losing games.{{cite web|last=Makuch|first=Eddie|date=October 18, 2015|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-multiplayer-bans-skill-ranking-system-medal/1100-6431495/|title=Halo 5 Multiplayer Bans, Skill Ranking System, Medals, and More Outlined|website=GameSpot|access-date=July 6, 2024}}

Halo 5 features an editor called Forge, where players can create their own multiplayer maps.{{cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=October 6, 2015|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/halo-5-guardians-will-have-a-new-forge-editor-for-user-created-maps/|title=Halo 5: Guardians will have a new Forge editor for user-created maps|website=VentureBeat|access-date=September 5, 2023}} The mode has a new control scheme compared to Halo 4, and new capabilities including scripting tools that can be applied to game objects.{{cite web|last=Gies|first=Arthur|date=October 6, 2015|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/10/6/9466677/halo-5s-forge-is-ridiculously-large|title=Halo 5's Forge is ridiculously large|website=Polygon|access-date=January 12, 2023}} Unlike previous first-person shooters in the Halo franchise, Halo 5 does not feature any offline multiplayer capabilities, like split-screen cooperative campaign and multiplayer modes,{{cite web|title=343 Industries Responds to Complaints Over Halo 5: Guardians' Lack of Split-Screen|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08/17/343-industries-responds-to-complaints-over-halo-5-guardians-lack-of-split-screen|work=IGN|date=August 17, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2017|first=Alex|last=Osborn}} and has no local networking options.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-10-halo-5-theres-good-news-and-bad-news|title=Halo 5: There's good news and bad news|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|work=Eurogamer|date=June 10, 2015|access-date=July 2, 2015}} The game was supported via the Halo Waypoint website with player statistics tracking and additional features such as Spartan Companies, where players could band together in groups of up to 100 players and work on completing in-game challenges to unlock cosmetic rewards.{{cite web|last=Osborn|first=Alex|date=October 19, 2015|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/10/19/halo-5-guardians-spartan-companies-revealed|title=Halo 5: Guardians Spartan Companies Revealed|website=IGN|access-date=January 16, 2023}}

Halo 5: Guardians takes place in the year 2558, eight months after the events of Halo 4.{{cite web|last=Scott-Jones|first=Richard|date=June 9, 2019|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/halo-infinite/setting|title=Halo Infinite is a "spiritual reboot" set at least three years after Halo 5|website=PCGamesN|access-date=September 5, 2023}} The game follows two fireteams of supersoldiers of the United Nations Space Command (UNSC). Blue Team is led by Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 and is composed of his fellow Spartan-II supersoldiers:{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Statt|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/9/23/9372765/halo-5-guardians-campaign-mode-hands-on|title=Halo 5: Guardians' story shows Master Chief at his most vulnerable|work=The Verge|date=September 23, 2015|access-date=November 8, 2015}} Linda-058, an elite sniper; Kelly-087, a scout; and Frederic-104, a hand-to-hand combat specialist.{{cite magazine|first=Ben|last=Reeves|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/11/halo-5-guardians-the-spartans-tough-enough-to-work-with-master-chief.aspx?PostPageIndex=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612020038/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/11/halo-5-guardians-the-spartans-tough-enough-to-work-with-master-chief.aspx?PostPageIndex=2|url-status=live|archive-date=June 12, 2015|title=Halo 5: Guardians – The Spartans Tough Enough To Work With Master Chief|magazine=Game Informer|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=November 8, 2015}} The members of Blue Team are among the last Spartan-IIs left alive. Fireteam Osiris is formed from Spartan-IVs, a newer generation of Spartan supersoldiers. Osiris is led by Jameson Locke, a former assassin and tracker of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). The other members of Fireteam Osiris are Holly Tanaka, a combat technician, engineer, and a survivor of a Covenant attack on her world; Olympia Vale, a political liaison and signals intelligence agent who can speak many of the Covenant's dialects; and Edward Buck, a veteran trooper who was a main character in Halo 3: ODST.{{cite magazine|first=Ben|last=Reeves|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/11/halo-5-guardians-unmasking-the-fireteam-hunting-master-chief.aspx?PostPageIndex=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613230227/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/11/halo-5-guardians-unmasking-the-fireteam-hunting-master-chief.aspx?PostPageIndex=2|url-status=live|archive-date=June 13, 2015|title=Halo 5: Guardians – Unmasking The Fireteam Hunting Master Chief|magazine=Game Informer|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=November 8, 2015}}

Supporting characters include the UNSC ship Infinity{{'}}s commanding officer, Captain Thomas Lasky; Spartan Commander Sarah Palmer, head of operations for Spartan-IV teams on board Infinity; Roland, Infinity{{'}}s shipboard AI, and Catherine Halsey, a scientist who created the SPARTAN-II program. Other returning characters include the Arbiter Thel 'Vadam,{{cite news|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/halo-5-guardians-release-date-october-27/|title=Halo 5: Guardians out on October 27 – watch the new footage now|last=Skrebels|first=Joe|work=GamesRadar|date=March 30, 2015|access-date=January 30, 2016}} who leads the Sangheili species against a Covenant faction led by Jul 'Mdama. Cortana, Master Chief's former artificial intelligence (AI) companion who was presumed dead after the events of Halo 4, also returns.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/09/23/a-look-at-the-voices-behind-gaming-s-iconic-characters.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925194423/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/09/23/a-look-at-the-voices-behind-gaming-s-iconic-characters.aspx?|url-status=live|archive-date=September 25, 2015|title=A Look At The Voices Behind Gaming's Iconic Characters|last=Shea|first=Brian|magazine=Game Informer|date=September 23, 2015|access-date=February 3, 2016}}

Fireteam Osiris is deployed to the planet Kamchatka, occupied by Jul 'Mdama's faction, to retrieve Halsey amidst a battle between Covenant forces and Forerunner Prometheans. Halsey claims to have information on a series of devastating attacks on several human worlds. The team kills 'Mdama and retrieves Halsey. Elsewhere, the Master Chief leads Blue Team on a mission to secure a derelict research station; the arrival of a Covenant fleet prompts Blue Team to scuttle the station instead. The Chief receives a cryptic message from Cortana, directing him to Meridian, a Human colony world. John-117 is ordered to return to Infinity, but he and Blue Team disobey orders and set out after Cortana.

