2024 was a momentous year for Xbox’s flagshipHalofranchise andHalo Infinite. 343 Industries was restructured into Halo Studios with the nextHalogame announced to be powered by the Unreal Engine, the second season of Paramount’sHaloshow was released and was subsequently canceled thereafter, Master Chief briefly returned toFortnite,Halo 3: ODSTcelebrated its 15th anniversary,Halo 2celebrated its 20th anniversary, andHalo Infinitehad a new weapon added in the form of the MA5K Avenger. While 2024 may have had some low points and some high points for theHalofranchise, fans of the near-24-year-old sci-fi universe can expect more exciting things to come toHaloin 2025.
Halo’s New Expanded Media in 2025
Throughout 2024,Halo Waypointpublished several Waypoint Chronicles online, which are short audio dramas exploring other parts of theHalouniverse beyond the Master Chief. These ranged from introducing the first Banished Spartan Ilsa Zane, exploring the mind of a Promethean Knight, and even giving a narrative to an imprisoned Elite Councilor seen inHalo 2. Community Writer Alex Wakeford has assured fans that more Waypoint Chronicles will be published in 2025, but the subjects of these stories are currently unknown. However, a few of them may focus onthe rising threat of Venezian super soldiersas several past Chronicles have slowly increased focus on that plot in 2024, such as ONI Agent Veronica Dare learning more about how these super soldiers are made.
Beyond Waypoint Chronicles,Halofans can expect at least oneHalonovel to be released in 2025, along with a potential second unknown book currently being written by veteranHalobook author Kelly Gay. On February 18th,Halo: Empty Thronewill hit bookshelves and digital platforms written by former lead writer for theHalofranchise, Jeremy Patenaude. Set sometime during the six months afterthe UNSC Infinity’s defeat at Zeta Haloin 2559,Empty Thronewill focus on a new conflict between the UNSC, The Created, and The Banished as they attempt to gain control of the omnipresent Precursor-made Domain. Meanwhile, a new, ruthless Banished warrior will be introduced inEmpty Throne, vying for leadership and to gain a foothold in the chaotic galaxy.
The Potential Impact of Halo: Empty Throne
Halo: Empty Throne’s official description is fairly vague on what events or characters fans will see in this new novella. However, during the Community Stage at the 2024HaloWorld Championship, 343 Industries revealed that several fan-favorite characters will appear inEmpty Throneincluding Atriox, Escharum, Admiral Lord Hood, Spartan 2 Gray Team, Rtas ‘Vadum, and the “Didact’s Hand” Sali ‘Nyon from theHalo: Escalationcomics. WhileInfinite’s campaign primarily centered on Master Chief,Empty Thronemay explain what was happening in the rest of the galaxy beyond Zeta Halo.Empty Thronecould set up howremaining UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios forcescan aid Master Chief inHalo 7after struggling to fight a three-pronged war between the Banished, Created, and Covenant forces following Cortana’s death.
New Updates to Halo Infinite in 2025
Halo Infinitereceived its third and potentially final Winter 2024-2025 update in the form of Operation Brute Force, running from January 7th till February 4th. Here, players will be able to complete another free 20-tire Operation Pass featuring more Brute-esque Spartan armor, with one set in particular based on thearmor of Spartan Killer Tovarus fromInfinite’s campaign. Players will additionally be able to play the classic Capture the Flag gametype variant Castle Wars inInfinite’s official multiplayer with Action Sack coming later in January.Infinitewill likely receive a new Operation in February to possibly kick off the game’s spring 2025 season, which may bring some long-desired assets to official multiplayer.
In late 2024, in coordination withHalo 2’s 20th Anniversary celebration, Halo Studios releasedHalo Infinite’s second new weapon in the form ofthe MA5K Avenger carbine. However, prior to the MA5K’s official reveal, leakers found the MA5K along with several unreleased assets inInfinite’s files. These included the gravity hammer-bayoneted double-barrel shotgun, the Mutilator, the Covenant Fuel Rod Cannon, and the Falcon UNSC air vehicle fromHalo: Reach. With the MA5K having already been added toInfinite, these new weapons and vehicle could soon be added to the game some time later in 2025. Since the Fuel Rod Cannon’s model inInfiniteis currently based onHalo 5: Guardians’ iteration of the weapon, it could be added in a celebratory October update.
