Though we recently said that Halo is looking at a great retrofuture through remaking the original trilogy, even if Campaign Evolved doesn't do great, it seems new Halo games are in development as well, aiming to capture a wide audience of players with a story that appeals to fans and newcomers alike.
That is according to Rebs Gaming, who claims to have received new information about an in-development Halo title known only as Halo Next. He mentions that Microsoft recently posted a job listing looking for a Narrative Design Director for Halo Studios, who is to "help define and deliver the narrative experience for Halo Next." Furthermore, this role would involve ensuring that "the campaign delivers a complete and emotionally satisfying story that is accessible to new players and meaningful to longtime fans."
This title, which was apparently in development even before the 2023 layoffs, is seemingly not going to focus on the Flood but rather expand the Halo universe with "new elements, including the Endless," Rebs Gaming said. He also explained that this would tie in Halo Next with Halo Infinite, since, as he explains, that game ends with Master Chief defeating one of the Endless, who are also known as Xalanyn. The Endless, who were imprisoned at that point, appear to be unlocked and released during the post-credits scene in Halo Infinite, so it would appear that Halo Next is a direct sequel to 343's 2021 title.
Rebs Gaming corroborates the connection between Halo Next and this Endless-focused sequel by saying that, internally, the sequel was known as Campaign Next.
Either way, the job listing implies that this new Halo game will be "emotionally resonant, cohesive, and unmistakably Halo." This series is known for its strong themes of sacrifice, glory, and heroism, with tales like the Fall of Reach carrying incredible pop-cultural weight. Grand, epic, and heroic tales are generally missing from video games and much of our grey post-modern world, since everything nowadays has to have some pessimistic or absurdist note. Even when the outcome is generally negative, games like Halo found ways to tell it in a hopeful manner, so I, for one, am excited to see the franchise go back to what made it so great in the first place.
Naturally, though, all of this is speculation and rumors, so take everything with a grain of salt. That role at 343 described above could end up with radically different results depending on the person who's chosen to fill it, as well as how Microsoft handles the whole ordeal.
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