Captain Lasky declares Blue Team AWOL; Halsey believes that Cortana's survival through the use of Forerunner technology makes her unpredictable and untrustworthy. Fireteam Osiris is sent to Meridian to bring in Blue Team. On the planet, they find the colonists under attack by Promethean forces. Following Blue Team's trail, they encounter the Warden Eternal, a Promethean serving as Cortana's enforcer. After temporarily defeating the Warden, Osiris catches up to Blue Team, ordering them to stand down. Chief bests Locke in hand-to-hand combat and Blue Team boards a Guardian, a colossal Forerunner construct built as planetary enforcers. Osiris barely escape the colony's collapse as the Guardian activates and teleports away to the Forerunner planet Genesis, where John and Cortana reunite. Cortana says that her terminal condition was cured by the same Forerunner technology that had saved her.

Osiris is deployed to the Sangheili homeworld of Sanghelios, where they plan to use an inert Guardian buried there to follow Blue Team. Sanghelios is embroiled in a civil war between the Arbiter's forces and the remains of 'Mdama's army; Osiris helps Arbiter assault the Covenant's last stronghold and board the Guardian before it disappears.

On Genesis, Osiris encounters the planet's caretaker, the AI 031 Exuberant Witness, who allies with them to stop Cortana. Osiris catches up to Blue Team, who reveal that Cortana is planning on using the Guardians to achieve galactic peace through forcible disarmament. Master Chief, aware of the devastation that Cortana's plan will cause, attempts to convince Cortana to stand down. She refuses and confines Blue Team in a Forerunner prison to prevent them from interfering with her plan. Osiris manages to transfer control of Genesis back to Exuberant, who frees Blue Team before Cortana leaves the planet.

AIs across the galaxy begin swearing allegiance to Cortana and her plans. Cortana locates Infinity and prepares to disable it, but Lasky has the ship retreat until they can develop a way to combat Cortana. With Blue Team recovered, Osiris returns to Sanghelios to reunite the Spartans with the injured Commander Palmer, Arbiter, and Halsey.

In a post-credits scene, unlocked via completing the campaign on the highest difficulty, a Forerunner Halo installation powers up while Cortana hums.

Before Halo 4{{'}}s release in November 2012, 343 Industries creative director Josh Holmes began looking for his replacement for the next Halo title. Tim Longo joined as creative director in late 2012, with Halo 5 a few months into preproduction. General manager Bonnie Ross recalled that after Halo 4 the team spent a lot of time discussing where they wanted to take the Halo series, reflecting on feedback from fans about what they did and did not like. Longo and game leads David Berger and Chris Lee laid out the studio's vision for the next game from a creative and technical standpoint, setting key goals to focus on: utilizing the Xbox One's hardware and Microsoft's cloud infrastructure for larger campaign and multiplayer spaces, deeper player investment systems, and a 60 frames per second (FPS) frame rate.{{cite web|last=Ross|first=Bonnie|author-link=Bonnie Ross|date=October 23, 2015|url=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/the-halo-5-journey|title=The Halo 5 Journey|work=Halo Waypoint|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026110040/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/the-halo-5-journey|archive-date=October 26, 2015|url-status=live}}

One of the main goals for Halo 5 was to expand the universe with new and returning characters and settings.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/10/evolved-combat-how-halo-5-guardians-is-breaking-tradition.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612165427/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/10/evolved-combat-how-halo-5-guardians-is-breaking-tradition.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=June 12, 2015 | title=Evolved Combat: How Halo 5: Guardians Is Breaking Tradition | magazine=Game Informer | first=Wade | last=Wojcik | date=June 10, 2015 | access-date=June 13, 2016}} Longo was a fan of squad-based gameplay experiences, and the team wanted to introduce more main characters besides Master Chief, and explore the character through other perspectives. "One of the early thoughts was kind of throwing the Chief paradigm a little bit on its head, to have some mystery enshrouding him and what his motivations are, like we'd not seen before," Longo recalled, setting up the idea of a hunt for Master Chief across multiple locations, with alternating viewpoints similar to Halo 2. The studio wanted to contrast Master Chief and Blue Team with another team of characters. 343 Industries initially considered making this group Fireteam Majestic, characters from the Halo 4 episodic series Spartan Ops. When Longo joined as creative director and the rest of the story developed, the developers decided to create a new fireteam, initially composed of three Spartans dubbed "Smith", "Jones", and "Brown", with Halo 4 characters Gabriel Thorne and Sarah Palmer also considered as part of the team. The narrative team decided Smith would be a former intelligence agent, a cross of James Bond and Lara Croft, while the still-unnamed Jones (later Vesper) would be an expert in alien languages. Once part of the story became set on the planet Meridian, the narrative team decided that one of the Spartans should have grown up outside the UNSC and survived the destruction of her home planet to act as a conduit for understanding Meridian; now known as Spartan Song, this character replaced Palmer. When Thorne's voice actor, Ethan Peck, was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, 343 Industries decided to replace his character on the team roster rather than recast the role. Other suggestions included an entirely new Spartan or another member of Blue Team, but the developers decided on fan favorite Buck after Nathan Fillion became available. Smith became Locke, Vesper and Song became Vale and Tanaka, and Fireteam Osiris took shape after more than two years of changes.{{cite web|last=Easterling |first=Jeff |date=November 16, 2015 |url=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-fifty-caliber |title=Canon Fodder #50: Fifty Caliber |work=Halo Waypoint |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120184105/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-fifty-caliber |archive-date=November 20, 2015 |url-status=live }}

In contrast to the push for larger set pieces, 343 Industries wanted characterization to remain important, with the difference between the veteran Blue Team and newly-formed Osiris provide a contrast. Speaking about Cortana's fate in Halo 4, O'Connor stated that Halo 4{{'}}s story was focused on the effect that Cortana's sacrifice and loss would have on the Master Chief. He also noted that this effect would be reflected in Halo 5: Guardians, with a story that explores how the Master Chief copes with loss and memories.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/22/revealing-the-story-of-halo-5-guardians-campaign.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624002257/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/22/revealing-the-story-of-halo-5-guardians-campaign.aspx | url-status=live | archive-date=June 24, 2015 | title=Revealing The Story Of Halo 5: Guardians' Campaign | magazine=Game Informer | first=Wade | last=Wojcik | date=June 22, 2015 | access-date=June 13, 2016}}

