Halo fans, rejoice – Microsoft has announced a new entry to its hit shooter franchise, scheduled to launch this summer. Three years since the last major title, "Halo: Fireteam Raven" lays its focus on a group of ODST soldiers during events parallel to Halo: Combat Evolved. Featuring iconic scenes at 4K resolution with four-player split-screen, the game offers a variety of features desired by long-term fans. Move over Halo 6, here comes the… Halo coin-operated arcade machine.
While development on the next Halo game is firmly under wraps, Microsoft continues to expand the Halo universe following investments in mobile, virtual reality, cinema and now, arcades. Developed by Raw Thrills and PlayMechanix, Halo: Fireteam Raven is a paid arcade cabinet under a collaboration with 343 Industries. Capitalizing on established Halo lore, the game offers a casual spin on Master Chief's origin story.
With a 130-inch 4K display and four turret-mounted guns, like many arcade shooters, Halo: Fireteam Raven is built for four-player cooperative play. Players will work together to defeat enemies through an on-rails experience, across locations from the first game. Halo Waypoint users can also share high-scores on the service, using a scannable QR code presented after a session.
This move likely won't sit well with veterans of the Halo franchise, as Microsoft continues to cater to a market outside of its Xbox One console. Halo's competitive scene is in disarray, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is still being fixed and with little on the franchise's future, it's hard to maintain faith. Despite involvement in this project, 343 Industries' resources are still concentrated on the next major Halo – but it's still not a great image for one of the biggest names in gaming.
Microsoft is gearing up for a launch of Halo: Fireteam Raven in the coming months, at Dave & Busters across the United States and Canada. Expansion to further locations is also planned for later this Fall.
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