343 Industries claims they have hundred of stories to tell in the Halo universe, some of which helped set the stage for Halo 5: Guardians. This comes to us courtesy of HaloFollower, whom you can subscribe to on YouTube here.
This comes directly from Bonnie Ross, the head of 343 Industries herself. Of course, these stories won’t be told exclusively in the games, but other media, as they have done before. Examples of media we will see future Halo stories are novels, comics, and live action shows. They use their transmedia narratives to expand the universe in such a way that there will be more worlds for the games to explore in.
Ross elaborates further that they actually have to expand on the Halo universe in this way. This is because characters had a tendency of getting killed off in the first three Halo games, leaving limits to what direction they could take the games next. Ross also essentially admits to the limitations of trying to tell a story in a first-person shooter IP.
HaloFollower runs down the most high profile transmedia Halo projects, including the failed Peter Jackson movie (that became District 9), Forward unto Dawn, and Halo Nightfall. Spielberg also has an upcoming Halo TV show, which Microsoft has kept under tight wraps.
We also know about a series of Halo 3 related novels, including Halo: New Blood, which focuses on Halo ODST protagonist Edward Buck. And then, of course, there are the Halo games, with Spartan Strike and Halo Online coming out this year along with Halo 5: Guardians.
Ross ends the interview by mentioning Halo 5’s presence in E3. They will be talking about the story, campaign, multiplayer, and more.
HaloFollower also reminds us that the original plan to make a Reclaimer trilogy of games starting with Halo 5: Guardians has now become a saga. Ross has even mentioned getting away from numbered Halo games.
Halo 5: Guardians will be released exclusively on the Xbox One.