On the departure from the Xbox 360 hardware, Ross noted that the Xbox One allowed 343 Industries to broaden the game's scope, as its matchmaking and four-player online campaign co-op modes utilize the console's dedicated server support.{{cite web|url=http://news.xbox.com/2014/05/games-halo-journey-announcement|title=The Halo Journey|last=Ross|first=Bonnie|author-link=Bonnie Ross|date=May 16, 2014|work=Xbox Wire|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=May 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518021206/http://news.xbox.com/2014/05/games-halo-journey-announcement|archive-date=May 18, 2014|url-status=live}} Franchise development director Frank O'Connor explained that Halo 4 pushed its game engine to the limit, such that moving on to the Xbox One called for the development of a new engine.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/16/halo-5-guardians-receives-first-piece-of-concept-art |title=Halo 5: Guardians Receives First Piece of Concept Art |last=Karmali |first=Luke |date=May 16, 2014 |website=IGN|access-date=May 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531173354/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/16/halo-5-guardians-receives-first-piece-of-concept-art |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |url-status=live }} The co-op player count prompted the studio to work at increasing the number of enemies and sense of scale.{{cite web|last=Mahardy|first=Mike|date=September 23, 2015|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-guardians-introduces-huge-missions-and-inti/1100-6430781/|title=Halo 5: Guardians Introduces Huge Missions, and Intimate Stories|website=GameSpot|access-date=July 29, 2024}} To support the drop-in/drop-out co-op, 343 Industries built a dynamic AI system for the fireteam companions to assist the player when a session is played alone. The focus on performance meant that split-screen play, which had been in all previous Halo games, was dropped.{{cite web | last=Makuch |first=Eddie|date=July 27, 2015|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-halo-5-has-no-split-screen-at-all/1100-6429212/ | title=Why Halo 5 Has No Split-Screen at All|website=GameSpot|access-date=August 28, 2024 }}

To maintain a 60 FPS frame rate, Halo 5{{'}}s engine dynamically lowers the resolution at which the game is rendered during graphically intensive scenes, which are then upscaled back to the game's native resolution of 1080p.{{cite web|last1=Tach|first1=Dave|title=The Halo 5 tech that scales resolution to ensure 60fps and 'large-scale destruction'|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/9/15/9329901/halo-5-resolution-progressive-60fps-1080p|website=Polygon|access-date=September 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915182726/http://www.polygon.com/2015/9/15/9329901/halo-5-resolution-progressive-60fps-1080p|archive-date=September 15, 2015|url-status=live|date=September 15, 2015}} To help achieve this, 343 Industries made extensive use of Havok software.{{cite web|title=Havok Technology Helped 343i's 60 FPS Goal In Halo 5: Guardians|url=http://wccftech.com/havok-technology-helped-343is-60-fps-goal-in-halo-5-guardians|first=Alessio|last=Palumbo|website=Wccftech|date=November 10, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Halo 5 Guardians Relied on Havok's "Efficient Toolset" for 60 FPS Gameplay|url=http://gamingbolt.com/halo-5-guardians-relied-on-havoks-efficient-toolset-for-60-fps-gameplay|first=Ravi|last=Sinha|website=Gamingbolt|date=November 11, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2017}} Eager to take advantage of the hardware, the art team built fully animated cacti that responded to gunfire, blanketing the campaign maps with the succulents. Ultimately, they proved to be the largest single technical problem in the game and had to be removed.{{cite web|last1=Brustein|first1=Joshua|title=Can the Woman Behind Halo 5 Save the Xbox?|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-halo-5-bonnie-ross/|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=November 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023015630/http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-halo-5-bonnie-ross/|archive-date=October 23, 2015|url-status=live|date=October 22, 2015}}

Halo 4{{'}}s art director, Kenneth Scott, stepped down from his role in January 2014. He was succeeded by Nicolas "Sparth" Bouvier,{{cite web|last1=Dyer|first1=Mitch|title=Halo 4 Art Director Steps Down at 343 Industries|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/08/halo-4-art-director-steps-down-at-343-industries|website=IGN|access-date=December 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109004103/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/08/halo-4-art-director-steps-down-at-343-industries|archive-date=January 9, 2014|url-status=live|date=January 8, 2014}} a concept artist who joined Microsoft in 2009. Bouvier described the early stages of developing artistic concepts as akin to sculpting from marble: "[we] start with a very loose idea that has trickled down from the writers or studio creative director and begin chipping away at the problem." Concept artist Kory Lynn Hubbell recalled that the game's art had to be justified. "If there's no plausible story behind something, it shouldn't be there," he said, recalling that an original plan for a fountain on the mining world of Meridian was changed to a holographic tree, to reflect the desire to simulate nature in the barren landscape.

343's artist and designers focused on differentiating the members of each Spartan fireteam through their design. As Locke's mission is to find Master Chief, Bouvier recalled "he reflects that visually. The design of his armor is very nonintrusive. He doesn't have any bright tones. He's gray and dark to amplify the very nondisruptive nature of his armor." In comparison, Vale's armor was sleeker to reflect her agility, and painted magenta to imply nervousness and aggression. As with the previous game, Halo 5 used motion capture to animate characters. To record the performances, 343 Industries used a 5,000-square-foot stage and fifty cameras, along with a 3D tracking system called OptiTrack.{{cite magazine |last=Jarvis |first=Matthew |date=December 8, 2015 |title=OptiTrack motion capture tech used in Halo 5: Guardians |url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/optitrack-motion-capture-tech-used-in-halo-5-guardians/0214568 |access-date=July 10, 2017 |magazine=MCV/Develop}}{{cite web |title=Microsoft's 343 Industries Deploys Mocap for 'Halo 5: Guardians' |url=https://www.productionhub.com/press-release/53057/microsofts-343-industries-deploys-mocap-for-halo-5-guardians |access-date=July 10, 2017}}

Sataro Tojima was the audio director for Halo 5: Guardians,{{cite magazine | url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/12/the-halo-5-guardians-cover-story.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628182956/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/12/the-halo-5-guardians-cover-story.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 | url-status=live | archive-date=June 28, 2015 | title=The Halo 5: Guardians Cover Story | magazine=Game Informer | first=Bryan | last=Vore | page=2 | date=June 12, 2015 | access-date=June 13, 2016}} with Japanese composer Kazuma Jinnouchi composing the original score. The music was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London and the choir was recorded at the Rudolfinum in Prague.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/07/01/recreating-an-icon-the-soundtrack-of-halo-5.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702135544/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/07/01/recreating-an-icon-the-soundtrack-of-halo-5.aspx | url-status=live | archive-date=July 2, 2015 | title=An Epic Return: The Music And Sound Of Halo 5 | magazine=Game Informer | first=Wade | last=Wojcik | date=July 1, 2015 | access-date=June 13, 2016}} Jinnouchi wanted to reintroduce the original Halo theme in Halo 5: Guardians, so he composed his own interpretation of the piece. A larger emphasis was placed on the use of a choir in Halo 5: Guardians{{'}} music compared to Halo 4{{'}}s.

