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Halo (franchise)

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Halo is a massive military science fiction media franchise.

Old Bungie Logo
Old Bungie Logo

It began as a series of video games but expanded into many forms. These forms include novels, graphic novels, comic books, and short films. There are even animated films and fan-made machinima animations. The franchise has sold more than 81 million copies of its games worldwide. It has also generated more than $6 billion in total sales. This success places Halo in the Top 100 highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

Gameplay in the series often relies on a specific design known as the "Golden Triangle."

This concept focuses on three main actions: using weapons, throwing grenades, and engaging in melee combat. Players must balance these actions while moving on foot or operating vehicles. To manage resources, players can only carry two weapons at a time. Survival depends on managing hit points through health packs. Additionally, players use a recharging energy shield to protect themselves from damage.

The story's history stretches back millions of years. It begins with the Precursors, an intergalactic species that seeded life in the galaxy. A race called the Forerunners eventually attacked the Precursors. This conflict led to the creation of the Flood, a parasitic species connected by a hivemind. To stop the Flood, the Forerunners built the Halo Array. These are ring-shaped megastructures that act as weapons of last resort. They were designed to destroy all sentient life to prevent the Flood from spreading. The Array could be activated from a place called the Ark, which sits outside the range of the rings.

In the 26th century, the story shifts to human space exploration. Humans travel through "slipstream space," which is a form of faster-than-light travel. This era is managed by the Unified Earth Government (UEG) and the United Nations Space Command (UNSC). During this time, a religious alliance of alien races known as the Covenant began a holy war against humanity. They believed humans were an affront to their gods, the Forerunners. The conflict features Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, a Spartan supersoldier. He often works alongside an artificial intelligence named Cortana to defend humanity.

The development of the franchise is a story of shifting companies.

343 Industries logo
343 Industries logo

Bungie originally founded the series in the late 1990s. They initially worked on a project with code names like "Monkey Nuts" and "Blam!" This project was originally intended to be a real-time strategy game. However, the team changed the camera view and the gameplay style. It became a first-person shooter and was renamed Halo. Microsoft acquired Bungie in June 2000 to help launch the Xbox console. This move made Halo a flagship title for the new hardware.

Following the success of the first game, Bungie developed several sequels.

HaloStudios-Logo-K@4x
HaloStudios-Logo-K@4x

Halo 2 was a major milestone that grossed $125 million on its first day. It was the highest-grossing entertainment release at that time. The game also helped drive subscriptions for the Xbox Live online service. After Bungie regained its independence in 2007, Microsoft established 343 Industries. This studio was created to oversee the franchise and produce new games. In 2024, 343 Industries rebranded as Halo Studios. This change marked a shift toward making games available on multiple platforms beyond Xbox and Windows.

The franchise has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. Halo pioneered many social features and online matchmaking systems. These innovations helped cement Microsoft as a major competitor in the console market. The series has also influenced how games are marketed to the public. Through its complex lore and many different media types, Halo connects various storytelling traditions. It remains a significant example of how a single game idea can grow into a global cultural phenomenon.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Halo3 ark-and-halo-reborn.png
Halo3 ark-and-halo-reborn.png
File:Old_Bungie_Logo.svg
Old_Bungie_Logo.svg
File:343 Industries logo.svg
343 Industries logo.svg
File:HaloStudios-Logo-K@4x.svg
HaloStudios-Logo-K@4x.svg
File:Halo Fireteam Raven.jpg
Halo Fireteam Raven.jpg
File:Martin O'Donnell.png
Martin O'Donnell.png
File:Joe Staten and Eric Nylund.jpg
Joe Staten and Eric Nylund.jpg
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