Rumor: Bungie's next game a third-person Halo prequel
by Xav de Matos 
{ Apr 25th 2008 at 1:15PM }
Let the rumor-rang fly! In the June issue of EGM, rumor hound Quarterman claims industry rumblings are pointing at a Halo prequel as Bungie's first title since parting from Microsoft. According to the popular rumor page of the magazine, the rumored game is a third-person action/shooter hybrid that will chronicle the early battles between the ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) and Covenant.The Master Chiefless adventure would hit the Xbox 360 in late 2009 and may or may not be related to the "Peter Jackson Halo Project" we've been hearing about forever. Quarterman closes off the Halo-future tidbit telling readers to expect a massive reveal around the time Gears of War 2 hits retail.
From the description it sounds a little like "sci-fi Ghost Recon," doesn't it? Well, not to add fuel to the fire but considering former Ghost Recon lead designer and Ubisoft creative director Christian Allen jumped ship to Bungie in August 2007, this one could have some juice to it.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chaz @ Apr 25th 2008 1:30PM
Halo prequel (a.k.a. Marathon 4).
I thought Halo Wars was supposed to be the prequel? And why ODST? Can't be a regular Marine?
Seems like Microsoft and/or Bungie want to milk Halo just a wee bit more. I was into Halo for the story, so I don't mind seeing some good single player action.
Kevin Gass @ Apr 25th 2008 2:11PM
I agree I too love the Halo Universe....except for Contact Harvest. So as long as they spend time developing the story I'm excited
Psycho300x @ Apr 25th 2008 4:10PM
My guess would be ODST because they want it to be like master chief, you cant see his face so you "are" master chief. Thats my guess
pwnstar07 @ Apr 25th 2008 1:31PM
If you think about this carefully the 3rd person aspects of halo 3 have people getting prepared for the next project, and i have been hearing this for months now so i can say that the information is most likely true.
xenocidic @ Apr 25th 2008 1:38PM
I thought the reason Bungie broke off was so they could try new things?
I found some more GTA IV footage by the way:
http://xenocidic.com/2008/04/23/actual-gta-iv-footage-intro-and-a-bit-of-gameplay.aspx
Knight Marquise @ Apr 25th 2008 1:42PM
As much as I love the Halo story, a "Halo" game w/o the chief just doesn't seem right. I know they stated it was the end of his story arc, so I am curious as to which direction they take and moreso how it turns out.
SugarDaddy @ Apr 25th 2008 1:51PM
It could be fun. Squad-based combat in the halo universe. I like, I like. And if it's done by Bungie, you know you're bound to get some excellent quality.
gnu_rider907 @ Apr 25th 2008 1:45PM
i hate 3rd person shooters..........
DiscoGhost @ Apr 25th 2008 1:50PM
BLASPHEMY! GoW was the shit.
SugarDaddy @ Apr 25th 2008 1:53PM
Nice attitude.
Sean @ Apr 25th 2008 2:17PM
So you didn't like Gears of War... shocking
gnu_rider907 @ Apr 25th 2008 2:34PM
nah, i played it for about 30 minutes (rented from blockbust) and i just didnt like how it felt, or how it was played.. iono i guess i just run against the grain on some games... and GoW wasnt one i enjoyed..
RudyHuxtable @ Apr 25th 2008 1:51PM
So basically I'd get to play as one of the nameless AI soldiers who seem to die whenever I play the Single Player Campaign? The ones who say neat stuff like "It Burns" or "Dude you took my weapon?" Neat!
David W. @ Apr 25th 2008 5:52PM
Nope! Those guys/gals are marines, not the same as ODST! :)
RudyHuxtable @ Apr 25th 2008 5:54PM
Now I'm bummed.
Chester @ Apr 25th 2008 1:59PM
Im actually kinda excited about this. I'm sure Bungie could make a killer 3rd person shooter. Plus it'd be a real nice lil break up from all these first person shooters.
itsburnsie @ Apr 25th 2008 2:00PM
Halo 6: Vegas? Cortana as a dancer in a club?