For the first time in Halo{{'}}s multiplayer, teammates can make voiced callouts. Jul's Covenant faction have conversations. The audio team worked closely with the AI and narrative departments when developing the Blue Team and Team Osiris in the campaign.

The game's soundtrack was released on October 30, 2015, in four editions: a digital release, physical compact disc, vinyl, and limited edition featuring double compact discs, vinyl, and extra multimedia content.{{cite web|last=Makuch|first=Eddie|date=October 20, 2015|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-soundtrack-limited-edition-vinyl-version-re/1100-6431572/|title=Halo 5 Soundtrack Limited Edition, Vinyl Version Revealed|website=GameSpot|access-date=January 13, 2023}}

Holmes stated that the development team wanted Halo 5{{'}}s multiplayer to provide gameplay variety and support different play styles.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/12/the-halo-5-guardians-cover-story.aspx?PostPageIndex=4 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702203830/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/12/the-halo-5-guardians-cover-story.aspx?PostPageIndex=4 | url-status=live | archive-date=July 2, 2015 | title=The Halo 5: Guardians Cover Story | magazine=Game Informer | first=Bryan | last=Vore | page=4 | date=June 12, 2015 | access-date=June 13, 2016}} In the game's Arena mode, 343 Industries decided to exclude a loadout system so they could encourage the concept of a level playing field that was present in earlier Halo games. The mode was inspired by older multiplayer shooters such as Quake.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/26/a-guided-tour-of-halo-5-guardians-newest-map-fathom-.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627220359/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/26/a-guided-tour-of-halo-5-guardians-newest-map-fathom-.aspx | url-status=live | archive-date=June 27, 2015 | title=A Guided Tour Of Halo 5: Guardians' Newest Map, Fathom | magazine=Game Informer | first=Ben | last=Reeves | page=1 | date=June 26, 2015 | access-date=June 13, 2016}} Warzone, one of the new multiplayer modes, was originally conceived in 2012 with a small demo set up as a four-versus-four player match with AI controlled enemies defending an objective.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/15/exclusive-first-hands-on-with-halo-5-guardian-s-new-24-player-mode-warzone.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616193919/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/15/exclusive-first-hands-on-with-halo-5-guardian-s-new-24-player-mode-warzone.aspx | url-status=live | archive-date=June 16, 2015 | title=Exclusive First Hands-On With Halo 5: Guardian's New 24-Player Mode, Warzone | magazine=Game Informer | first=Ben | last=Reeves | date=June 15, 2015 | access-date=June 13, 2016}} Initially, the studio wanted to implement such a mode with Halo 4 on the Xbox 360 but they were unable to achieve their vision.

File:Playing Halo 5 - PAXAUS 2015 (22016381103).jpg]]

At Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2013, Microsoft announced a new, untitled addition to the Halo series with a trailer showing Master Chief.{{cite web |last=Drake |first=Audrey |date=June 10, 2013 |title=E3 2013: New Halo Coming in 2014 |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/06/10/e3-2013-new-halo-coming-in-2014 |access-date=June 16, 2015 |website=IGN }} After E3, Xbox executive Phil Spencer said the previously announced "Reclaimer Trilogy", of which Halo 4 had been the first entry, had been expanded into a larger saga, explaining that the developers did not want to limit the story to just three games.{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=June 21, 2013 |title=Microsoft: New Halo for Xbox One is "legitimate" |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-new-halo-for-xbox-one-is-legitimate/1100-6410554/ |access-date=July 1, 2013 |website=GameSpot}} The title and 2015 release date were confirmed in May 2014 as an Xbox One exclusive.{{cite web |last=Sliva |first=Marty |date=May 16, 2014 |title=Halo 5: Guardians Announced |url=http://au.ign.com/articles/2014/05/16/halo-5-guardians-announced |access-date=May 16, 2014 |website=IGN}}{{cite magazine |last=Peckham |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Peckham |date=May 16, 2014 |title=Halo 5 Guardians Will Be the Xbox One's Maiden Halo |url=https://time.com/102728/halo-5-guardians-xbox-one/ |url-status=live |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518064624/http://time.com/102728/halo-5-guardians-xbox-one/ |archive-date=May 18, 2014 |access-date=May 19, 2014}} Live-action advertisements on television revealed the October 27, 2015, release date.{{cite news|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/3/29/8309803/halo-5-release-date-xbox-one|title=Halo 5: Guardians launches Oct. 27, see the new live-action trailers|last=Crecente|first=Brian|work=Polygon|date=March 29, 2015|access-date=January 22, 2016}}

Halo 5 had a multiplayer beta, which ran from December 29, 2014, through January 18, 2015. Players obtained access to the beta through purchasing Halo: The Master Chief Collection.{{cite news |last=Keith |first=Stuart |date=June 10, 2014 |title=E3 2014: Halo Master Chief Collection announced for Xbox One |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/09/e3-2014-halo-master-chief-collection-xbox-one |access-date=June 12, 2014}}{{cite web |last1=Makuch |first1=Eddie |date=December 29, 2014 |title=Halo 5 Multiplayer Beta Available Today |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-multiplayer-beta-available-today/1100-6424413/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905180613/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-multiplayer-beta-available-today/1100-6424413/ |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=September 5, 2015 |website=GameSpot}}{{cite web | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-08-12-halo-5-guardians-beta-runs-three-weeks-from-december-29th | title=Halo 5: Guardians beta runs three weeks from December 29th |website=Eurogamer| first=Oli | last=Welsh | date=August 12, 2014 | access-date=June 13, 2016}} The beta was a sample of Halo 5{{'}}s arena gameplay, featuring three modes, seven maps and eleven weapons. The development team wanted to launch a beta as early as possible so that players could give feedback, which was used to make refinements to gameplay and adjustments to maps. The beta ran on dedicated servers.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/12/the-halo-5-guardians-cover-story.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613232725/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/06/12/the-halo-5-guardians-cover-story.aspx | url-status=live | archive-date=June 13, 2015 | title=The Halo 5: Guardians Cover Story | magazine=Game Informer | first=Bryan | last=Vore | date=June 12, 2015 | access-date=June 13, 2016|page=1–4}} In response to the negative coverage of The Master Chief Collection{{'}}s launch, 343 insisted Halo 5 would do better.{{cite web |last1=Hussain |first1=Tamoor |date=May 8, 2015 |title=Halo: The Master Chief Collection Is "Black Eye For Us," Franchise Director Says |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-the-master-chief-collection-is-black-eye-for-/1100-6427185/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905181238/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-the-master-chief-collection-is-black-eye-for-/1100-6427185/ |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=September 5, 2015 |website=GameSpot}}