Halo Infinite’s Potential Halo 5: Guardians 10th Anniversary Update
On October 27,Halo 5: Guardianswill officially turn 10 years old, having only been released on Xbox consoles, withHalo 5: Forgereleasing on Windows 10 in 2016. WhileHalo 5wasn’t universally praised, its campaign and multiplayer does have its fans and Halo Studios could celebrate the game’s 10th anniversary by introducing aHalo 5update in October. This new update could be structured similarly to theHalo 2update, with Master Chief’s GEN2 armor and a GEN2 armor core being made available, featuring armor of Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris at least.Halo Waypointcould additionally publish a new Waypoint chronicle detailing the status of Spartans Locke and Tanaka as they have received the least amount of follow-up afterHalo 5’s release.
AfterHalo 5: Guardians’ release, Spartan Buck’s story continued inHalo: Bad BloodandHalo: Venezian Sonata, while Spartan Vale’s story continued inHalo: Outcasts, but Spartan Locke has only been mentioned briefly inHalo Infinite’s campaign.
New Halo Game Announcements in 2025
Throughout 2024, more and more rumors popped up suggesting that 343 Industries may be working onaHalo: Combat Evolvedremake. These rumors were seemingly confirmed when 343 Industries rebranded itself to Halo Studios and announced that it would develop the next game in Unreal Engine 5, showing off the engine’s capabilities with new animations of Master Chief in his GEN1 Mark 5 armor. Since then, rumors have continued, suggesting that thisCombat Evolvedremake could even release on the PlayStation 5 simultaneously with Xbox consoles and that it would kick off a series of remakes of the originalHalotrilogy. Despite these rumors, no official announcement has been made yet on what the next mainlineHalogame may be or when it could be released.
Despite the rumors and hints toward aHalo: Combat Evolvedremake, Halo Studios could still be developingHalo 7as a sequel toHalo Infinite’s campaign.Infiniteended with Atriox awakening the Endless, Offensive Bias being brought online, and Master Chief still stranded on Zeta Halo with many fans clamoring to find out what happens next. Halo Studios may be developing games akin toGears of War’s The Coalition with that company developing a game set in their franchise’s past and continuing where the story left off in the future. If theCombat Evolvedrumors are true, the remake may come out first withHalo 7being the following game Halo Studios develops.
When to Expect New Halo Game Announcements
Halo Infinitewas first officially announced at E3 2018, three years afterHalo 5’s release. Given thatHalo Infinitewill turn four years old in late 2025, this year would be the perfect time to at least officially announce the nextHalogame. 2026 will additionally marktheHalofranchise’s 25th anniversaryand, if Halo Studios wants to release a newHalogame on such a momentous anniversary, it will have to begin marketing the game at some point in 2025. A newHalogame, whether it be aHalo: Combat EvolvedRemake orHalo 7, could be officially announced at a 2025 Xbox Showcase in June, similar to howGears of War: E-Daywas announced during the 2024 Xbox Showcase.
Halo Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic open-world adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.With Network Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay, you can relive your favorite moments, rediscover collectibles and explore the wonders of Zeta Halo on your own or with up to three other fireteam members.Experience Halo’s celebrated multiplayer reimagined and free-to-play! With over 70 maps in matchmaking, billions of customization configurations, and countless community Forge creations to experience, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s most expansive multiplayer offering to date.Enjoy an unprecedented variety of gameplay experiences, ranging from fast-paced intense ranked modes to whimsical mayhem in Custom Games, or even co-operative coordination in the wave-based survival mode Firefight: King of the Hill. Assemble your Fireteam and conquer every mode – Halo offers endless opportunities for teamwork, strategy, and unforgettable victories.
