Editing Main menu

{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Stub}}
The '''main menu''' is a series of menus and lobbies that players interact with in all ''Halo'' games. 

The main menu is reached after a series of logos for the companies that produced the game and a splash screen. Sometimes the music of this sequence leads into the music of main menu itself. Examples of this are in ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.

Upon reaching the menus and lobbies, one can access a number of gamemodes, settings and options, and view the Message of the Day (MotD). The [[Season]] is also often shown in the menu too. In the options section, one can change their [[control schemes]]. 

The gamemodes that can be accessed through the menu include [[campaign]], [[multiplayer]], [[firefight]], [[Spartan Ops]], [[Warzone]], [[Big Team Battle]], [[Custom game]]s, [[Theater]], [[Forge]], and [[File Share]]. [[Downloadable content]] such as new campaigns, [[Battle Pass]]es, the Store, and [[The Exchange]] are often directly accessed through their respective lobbies or areas of the menu.

A player's service record, which includes [[Commendations]] and [[Achievement]]s, is usually also seen somewhere in the main menu.

==Customization==
In most games, the ability to change one's [[Armor permutations]] and [[armor effects]] is accessed through the main menu in some form. So to for [[Skins]] for [[weapon]]s and [[vehicle]]s as well. In ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', [[The Exchange]] is only accessed through the main menu.

One's [[Loadout]], [[Avatars]], [[Stance]], [[Emblems|multiplayer emblem]], [[service tag]], and [[Nameplates|nameplate]] are also all changed through the main menu.

Seeing one's [[List of REQ cards|unlocked]] [[Requisition system|REQs]] or [[List of Blitz cards|unlocked]] [[Blitz]] cards can be found here too; on top of purchasing the related packs. 

==By game==
===''Halo: Combat Evolved''===
{{Main|Halo: Combat Evolved}}
The ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' menu is set in orbit of [[Installation 04]], with the camera rotating and moving about it showing its interior, the exterior shell, and [[Threshold]]. The music heard is [[Halo Theme]] and the final part of [[Brothers in Arms]].

<gallery>
File:HCE CustomGamesMenu.png|Custom games menu
</gallery>

===''Halo 2''===
{{Main|Halo 2}}
====Pre-release====
<gallery>
File:H2 deltatemple lobby.png|Pre-release campaign lobby showing a [[Cut Halo 2 levels|cut ''Halo 2'' level]]
File:Prophet names.jpg|A pre-release multiplayer lobby with various player names coming from characters from the ''Halo'' universe.
</gallery>
In the ''[[Halo 2 Multiplayer Delta]]'' build of the game, the main menu had functionality which would allow the background to change depending on the player's progress through the campaign. This functionally did not make it into the final game, though the concept was reimplemented in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/digsite-discoveries|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Digsite Discoveries|D=21|M=03|Y=2025}} The backgrounds (restored by [[Digsite]]) include:
<gallery>
File:H2D MenuBackground AlphaHalo.jpg|[[Installation 04]]'s wreckage.
File:H2D MenuBackground Earth.jpg|[[Cairo Station]] and several {{Class|Moncton|orbital weapon platform}}s over [[Earth]].
File:H2D MenuBackground DeltaHalo.jpg|[[Installation 05]].
File:H2D MenuBackground HighCharity.jpg|[[High Charity]].
</gallery>

====Release====
The menu of ''Halo 2'' features a background of the ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', next to the [[Mombasa Tether]] in [[Mombasa]], [[East African Protectorate]]. The music heard is the Gregorian chant in [[Prologue (music)|Prologue]], [[Ghosts of Reach]], [[Heavy Price Paid]], the last minute of [[The Last Spartan]], and [[Unforgotten]].

<gallery>
File:H2V CustomGamesMenu.png|The custom games menu from [[Halo 2 (Windows Vista)|''Halo 2'' for Windows Vista]].
File:H2 - MombasaDev1.jpg|Behind the scenes image of the menu version of Mombasa.
File:H2 - MombasaDev2.jpg|Behind the scenes image of the menu version of Mombasa.
</gallery>

===''Halo 3''===
{{Main|Halo 3}}
The main menu of ''Halo 3'' features an animated view of a cliff at the edge of the [[Excession]] with several [[Covenant starship]]s circling it, and [[Banshee]]s patrolling over it. [[Movement]], [[Never Forget]], [[Choose Wisely]], the beginning of [[Honorable Intentions]] and an unidentified choir track will rotate as the backing music.

<gallery>
File:H3 CustomGamesMenu.png
File:Halo 3 Mythic Menu.jpg|''[[Halo 3 Mythic]]'' menu
</gallery>

===''Halo 3: ODST''===
{{Main|Halo 3: ODST}}
Halo 3: ODST's main menu is set in the {{UNSCShip|Say My Name}}, with [[Jonathan Doherty]] sleeping in his [[M8900 drop pod]]. [[Overture (Halo 3: ODST)|Overture]] accompanies it.