Halo 5 was also marketed in sports events: Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC wore jerseys with the game's ads;{{cite web|title=Sounders FC to wear Halo 5: Guardians-themed jerseys for nationally televised match vs. LA Galaxy|url=https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2015/09/28/sounders-fc-wear-halo-5-guardians-themed-jerseys-nationally-televised-match-vs-la|date=September 29, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2017}} and Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jamie McMurray drove in the NASCAR competition in Halo 5-themed cars.{{cite web|title=Halo 5 Sponsoring NASCAR Event Next Weekend|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-sponsoring-nascar-event-next-weekend/1100-6431256|work=GameSpot|date=October 8, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2017|first=Eddie|last=Makuch}}

Campaign gameplay was shown at E3 2015.{{cite news |last=Nunnenly |first=Stephany |date=June 15, 2015 |title=Halo 5: Guardians – E3 2015 campaign and Warzone multiplayer demos |work=VG247 |url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/06/15/halo-5-e3-2015-demo-video/ |access-date=January 25, 2016}}

A documentary series about the development of the game, The Sprint, debuted on the Xbox One's Halo Channel and was later uploaded to YouTube.{{cite web |last=Saed |first=Sherif |date=February 10, 2015 |title=Halo 5: Guardians documentary The Sprint is now available on YouTube |url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/02/10/halo-5-guardians-documentary-the-sprint-is-now-available-on-youtube |access-date=July 11, 2017 |website=VG247}} The first season was about the development of Halo 5{{'}}s multiplayer;{{cite web |author=Staff |date=December 18, 2014 |title=The Sprint Gives You an Inside Look at the Making of Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta |url=https://news.xbox.com/2014/12/18/games-halo-the-sprint-announcement |access-date=July 11, 2017 |work=Xbox Wire |publisher=Microsoft}} the second season focused on the development of the Warzone game mode, and additional tweaks for the presentation at E3 2015.{{cite web |title=The Sprint - Season 2 |url=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/halo-channel/shows/the-sprint/season-2 |access-date=July 11, 2017 |website=Halo Waypoint |publisher=Microsoft |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108095814/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/halo-channel/shows/the-sprint/season-2 |url-status=dead }} The third season showed the development of the game's score and the use of motion capture.{{cite web |date=October 6, 2015 |title=Watch The Sprint Season 3 to learn about motion-capture and score of Halo 5: Guardians |url=https://ar12gaming.com/articles/watch-the-sprint-season-3-to-learn-about-motioncapture-and-score-of-halo-5-guardians |access-date=July 11, 2017 |website=AR12Gaming.com |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415164333/https://ar12gaming.com/articles/watch-the-sprint-season-3-to-learn-about-motioncapture-and-score-of-halo-5-guardians |url-status=dead }}

One fan in Australia was tapped to play the game from a helicopter while an aerial screen broadcast the gameplay from 2,000 feet up.{{cite web|last=Te|first=Zorine|date=October 21, 2015|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-to-be-played-on-worlds-biggest-aerial-scree/1100-6431575/|title=Halo 5 to Be Played on World's Biggest Aerial Screen While Flown Above Sydney|website=GameSpot|access-date=January 12, 2023}}

Tie-in merchandise included Halo 5-themed Minecraft skins.{{cite web|last=Makuch|first=Eddie|date=October 19, 2015|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-gets-minecraft-xbox-dlc-skins/1100-6431526/|title=Halo 5 Gets Minecraft Xbox DLC Skins|website=GameSpot|access-date=January 17, 2023}}

On March 22, 2015, Microsoft launched Hunt the Truth, an audioplay similar to radio series such as This American Life. The first season followed the investigations of fictional journalist and war photographer Benjamin Giraud (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key), who investigates the Master Chief's background.{{cite web | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-03-23-halo-5-guardians-arg-includes-serial-style-fictional-podcast-expose-on-master-chief | title=Halo 5 ARG includes Serial-style fictional podcast exposé on Master Chief | last=Yin-Poole | first=Wesley | work=Eurogamer| date=March 23, 2015 | access-date=March 23, 2015}} Giraud discovers that the official story of Master Chief's origins are false, and attempts to expose the coverup.

The first season was highly successful, drawing an audience of 6.7 million listeners on iTunes and winning Hunt the Truth{{'}}s ad agency a Clio Award.{{cite web | url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/leo-burnett-rga-droga5-win-gold-clio-awards-unveil-ooh-audio-and-pr-winners-166940 | title=Leo Burnett, R/GA, Droga5 Win Gold as Clio Awards Unveil OOH, Audio and PR Winners | work=Adweek| date=September 16, 2015 }} A second season of the podcast began September 22, 2015, focusing upon the view point of ONI Agent Maya Sankar (Janina Gavankar), returning undercover as FERO, to investigate unidentified attacks on human colonies.{{cite magazine | url=https://time.com/4039922/halo-hunt-for-the-truth/ | title=Listen to an Exclusive Preview of Halo 5's 'Hunt the Truth' Season Two | last=Peckham | first=Matt | magazine=Time | date=September 21, 2015 | access-date=January 24, 2016}}

