Even though Halo: Reach is still clearly visible in fans’ rearview mirrors, it’s never too early to start thinking about what’s going to happen with the next Halo game. The fact that this will be 343 Industries’ first swing at the franchise just adds that much more anticipation and a bloodthirsty need for new details. Will 343 leave the formula alone? Will they make big changes?
Luckily for devoted Halo-ites… Halothians? Luckily for Halo fans, 343 Industries creative director Frank O’Connor was able to answer those questions with a resounding, and excruciatingly ambiguous, “both.”
Here’s what he had to say regarding their approach to the series:
“Ultimately the core game mechanic and strength of the universe doesn’t need to be changed, it just needs to be taken deeper. We want to make Halo games – we don’t want to make Call of Duty or Ridge Racer. We want to make Halo games because we understand what’s special about Halo.
… the next Halo is going to contain improvements. Some of them are going to be dramatic innovations while others will be slight tweaks. You’ve got to say ‘what can we do to make this better?’ It doesn’t matter if that is a giant innovation or a small tweak, you’ve got to do it all over the board.”
Got that? It’ll be the same but different. Now that that’s all cleared up, there’s no need for any more Halo questions until the new game comes out. In all seriousness, even though O’Connor didn’t go into specific details, his comments do shed some light on how they are looking to handle one of gaming’s biggest properties. On one hand, there is a clear respect there for the work put in by Bungie, but on the other, it’s good to hear that they won’t be just sitting on their hands and cashing in on the name.
Use of the phrase “dramatic innovations” is certainly enough to get the Internet guessing at what they have in mind. In all reality, the first-person shooter genre in general could use a few dramatic innovations to give players who’ve grown tired of going through the motions of usual shooter conventions a reason to take a second look. It would be fitting for Halo to be the franchise to fan those flames.
How do you think 343 Industries should handle the next Halo installment? Should they just leave well enough alone and kindly thank Bungie for giving them all careers? Or will these “dramatic innovations” and “slight tweaks” be exactly what Halo needs, and what do you think they might be?
Gamers will just have to wait and find out when the next entry into the Halo universe comes out for the Xbox 360.
Source: CVG
Electronic Arts Discontinues Online Pass Program 
Lionhead Job Listings Hint at ‘Fable 4′ ‘Reimagining’ the Franchise 
‘Deadpool’ Box Art Answers the Question: What Does ‘Awesome’ Look Like? 
‘Batman: Arkham Origins’ Teaser Spotlights Deathstroke 
Loading ...
I think the single player needs a total revamp. The Halo: Reach campaign was supposed to be the franchise’s best ever but it was years behind compared to other FPS franchises and I was left very unimpressed but that.
Not too much needs to be done to the multiplayer side of things, but more objective based and co-op modes would be nice, along with larger player counts and customization of matches.
As long as Master Chief is in it, I will play <3
I have been playing Halo since 2001 and have been very impressed with Bungie and there work. I dont think that Halo Reach was the best Halo of them all but I have always watched the graphics evolve from game to game. Halo is know for there stunning graphics, multiplayer, scenery, and great storyline. I’d really hate to see the game not change in some way or another. but the story and the epic music during single player mode better be good or this game will truly FAIL! I will always be a fan of Halo and Especially Bungie I really hope that this game satisfies those fans who still love the game. Most of the people that used to play halo have switched to COD: Modern Warfare or Black Ops but Deep down they want a better game. Bring back the excitment Halo used to hold for us!
I can’t wait, Halo is probably one of my favorite things ever. I’m with you Rob that the single player mode needs a revamp but not much else. They have to go off the Legendary ending of Halo 3 and stay with Master Chief and Cortana.
Better multiplayer maps would be a good start. Instead of basing everything off lockout and Blood Gultch, take a shot at something new.
Better facial animations, reach’s looked really dated. And bungie has never been good with them.
I agree with Rob, the campaign needs to be equally epic and deep. Though I have to disagree I like it more then COD’s highlight reel campaign. Black ops but MW2 was pathetic. At least Reach had one of the most emotional moments with the last level, and some more with each Spartans death.
I hope for the best, can’t wait for halo to reclaim it’s throne over the greedy fiends of Activision and their cookie cutter COD franchise.
Bungie did a great job and set the bar pretty high. I’m looking forward to the next Halo game and Master Chief’s next adventure. But getting away from the graphics and technical side of things I’ve been wondering about the actual storyline. I know nothing has been said by 343, so we’re all speculating at this point. However, I’m curious to hear what people are thinking.
Personally, I believe/hope the fight with the covenant is over. We’ve fought the Covenant throughout the series and I’m ready for Master Chief to take-on a new enemy. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it all the way, but now I’m ready for something new. A new enemy would change the objectives of the game and introduce new weapons and a new tactic for defeating them. Although I’m sure MC will always be shooting his way out of whatever terrible situation he’s in.
I’d like to see a new intelligent species that he has to fight. A species that’s clever and technologically advanced. But also introduce a second species that more animalistic; that’s ferocious and brutal. Maybe the plot revolves around MC trying to reach a specific location on the planet so he can be rescued. Maybe along the way he encounters a third species that he has to protect from the other two. And what if, Cortana continues suffering from Rampancy and she turns on MC? Again, I’m a fan and I’m speculating. Who know what Halo 4 has in store?