E3 2021: Halo Infinite – A Masterclass of Storytelling

“If you knew how you were going to die, would you live your life differently?”

That quote isn’t just paraphrased from Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival (2016), it’s one of the core thematic questions of 343 Industries’ Halo Infinite, which drops out of slipspace Holiday 2021.

It’s that time of year again where we get a peek at what 343 has been building over the last few years, coming off the back of last year’s demo and delay. After this Xbox showcase, featuring Bonnie Ross and Joe Staten, a lot of puzzle pieces have clicked together for the story of Halo Infinite, which simply demands exploration!

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Every Mass Effect Trilogy character who could be in ‘Mass Effect 4’

With Mass Effect: Legendary Edition dropping very soon, let’s look to the future.

As the Milky Way and Andromeda stories are set to collide in some way in the next game, let’s explore which characters from Bioware’s trilogy may still be around over 600 years later…

Read More Every Mass Effect Trilogy character who could be in ‘Mass Effect 4’

Everything Point of Light sets up for Halo Infinite

“There is a gap in the time line. This is… unheard of. It simply should not exist. An entire event has been erased.”

Kelly Gay’s latest (and greatest) novel, Halo: Point of Light, is a masterpiece of franchise literature that sets its sights on opening doors for future stories – for Halo Infinite and beyond.

Early in the book, Spark and the Ace of Spades crew stop off at Installation 07 (Zeta Halo), where we’re heading to with the Master Chief. Let’s explore everything this return to the most nightmarish of the Forerunners’ wheels sets up for Halo Infinite…

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Everything Shadows of Reach sets up for Halo Infinite

“We will gather our forces on this world and depart at once. There is a greater purpose that the Banished must attend to.”

It’s been some time since now since Troy Denning’s latest Halo novel, Shadows of Reach, dropped out of slipspace (in fact, they’ve already announced the next one!)

From the state of the galaxy, to the Master Chief’s character arc, Banished politics, and beyond – let’s explore everything Blue Team’s return to Reach sets up for Halo Infinite…

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Halo fiction for Women’s History Month

It’s Women’s History Month, a time to raise awareness of women’s history, and to listen to and uplift their voices.

From Lorraine McLees to Kiki Wolfkill and Bonnie Ross, to everyone between and beyond, women have been foundational to Halo’s success since its inception.

There are light years left to travel, but Halo has generally been one of the more progressive creative platforms for stories about diverse and complex women – increasingly often told by women as well.

I’ve put together a selection of great Halo stories which are either about or told by women that you should absolutely put on your reading list…

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What Halo: The Television Series will be about (and why it’ll be great)

“The story is about [Spartans] reclaiming what makes them human…”

Halo: The Television Series is finally on the horizon.

A recent article from Deadline confirmed that the show (produced by Showtime) will premiere on Paramount+ in Q1 2022.

While details are scarce, there’s enough information for us to start forming a solid idea of what the story will actually be about – and I think it’ll be great.

Read More What Halo: The Television Series will be about (and why it’ll be great)

HALO: POINT OF LIGHT – An interview with Kelly Gay

Halo: Point of Light by Kelly Gay releases March 2nd 2021, continuing the story of Rion Forge, 343 Guilty Spark (now just ‘Spark’), and the Ace of Spades crew.

But before it sits comfortably in your hands (and lives rent-free in your minds), Kelly sat down with me to talk about this momentous new release.

Grab a mug and pull up a chair, Spartans!

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Halo: Point of Light – Review (NON-SPOILER)

“Find what’s missing. Fix the path. Right what my kind has turned wrong.”

Halo: Point of Light by Kelly Gay releases March 2nd 2021, continuing the story of Rion Forge, 343 Guilty Spark (now just ‘Spark’), and the Ace of Spades crew.

343 Industries kindly provided me an early copy of the book and I’m very excited to share my (non-spoilery) review and impressions of the biggest, most universe-shattering Halo story told since Silentium.

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Everything that happened to 343 Guilty Spark AFTER Halo 3

A PRIMER FOR HALO: POINT OF LIGHT

“My galaxy is dead. I am machine. I am Chakas. I am human. I am 343 Guilty Spark.”

Halo: Point of Light, the next book by Kelly Gay, is releasing March 2nd 2021 and will continue the story of our favourite lightbulb – 343 Guilty Spark.

Except he’s no longer a lightbulb, he’s a completely new person now. The story of what’s happened to Spark after the events of Halo 3 is something that has unfolded over the last decade.

Maybe you don’t have the time to read all that fiction but you’re interested in this new book, or you just want to know what’s become of this character you maintain a love-hate relationship with. Who is Chakas? Sergeant Forge had a daughter?

Let’s crack open the ONI archives and bring you up to speed…

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What the Librarian did to the Master Chief in Halo 4 (and what it might mean for Halo Infinite)

“Reclaimer, the genesong I placed within you contains many gifts…”

At the mid-point of Halo 4, the Master Chief comes face-to-face with the data ghost of the Librarian.

She says that she seeded many hidden “gifts” within humanity, and that the Didact can only be defeated by unlocking this dormant potential in the Master Chief, granting him ‘immunity’ to the Composer.

But, in both Halo 4 and Halo 5, we see hints of other “gifts” awakening, which may also come into play in Halo Infinite…

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