Halo 5 released worldwide on October 27, 2015. In the United States, it was the first shooter in the franchise to receive a Teen rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, instead of a Mature rating.{{cite web | last=Pereira | first=Chris | title=Unlike Every Past Halo FPS, Halo 5 Earns a Teen ESRB Rating|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/unlike-every-past-halo-fps-halo-5-earns-a-teen-esr/1100-6429576 | access-date=August 8, 2015 | website=GameSpot| date=August 7, 2015}} Microsoft executive Aaron Greenberg felt that the M ratings on previous installments were surprising given the comparative lack of graphic violence, but that the Teen rating gave Halo 5 a larger potential audience.{{cite web | first=Eddie | last=Makuch | title=Halo 5's Teen Rating Will Improve Sales, Xbox Exec Says | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5s-teen-rating-will-improve-sales-xbox-exec-s/1100-6431866 | website=GameSpot | date=October 30, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212030317/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5s-teen-rating-will-improve-sales-xbox-exec-s/1100-6431866 | archive-date=December 12, 2015 | url-status=live | access-date=December 1, 2015}} The game shipped in a standard edition, limited edition, and collector's edition. The limited edition came with a REQ bundle, dossiers on the game's characters, the Fall of Reach film, a statue of a Guardian, and a "steelbook" metal case. The collector's edition contained the limited edition extras, plus a commemorative statue of Master Chief and Agent Locke.{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/06/17/halo-5-guardians-limited-and-collectors-edition-content-confirmed/|title=Halo 5: Guardians – limited and collector's edition content confirmed|last=Saed|first=Sherif|website=VG247|date=June 17, 2015|access-date=January 13, 2016}} The collector's edition comes with a digital code rather than a physical disc; fan feedback led Microsoft to offer a limited-time free trade-in program so buyers could have a physical disc instead.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/10/5/9456913/heres-how-your-249-99-digital-copy-of-halo-5-can-become-a-physical|title=Here's how your $249.99 digital copy of Halo 5 can become a physical disc|last=Gies|first=Arthur|website=Polygon|date=October 5, 2015|access-date=January 12, 2023}}

Halo 5 was supported by free post-release content updates that added new features, weapons, and multiplayer maps. Holmes explained that the studio did not want to segregate the player base by distributing maps as paid downloadable content.{{cite web|last1=Stein|first1=Zack|title=All Halo 5: Guardians DLC Maps Will Be Free|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/09/all-halo-5-guardians-dlc-maps-will-be-free|website=IGN|access-date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821014149/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/09/all-halo-5-guardians-dlc-maps-will-be-free|archive-date=August 21, 2015|url-status=live|date=June 9, 2015}}{{cite web|first=Tamoor|last=Hussain|title=No Halo 5 Campaign DLC Planned, Says Dev|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/no-halo-5-campaign-dlc-planned-says-dev/1100-6431811/|website=GameSpot|date=October 29, 2015|access-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218195744/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/no-halo-5-campaign-dlc-planned-says-dev/1100-6431811/|archive-date=December 18, 2015|url-status=live}} A Windows PC version of the game's map editing tool and multiplayer, Halo 5: Forge, was released for Windows 10 on September 8, 2016.{{cite web|title=Halo 5: Forge for Windows 10 PC Release Date Revealed|url=https://news.xbox.com/2016/08/24/halo-5-forge-comes-pc-september-8-anvils-legacy-content-release-revealed|first=Tom|last=French|date=August 24, 2016|website=Xbox Wire|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=July 8, 2017}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 84/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/halo-5-guardians/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Halo 5: Guardians for Xbox One Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=December 10, 2015}}

| Destruct = 7/10{{cite web |last=Carter |first=Chris |date=October 26, 2015 |url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-halo-5-guardians-315608.phtml |title=Review: Halo 5: Guardians |work=Destructoid |access-date=October 26, 2015 |archive-date=January 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106211141/http://www.destructoid.com/review-halo-5-guardians-315608.phtml |url-status=dead }}

| EGM = 9/10{{cite magazine |last=Landa |first=Jeff |date=October 26, 2015 |url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/halo-5-guardians-review/ |title=Halo 5: Guardians review |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |access-date=October 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712080742/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/halo-5-guardians-review/ |archive-date=July 12, 2017 |url-status=dead }}

|GTM=6/10{{cite web|author=Staff|date=December 6, 2015|url=http://www.gamestm.co.uk/reviews/halo-5-guardians-review/|title=Halo 5: Guardians review|work=GamesTM|access-date=January 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212054858/http://www.gamestm.co.uk/reviews/halo-5-guardians-review/|archive-date=December 12, 2015}}

| GI = 8.75/10{{cite magazine |last=Miller |first=Matt |date=October 28, 2015 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/halo_5_guardians/b/xboxone/archive/2015/10/28/game-informer-review-halo-5-guardians.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030025406/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/halo_5_guardians/b/xboxone/archive/2015/10/28/game-informer-review-halo-5-guardians.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=October 30, 2015 |title=Halo 5: Guardians |magazine=Game Informer |access-date= October 28, 2015}}

| GameRev = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Paras |first=Peter |date=October 26, 2015 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/halo-xbox-one |title=Halo 5: Guardians Review |website=Game Revolution |access-date=October 26, 2015}}

| GSpot = 8/10{{cite web |last=Mahardy |first=Mike |date=October 27, 2015 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/halo-5-guardians-review/1900-6416293/ |title=Halo 5: Guardians Review |website=GameSpot |access-date=October 27, 2015}}

| GT = 9/10{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Ben |date=October 27, 2015 |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/at14rd/halo-5--guardians-review |title=Halo 5: Guardians - Review |website=GameTrailers |access-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029120853/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/at14rd/halo-5--guardians-review |archive-date=October 29, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

| GRadar = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Houghton |first=David |date=October 29, 2015 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/halo-5-review/ |title=Halo 5: Guardians - Final review |work=GamesRadar |access-date=October 29, 2015}}

| GB = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |date=October 26, 2015 |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/halo-5-guardians-review/1900-720/ |title=Halo 5: Guardians Review |work=Giant Bomb |access-date=October 26, 2015}}

| IGN = 9/10{{cite web |last=Albert |first=Brian |date=October 26, 2015 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/10/26/halo-5-guardians-review |title=Halo 5: Guardians Review |work=IGN |access-date=October 26, 2015}}

| OXMUK = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Dale |first=Alex |date=October 26, 2015 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/halo-5-guardians-review-oxm/oxm/ |title=Halo 5: Guardians Campaign review (OXM) |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine|access-date=October 26, 2015}}

| Poly = 9/10{{cite web |last=Gies |first=Arthur |date=October 26, 2015 |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/10/26/9553081/halo-5-guardians-review-xbox-one |title=Halo 5: Guardians review |work=Polygon |access-date=October 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026170910/http://www.polygon.com/2015/10/26/9553081/halo-5-guardians-review-xbox-one |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}

| VG = 9/10{{cite web |last=Orry |first=Tom |date=October 26, 2015 |url=http://www.videogamer.com/reviews/halo_5_review.html |title=Halo 5: Guardians Review |work=VideoGamer.com |access-date=October 26, 2015}}

| rev1 = VentureBeat

| rev1Score = 83/100{{cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/10/25/halo-5-guardians-takes-master-chief-and-his-pursuer-down-a-very-strange-path/view-all/|title=Updated: Halo 5: Guardians takes Master Chief and his pursuer down a very strange path|first=Dean|last=Takahashi |website=VentureBeat|date=October 25, 2015|access-date=January 20, 2016}}

