The Halo series has one of the most dedicated fanbases of any video game franchise in existence. The iconic sci-fi shooter series has been the flagship IP for Xbox since its inception, inspiring countless fan art, cosplays, videos, and more. One fan in particular, however, is going viral for their tattoo of series protagonist Master Chief.
The Halo franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, marking the occasion with special anniversary merchandise. The series is finally set to launch its latest entry, Halo Infinite, during the holiday season. The highly anticipated game was infamously delayed last year after originally planning to be a launch title for the Xbox Series X.
Posted onto the official Halo Reddit by user u/HaloGirl1996, the tattoo depicts a vividly colorful scene from Halo with Master Chief as the centerpiece. Chief, who is also known as Spartan 117 or simply John, has been the main protagonist in every Halo entry since the series' inception. While taking a bit of a backseat to Agent Locke in the divisive Halo 5: Guardians, developer 343 Industries has assured fans Halo Infinite will focus first and foremost on Master Chief. The tattoo impressively features a multitude of colors throughout, something inked veterans know is no easy feat to stand out.
After 11 months and a lot of money later, I was finally able to get this finished. I'm in love lol from halo
Chief can be seen wielding the classic M6G magnum as well as the iconic Energy Sword, with a Banshee and explosions happening everywhere. The tattoo also successfully replicates the ringworld perspective, having the horizon sweep up into a thin band, with a starkly contrasting outer space scene that makes everything visually pop. The Reddit user mentions the whole process took around 11 months and apparently "a lot of money" which, judging by fan reactions, has been deemed well worth it. The brightly colored Halo tattoo is reminiscent of another fan's Master Chief tattoo, which is entirely of Spartan 117 himself.
Regular Halo fans aren't the only ones getting ink dedicated to their favorite Spartan. Last year, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle decided to get a Master Chief tattoo of his own. An artistic style departure from the prior two mentioned, Kittle's ink opts for a more realistic version of the Chief, arguably with his armor from Halo 4. The quantity and diversity of people choosing to get a permanent image of the video game character on their bodies is a testament to the franchise's enduring popularity and legacy.
While high-quality tattoos are always impressive, gaming tattoos seem to be appreciated even more. Although fans may have to wait until the end of the year to continue Master Chief's story in Halo Infinite, there's still a chance he could be Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's last DLC fighter.