I'd play it.
AnOffday @ Apr 25th 2008 2:05PM
Not to sound like a jerk, but you guys are kinda slow with your news.
Yuccadude @ Apr 25th 2008 3:44PM
Not to sound like a jerk, but just because this isn't the first time you've read this doesn't mean it's not news to other people. Personally, I only read Joystiq and Xbox 360 Fanboy, so this is new for me.
HaVoC @ Apr 25th 2008 2:12PM
Personally, I think the whole Halo thing is dead. I loved the books and the mini-series comics that expanded the Halo story, but Halo 3 just felt like to much of a let down for me to try to revamp a ton of interest in another Halo game. Even Halo Wars isn't peeking my intrest in the least.
Doug @ Apr 25th 2008 2:49PM
Halo's story blows, so if Bungie tries more of that, look out. It's the art direction and game engine.
sambob117 @ Apr 25th 2008 2:17PM
Halo Wars will cover the who odst prequel, so why do it again but in a different persective? personally I want to do a Halo prequel based on the first book, maybe do a fable esque beginning seeing John as a kid in training then working his way up the ranking. They could keep the 3rd person idea since alot of the original missions in the first book were kinda covert black ops.
my 2 cents.
Sean @ Apr 25th 2008 2:20PM
Yeah I agree... they keep talking about new IPs they are interested in and yet make another game in the HALO universe?
Nigeria - MK: 0430-8491-9123 (formerly Fenix) @ Apr 25th 2008 2:30PM
Sweet!
brownc4 @ Apr 25th 2008 2:50PM
Hmm Squad based Halo... no flood I would be all over it!
Ian Murray @ Apr 25th 2008 2:55PM
I was really, REALLY looking forward to something non-Halo from Bungie.
Didn't they come right out and say their next game wouldn't be related to Halo at all?
Now there are two Halo games on the horizon for gamers...I thought the market was saturated enough with this stuff.
Xav de Matos @ Apr 25th 2008 2:57PM
What they said was that their new game would be something very different.
So, by that logic it COULD be this.
We'll find out soon!
Philip (Fernando Rocker Defence Force) @ Apr 25th 2008 3:17PM
But Xav is this really that different? It's still Halo, it's still a shooter, I will still be shooting at the same bad guys. I mean, what they're move the position of the camera and change who I'm playing as, yes it's different, but not that different. I think Bungie could and should do better.
c. thomas @ Apr 25th 2008 2:58PM
Wouldn't it be nice. Human vs Alien. I'm down for that, just show Master Chief(In parts of the mission leading the group, then disappears).
kyle @ Apr 25th 2008 3:54PM
i dont see why they would do that, imo i think bungie jus needs an xcuse to make a video game, if this is true its prob gonna fail
sirk @ Apr 25th 2008 4:47PM
This sounds fantastic. If this is true we will have bad ass marines who are highly trained and at the same time unable to climb over a 3 foot wall or melee anyone.
Sharp @ Apr 25th 2008 8:52PM
To borrow what someone else said on joystiq.
"You aren't fooling me again Bungie!". Halo3 was a graphic let down and showed how blaringly weak the 360 hardware is. This was their flagship title and it was a giant mess of sub-HD lameness.
If they don't step their game up H3 would be the last title I ever buy from Bungie.
Pure @ Apr 26th 2008 1:02PM
Actually to bring it back to GoW , i didnt really like it and know alot ppl who felt the same , i didn't see why everyone thought it was so good but hey thats my opinion. Halo has a good plot and to see another one will be good but ... on the other side another halo game... I think bungie needs to move on from halo and get some new games and different story lines , but a prequel is better then trying to make another sequel
Logan T. @ Apr 28th 2008 4:51PM
I love the Halo universe, and I enjoyed Oni, but I really hope this isn't true. The ODSTs are cool characters, but I really want to see Bungie do something besides Halo. The universe is getting really oversaturated (if this game is real there will be 3 Halo games in the future!) and I want to see an interesting new IP from them. I'd prefer a real version of Pimps At Sea to another Halo game.