}}

Halo 5: Guardians received an aggregated score of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 101 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Arthur Gies, writing for Polygon, wrote that 343 Industries had much to prove with Halo 5 after Halo 4{{'}}s online population "evaporated", The Master Chief Collection{{'}}s woes, and Microsoft's need for a strong title to sell more Xbox One units. "343's response to that quagmire," Gies wrote, "[is] to return to the fundamentals of what made the series great in the first place. The studio has brought Halo{{'}}s mechanics kicking and screaming into the modern era, while providing the most bombastic, co-op-driven campaign in Halo history." GameSpot{{'}}s Mike Mahardy agreed that 343 had produced some of the best iterations of the game series' facets with Halo 5. IGN's Brian Albert opined that 343 Industries had created an even bigger game than previous entries, with "the strongest combat Halo has ever seen". Destructoid{{'}}s Chris Carter felt that Halo 5 failed to grab him in the same way as previous games had, "but those of you who are still content with Master Chief and his wacky adventures across the galaxy will likely walk away satisfied." More critically, the reviewers of GamesTM felt that Halo 5 was "sheepish and safe" and represented a series low.

Halo 5{{'}}s overall gameplay and multiplayer were well received. GameSpot praised Halo 5{{'}}s multiplayer experience for being in the "best shape Halo{{'}}s multiplayer has ever taken", and in particular, noting the game's return to "universal" weapon loadouts and obtaining stronger weapons spawning on-map, rather than unlocking weapons as in Halo 4. The Warzone mode was considered to be one of the "best new ideas" in both the Halo franchise and the genre, praising its MOBA-like mechanics and vast environments, explaining that "as with the rest of Halo 5, there is momentum here—but this is a force that shifts from side to side with each match. Warzone isn't so much about consistency—it's about adaptability. And the team that can roll with the punches, and punch back at the right moments, will have the upper hand." Albert praised the campaign for challenging enemies and environments dense with secret pathways and hidden weapons. "This kind of design makes Halo 5's campaign ripe for replaying, and well suited for the [...] co-op it's clearly made for", he wrote.

The game's artificial intelligence (AI) received mixed impressions. Chris Carter found the squad controls rudimentary, but found the team chatter and their assistance welcome. GamesTM pointed out flaws in enemies by criticizing overpowered bosses and saying that "the number of things that can kill you instantly—even on Normal difficulty—is exasperatingly high". Reviewers like Carter and GamesTM complained of ally teammates failing to revive players, even in instances such as when they were standing right next to the player.

Halo 5{{'}}s campaign and story received mixed reviews. Timothy J. Seppala of Engadget felt it was the first time in years that the campaign felt like a step backward compared to its predecessor; "instead of addressing what it got wrong with [Halo 4] and doubling down on what it did right, the team fundamentally altered how a Halo campaign works to horrendous results."{{cite web|first=Timothy J.|last=Seppala|url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/29/halo-5-guardians-combat-devolved|title=I played through 'Halo 5: Guardians' solo and hated it|work=Engadget|date=October 29, 2015|access-date=November 8, 2015}} Time{{'}}s Matt Peckham felt that in comparison to the setup in Halo 5{{'}}s marketing and the Hunt the Truth series, which suggested a novel direction for the series, "What happens in Halo 5{{'}}s story, by contrast, feels disappointingly by the numbers."{{cite magazine|first=Matt|last=Peckham|author-link=Matt Peckham|url=https://time.com/4077354/halo-5-guardians-review-a-mediocre-story-with-terrific-multiplayer/|title=Halo 5 Balances Its Mediocre Story With Smart Multiplayer|magazine=Time|date=October 26, 2015|access-date=November 8, 2015}} GameSpot's Mike Mahardy felt that while the plot had promise, the campaign did not effectively capitalize on its opportunities: "Cutscenes fade to black before they feel finished. Character motivations shift on a whim." Forbes{{'}} Paul Thier and GamesRadar's David Houghton complained that players did not suitably impact the story's progression, and that the game's cliffhanger ended the plot at the conclusion of the first act.{{cite web|last=Thier|first=David|date=November 2, 2015|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2015/11/02/why-halo-5-guardians-ending-was-so-controversial/|title=Why Halo 5: Guardians' Ending Was So Controversial|work=Forbes|access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web|last=Houghton |first=David |date=October 30, 2015 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/why-halo-5s-story-fails-completely/ |title=Why Halo 5's Story Fails Completely |work=GamesRadar |access-date=November 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102134008/http://www.gamesradar.com/why-halo-5s-story-fails-completely/ |archive-date=November 2, 2015 |url-status=live }} Though he also found fault with parts of Halo 5{{'}}s campaign, Albert praised Cortana's threat as "less black and white" in motives than previous antagonists, and the background chatter contributing to learning more about each character.

The game's mainstream marketing received some criticism for being different from the game's plot.{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |title=Halo 5 Dev Acknowledges "Disconnect" Between Marketing And Actual Game |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-dev-acknowledges-disconnect-between-marketi/1100-6449672 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |work=GameSpot}}{{cite web |last=Dyer |first=Mitch |date=October 26, 2015 |title=Opinion: Halo 5's Ads Lied to You |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/10/26/opinion-halo-5s-ads-lied-to-you |access-date=July 13, 2017 |work=IGN}} Phil Hornshaw of Digital Trends wrote that Halo 5{{'}}s marketing "suggests an emotional conflict between the questionably-loyal Chief and the 'traitor-hunting' Osiris leader, Locke, but those moments are barely in the game".{{cite web |last=Hornshaw |first=Phil |date=October 27, 2015 |title=Halo 5: Guardians review |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/game-reviews/halo-5-guardians-review |access-date=July 13, 2017 |work=Digital Trends}} 343 later promised that they had heard complaints about the lack of Master Chief in Halo 5, and would renew their focus on the character in the future.{{cite web|last=Good|first=Owen|date=April 26, 2017|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/26/15435488/halo-6-xbox-one-pc-master-chief|title=Halo 6 will be all about Master Chief, no new playable characters|website=Polygon|access-date=January 17, 2023}}

