The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Halo 5 - 7 things you need to know about Xbox One's biggest Christmas release
Free multiplayer DLC, microtransactions, Forge mode and more detailed
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Halo 5 launches exclusively on Xbox One on October 27, 2015, and stands to be one of the console’s biggest releases this holiday. With the game just a couple of weeks away, The Independent has put together a list of seven essential things you need to know, including story details, microtransactions, free multiplayer content and more.
Master Chief is on the run
The campaign of Halo 5: Guardians follows Master Chief on the run. While previous entries in the main Halo series have followed John-117 on his journeys across the galaxy, in Guardians, players will also take control of Spartan Locke, the man sent to capture Chief and discover the reasoning behind his disappearance.
Halo 5’s campaign has four-player co-op
Unlike previous Halo games, Guardians features a four-player co-op campaign to create a squad-focused experience. When you’re not teaming up online with friends, these buddies will be controlled by AI, whom you can then give orders to and ask to perform certain actions.
Unfortunately, Halo 5 won’t feature split-screen, local multiplayer, so those nights of sitting around the sofa with your friends playing Halo will have to remain a memory.
As the game tells two sides of the same story, you’ll take control of two different squads, these are:
Blue Team
- Master Chief
- Frederic
- Linda
- Kelly
Osiris Team
- Jameson Locke
- Holly Tanaka
- Edward Buck
- Olympia Vale
Halo 5 has Forge Mode
In what 343 Industries describes as "the biggest Forge yet", Halo 5: Guardians sees the return of the iconic map editor. Players can design and build their own multiplayer battlegrounds from scratch using Halo’s bespoke system.
Unfortunately, Forge won’t arrive until after launch, in December. But with over 1600 new objects, precision editing, a new control scheme and so much more, it looks like it could be worth the wait.
Halo 5’s new multiplayer mode is huge
Warzone will feature 24 players duking it out on giant multiplayer maps. There will also be AI bosses in the map to add to the chaos, with players earning points by killing enemies, capturing control points and taking out the AI.
Banshees, Warthogs, Phantoms and many other vehicles will also litter the area, with players scrambling to get their hands on one. However, as is the case in Halo, you’re vulnerable to being ripped out of your motor should you get reckless, so be careful.
Each Warzone map is four times the size of any previously launched Halo map.
Free multiplayer content for Halo 5 will be available after launch
On top of the 20 maps arriving with the game, developer 343 Industries has promised to deliver 15 free DLC maps following Halo 5: Guardians October 27 launch. These maps will roll out steadily after release, with the final map pack arriving by June 16, 2016.
This is considered an apology by the team for the heavily-disrupted launch of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which had severe server issues and multiplayer content temporarily disabled in an attempt to steady the ship. A remastered version of Halo 3: ODST was offered as a free downoad to disgruntled buyers of The Master Chief Collection as another peace offering.
Halo 5 has microtransactions
However, while players will be getting 15 maps for free, Halo 5: Guardians will have microtransactions.
A new Requisition system (REQ), which allows players to earn points in the game’s two multiplayer components: Arena and Warzone. These REQ Points can be spent on REQ Packs. Players will also earn REQ Packs when they level up their Spartan rank. However players can pay real money in order to speed up progress and unlock REQ Packs early.
These packs can include various items: unlockable weapons, armour, assassination animations and more.
There’s a 1TB Xbox One Halo 5: Guardians bundle
For fans looking to pick up an Xbox One as well as Halo 5: Guardians, you can get a limited edition console with the new, 1TB hard drive, which is double the storage space of the original console.
The console comes with Halo-themed designs on the console and controller, custom Halo sound effects, a steelbook edition of the game and is currently exclusive to retailer GAME in the UK.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments