For a franchise that so often has placed the hero at the center of attention, occasionally the Halo franchise has also highlighted the vulnerability of its universe. Halo: Reach is a perfect example of this: Spartans are supposed to be the top of the food chain, it’s what the first three Halo games taught players, and yet, the fight to preserve Reach is a constant losing battle. It seems Halo Infinite intends to do something similar this time around on the Zeta Halo, despite Master Chief’s efforts taking the spotlight. This time, Chief’s journey may be a bit more solemn compared to his more notable heroic efforts in previous games.
Undoubtedly, Halo Infinite‘s campaign will be centered on the Master Chief’s heroic redemption against the Banished. However, that gap in time between Halo 5 Guardians/Halo Wars 2 and Halo Infinite should also be spotlighted in the campaign. One of Halo Infinite‘s first trailers depicted a UNSC force in shambles, evidently defeated by Escharum’s Banished forces. While players will ultimately want to see how Master Chief can make humanity’s comeback, fans also want to know what exactly happened to that UNSC expeditionary force that came upon Zeta Halo initially. Clearly it was devastating, based on the situation the Master Chief and “the Pilot” are in.
Some context is gatherable on what could’ve happened prior to the events of Halo Infinite, though it’s tough to say for certain. Many of the loose threads and potential plot directions after Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Wars 2 mean there could’ve been a number of different factors that led to the UNSC’s defeat. What’s known for certain is that Halo Infinite‘s campaign begins at least a few years after Halo 5: Guardians, taking place on the in-universe year date of May 28, 2560. Halo 5: Guardians ends in the year 2558, so there’s around two years of off-screen turmoil that occurs that players aren’t aware of yet, which is presumably what Chief will learn in Infinite.
Humanity was in a pretty tough place come the end of Halo 5: Guardians, as well as Halo Wars 2. Cortana’s rampancy, mixed in with her assuming the “Mantle of Responsibility,” had effectively disabled the UNSC’s fleet via overtaking other AIs in command of their ships. These AIs then swear allegiance to Cortana, and with her network of Forerunner Guardians, intends to enforce galactic tranquility through forcible demilitarization. From Halo Wars 2‘s ending, the UNSC Spirit of Fire is still stuck near the Ark while Anders rides a newly-formed Halo ring transporting through slipspace to link up with the UNSC again. Of course, Anders was greeted by Cortana.
So at this point, here’s what could’ve happened: prior to Halo Infinite‘s events, the UNSC Infinity may have been able to elude Cortana but finds Installation 07, Zeta Halo. From there, the fleeing Infinity may have unexpectedly contended with the Banished, and in their weakened fleeing state are subsequently defeated. The big question here is how Master Chief, who was not on the UNSC Infinity prior to the ship’s escape from Cortana, managed to get to the Zeta Halo. Alternatively, the UNSC Infinity may have simply discovered Zeta Halo, and then called on humanity’s remaining forces (not overtaken by the AIs) and brought all reinforcements to the Zeta Halo.
Either way, some kind of big clash occurs between humanity and the Banished, far enough away from Cortana and the Guardians’ influence for them not to see it. This presents another opportunity for the Halo franchise to explore loss and devastation in a way recent games haven’t had the opportunity to do. Not on the level of games like Halo: Reach or Halo 3: ODST, anyway. Master Chief has had plenty of emotional moments before, especially in Halo 4, but never in the face of grave loss that Halo Infinite‘s trailer seems to be inferring. Chief has generally always prevailed in one way or another, but he’s never lost a grand battle like what may happen on Zeta Halo.
Halo games have always been about triumphing over great odds, but Master Chief rarely takes the time to recognize loss or devastation. That’s not to say he necessarily needs to do so, but it would be interesting to see some degree of reaction based on what happens before Halo Infinite. There were hints of potentially emotional moments like this in the “Discover Hope” trailer from E3 2019, where the Pilot’s family shares an emotional message via hologram. According to the Pilot, the UNSC “lost,” and yet the two spend no time dwelling on the impact of that loss. Halo Infinite should spend at least some degree of time recognizing this defeat, spurring on the Chief’s redemption.
Halo Infinite is planned to release in fall 2021.
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