First-week global sales of Halo 5 software and hardware totaled more than {{US$|400 million}}. With hardware included (such as the $500 Halo 5 themed Xbox One{{cite magazine

|title=Check Out the New Halo 5-Themed Xbox One

|url=https://time.com/3984570/xbox-halo/

|magazine=Time

|first=Matt

|last=Peckham

|access-date=March 3, 2023

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806190838/https://time.com/3984570/xbox-halo/

|archive-date=August 6, 2015

|url-status=live

|date=August 6, 2015}}) Halo 5 was included in the biggest sales record in Xbox history, though they did not publish software sales or units alone. It was however the best-selling digital title.{{cite web|title=Halo 5: Guardians Smashes Record with Biggest Halo Launch in History|url=http://news.xbox.com/2015/11/04/halo-5-guardians-biggest-halo-launch-in-history/|website=Xbox Wire|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=November 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104151447/http://news.xbox.com/2015/11/04/halo-5-guardians-biggest-halo-launch-in-history/|archive-date=November 4, 2015|url-status=live|date=November 4, 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Makuch|first1=Eddie|title=Halo 5 Reaches $400 Million in Sales to Become Biggest Halo Launch Ever|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-5-reaches-400-million-in-sales-to-become-bigg/1100-6431980/|website=GameSpot|access-date=November 15, 2015|date=November 4, 2015}} Within its first five days of release, Halo 5 was the best-selling game of October in the United States, according to NPD Group,{{cite web|last1=Macy|first1=Seth G.|title=The Best Selling Games for October Announced|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/11/12/the-best-selling-games-for-october-announced|website=IGN|access-date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113031618/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/11/12/the-best-selling-games-for-october-announced|archive-date=November 13, 2015|url-status=live|date=November 12, 2015}} which tracks physical sales from retailers. In November, Halo 5 was the eighth best selling game according to NPD's figures.{{cite web|last1=Grubb|first1=Jeff|title=November 2015 NPD: Call of Duty outsells Fallout 4 as PlayStation 4 takes November|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/12/10/november-npd-cod-beats-fallout/|website=VentureBeat|access-date=December 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211044803/http://venturebeat.com/2015/12/10/november-npd-cod-beats-fallout/|archive-date=December 11, 2015|url-status=live|date=December 10, 2015}} It was the ninth best-selling game of 2015 in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.circana.com/intelligence/entertainment-top-10/2024/gaming-through-the-decades-us-top-20-best-selling-video-games/|title=Gaming Through the Decades: US Top 20 Best-selling Video Games of the Year, 2000 through 2023|work=Circana|access-date=November 29, 2024}}

Halo 5: Guardians was the eleventh bestselling retail game during its first week of release in Japan, with 7,455 physical copies. being sold.{{cite web |last=Romano|first=Sal|date=November 4, 2015|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2015/11/media-create-sales-102615-11115|title=Media Create Sales: 10/26/15 – 11/1/15|website=Gematsu|accessdate=September 3, 2022}} In the United Kingdom, Halo 5 debuted on the top of the sales charts as measured by Chart-Track, besting the week's other new release, Assassin's Creed Syndicate. It outsold previous Halo release The Master Chief Collection by 50% in its first week.{{cite web|last1=Martin|first1=Matt|title=Halo 5 outsells Master Chief Collection by 50% in first week|url=http://www.vg247.com/2015/11/02/halo-5-outsells-master-chief-collection-by-50-in-first-week/|work=VG247|date=November 2, 2015 |access-date=November 2, 2015}}{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Phillips|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-11-02-halo-5-tops-chart-outsells-assassins-creed-syndicate-launch-by-50-percent|title=Halo 5 tops chart, outsells Assassin's Creed Syndicate launch by 50%|work=Eurogamer|date=November 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107221358/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-11-02-halo-5-tops-chart-outsells-assassins-creed-syndicate-launch-by-50-percent|archive-date=November 7, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=November 7, 2015}} The following week sales decreased 78 percent, and Halo 5 was displaced from the top of the charts by Call of Duty: Black Ops III.{{cite web |author=Staff |date=November 9, 2015 |url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/?i=2269&s=1111 |title=Black Ops Friday |website=Chart-Track |access-date=November 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112032304/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/?i=2269&s=1111 |archive-date=November 12, 2015 |url-status=dead }} The game was the tenth best selling title of 2015 in Australia.{{cite web |last=Van Daal |first=Joel |date=January 11, 2016 |url=http://www.mcvpacific.com/news/read/the-2015-australia-new-zealand-igea-top-ten-charts-powered-by-npd/0161051 |title=The 2015 Australia & New Zealand IGEA Top Ten Charts powered by NPD |work=MCV Pacific |access-date=January 13, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114175230/http://www.mcvpacific.com/news/read/the-2015-australia-new-zealand-igea-top-ten-charts-powered-by-npd/0161051 |archive-date=January 14, 2016 }}

On June 9, 2016, Frank O'Connor said that the game managed to sell 5 million copies in the first 3 months of its release.{{cite web|url=http://gamingbolt.com/halo-5-sold-five-million-copies-in-three-months|title=Halo 5 Sold Five Million Copies in Three Months|first=Ravi |last=Sinha| work=GamingBolt|access-date=August 25, 2023}} Halo 5: Guardians had the lowest opening sales of a numbered Halo title in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/11970-halo-5-is-the-least-selling-main-halo-game-in-uk-history|title=Halo 5 is the least selling halo game in Uk history|date=November 2, 2015 |first=Jonathan|last=Leack|work=GameRevolution|access-date=August 25, 2023}}

The gaming analyst Michael Pachter recounted a conversation with Microsoft regarding the success of Halo 5. Contrary to popular belief, the analyst said that Microsoft told him that the title sold "on par" with the previous four mainline Halo titles.{{Cite web|title=Microsoft says Halo 5 sold on par with previous entries like Halo 1-4|url=https://mspoweruser.com/microsoft-says-halo-5-sold-par-previous-entries-like-halo-1-4/|website=MSPoweruser|date=May 10, 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-11}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{Cite book |title=The Art of Halo 5 |publisher=Insight Editions |year=2015 |isbn=9781608876495 |pages=}}

{{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}}

{{cite web|last=Gach|first=Ethan|date=August 16, 2018|url=https://kotaku.com/halo-5-the-kotaku-re-review-1828389966|title=Halo 5: The Kotaku Re-Review|website=Kotaku|access-date=September 5, 2023}}}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-5-guardians/xbox-one|name=Halo 5: Guardians at Halo Waypoint}}
• {{Official website|http://www.xbox.com/games/halo-5-guardians|name=Halo 5: Guardians at Xbox.com}}
• {{Halopedia|Halo_5:_Guardians|Halo 5: Guardians}}

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