Hello Halo, Welcome to PlayStation

 

Halo the video game has been one of the most influential video games of all time. Only enthusiasts will know the following facts about this video game franchise. But before I get into them. For those of you who don't know. Let me give you some insight into this video game and how it has affected the entertainment industry since its release. 

The Halo series is primarily set in the 26th century and revolves around an epic war between humanity and an alien alliance known as the Covenant, as well as the mysterious Forerunner race and their deadly weapon, the Halo rings. Here's an overview of the game's central themes and plot:

Main Plot of Halo

The game begins with humanity on the brink of extinction, fighting a losing war against the powerful and technologically advanced alien species call the "Covenant". The story follows the main character "Master Chief", a genetically enhanced super-soldier, or Spartan, and his AI companion, Cortana. They discover a massive ringworld called Halo after fleeing a devastating attack on a human colony.

At first, the Halo ring seems like a massive structure meant for exploration or habitation, but it quickly becomes apparent that it holds a far more dangerous purpose. The Halo rings are revealed to be weapons of mass destruction designed by an ancient alien race, the Forerunners, to destroy all sentient life in the galaxy. This was a last-ditch effort to stop a parasitic species called the Flood, which consumes all life forms to grow and spread. Kind of like the aliens from "The Quiet Place" franchise. 

Master Chief's mission is to stop the Covenant from activating Halo, as doing so would trigger a galactic genocide, wiping out not only the Flood but all sentient life. The game mixes themes of war, survival, and discovery, as players gradually learn more about the ancient Forerunners, the threat of the Flood, and the ongoing war between humans and the Covenant.

Quick Facts

1. Halo was originally a Mac Exclusive Video game. It was first unveiled at Macworld in 1999, with Steve Jobs himself showcasing the game. However, after Microsoft acquired Bungie, the game was reworked into a first-person shooter and became an Xbox exclusive.

2.  The protagonist of the series, the Master Chief, is famously known by his rank rather than his real name. However, his full name is John-117. His identity is deliberately kept mysterious to make him a more relatable character for players.

3. At the Dubai-based gaming theme park "Hub Zero," there was a Halo-themed attraction called "360: Arena of Command." The ride immersed players in a Halo-themed virtual world. It was one of the few physical Halo experiences available outside of the video games. Unfortunately, the theme park closed its doors in February 2020 due to financial constraints. 

4. The Halo soundtrack, particularly its iconic Gregorian chant theme, is widely considered one of the best in gaming history. The composer, Martin O'Donnell, received a Grammy Award nomination for his work on Halo 3's soundtrack.

5. The Halo universe has expanded well beyond the games, with novels, comic books, animated series and a Live Action series on Paramount Plus, diving more into the backstory. The novels, in particular, have been well-received and help to explore the deeper lore behind characters like the Master Chief, Cortana, and the Covenant. 

 

Image Credit: Halo Studios

 But now Halo is back on the trend due to the announcement the game designers have made. They are making a new game or series of games for Halo using Unreal Engine 5. This is a significant step into the visuals of the game. This will be the first time ever it will be featured using this tech. But what's more is this: Halo is an Xbox (Microsoft) Exclusive. But by now introducing it into Unreal Engine 5, it's now possible for it to be transferred into other consoles, such as PlayStation. 

Not saying that it will happen. But by using Ureal Engine 5, it gives developers more flexibility in being able to make it happen. Which would be a Game Changer (pun intended) if that were to happen. 

If PlayStation were to get it's hands on Halo. What benefits could arise from that? Well one could make an assumption that Sony will want to get its hands all over the Franchise and maybe even get the rights from Paramount Plus to take over the show? 

Hundreds, if not thousands of players will be introduced to the game, and it would spark a lot more interest into the franchise and add more creative works to get in on the action. 

If Halo Studios plays its cards right, it could be the next big thing in the gaming entertainment world. 

What do you think? Would you be more interested in the Halo series if that were to happen? Or would it stay buried in the past and only left for those who reminisce on what used to be? Let me know with your comments below. 

YouTube Video of the Game Designers with this new development working on Halo using Unreal Engine 5. Take a look!