<gallery>
File:H3ODST RookieCinematic.jpg
</gallery>

===''Halo Wars''===
{{Main|Halo Wars}}
In the background, scenes from the [[Halo Wars announcement trailer|''Halo Wars'' announcement trailer]] as well as cutscenes from the campaign will play. [[Spirit of Fire (music)|Spirit of Fire]] is the music that accompanies it.

===''Halo: Reach''===
{{Main|Halo: Reach}}
====Pre-release====
<gallery>
File:Reach - Beta Menu.jpg|[[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta|''Halo: Reach'' Multiplayer Beta]] menu
</gallery>

====Release====
''Halo: Reach'' has a variety of lobbies all using their own artwork(s). The music used in the lobbies is [[Overture (Halo: Reach)|Overture]], though sometimes no music at all will play and instead, the sounds of distant gunfire and other fighting will play.

<gallery>
File:HR Forge Menu.jpg
File:HaloReach - Glacier Menu.png
File:HR CustomGamesMenu.png
File:Social Prefrances From Halo Reach.png
</gallery>

=====Illustrations=====
Most of the artwork used in the various menus and lobbies of ''Reach'' were actually pieces of concept art created by [[Isaac Hannaford]]. Depending on the lobby, the artwork would be different. As well, the artwork on the main menu would be different depending on which campaign level(s) were last played.

<gallery>
File:HR MainMenuArt.jpg|Start screen image, and menu art until the player reaches the level ''[[Nightfall]]''.
File:HR TotSSpireConcept.jpg|Main menu art upon reaching the level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''.
File:HR NewAlexandria Skyscrapers Concept.jpg|Main menu art upon reaching the level ''[[New Alexandria]]''.
File:HR Glassing Concept.jpg|Main menu art upon reaching the level ''[[The Package]]''.
File:HR EliteExecution Concept.png|Menu art for the multiplayer lobby as well as for the Beta.
File:HR Firefight Concept.jpg|Menu art in the Firefight lobby.
File:HR ForgeWorld Concept 2.jpeg|Menu art in the [[Forge/Halo: Reach|Forge lobby]].
File:HR SpaceDebris Concept Alt.jpg|Menu art in the Matchmaking lobby.
File:Theater Droid.jpg|Menu art in the Theater lobby.
</gallery>

===''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''===
{{Main|Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary}}
The main menu for ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' was designed very similarly to the original ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' menu. When selecting multiplayer however, the menu was change to one more designed like and using from ''Halo: Reach''.

<gallery>
File:HCEA Multiplayer Menu.png|Multiplayer menu
File:Anniversarymenu.png|Main menu for ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''
</gallery>

====Illustrations====
<gallery>
File:HR ForgeWorld Concept 2.jpeg|Multiplayer menu art, reused from the ''Halo: Reach'' forge lobby.
</gallery>

===''Halo 4''===
{{Main|Halo 4}}
====Pre-release====
In an alpha menu, the background was to be the broken planet around [[Installation 03]]. Two versions of [[To Galaxy]] were to play; one of just the strings used in the song and the other of the background electronic "drums" as well as an unknown track that was later used in the ''Halo 4'' epilogue, ''Halo 4'' lobbies in ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'', and at the beginning of the track [[Blue Team (music)|Blue Team]] in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.

<gallery>
File:H4-Menu-Alpha.jpg|Pre-release menu.
File:H4 - Armor permutation menu (Xbox 360 early build).png|Early build of the armor selection menu.
File:H4-SpartanOps-Episodes.jpg|An early design for the Spartan Ops menu.
File:H4-SpartanOps-EP1-Launch.jpg|An early version of the Spartan Ops menu.
File:H4-SpartanOps-BriefingRoom.jpg|An early version of the Spartan Ops menu.
</gallery>

====Release====
The released main menu is of a debris field around [[Requiem]]. When reaching the title screen and for a time in the main menu, [[Atonement]] will play. It will change to [[Wreckage (music)|Wreckage]] then the first minute or so of [[Green and Blue]] and rotate through all three while on the menu. When Infinity multiplayer lobby is selected, the image will move into the bridge of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} where the first minute of [[To Galaxy]] will play on repeat.

<gallery>
File:H4 - Armor permutation menu (Xbox 360).png|Release armor selection menu.
File:H4 SpartanOps Episodes List.jpeg|The Spartan Ops menu.
</gallery>

===''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''===
{{Main|Halo: The Master Chief Collection}}
Uniquely, depending on the lobby for which game that will be played, the menu music for that game will be played. Uniquely, for ''Halo 4'' lobbies a new track was added. This being the unnamed [[Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue]] track (used in the early ''Halo 4'' menu and the opening for [[Blue Team (music)|Blue Team]]).

<gallery>
File:HMCC-Main Menu.jpg|The old launch main menu.
File:H2A CustomGamesMenu.png|Custom games menu from [[2019]].
File:HTMCC-H3ODST Firefight settings.jpg|''Halo 3: ODST'' Firefight settings menu in [[2020]].
File:HTMCC-H2A Menu Campaign.jpg|Campaign menu in [[2014]].
File:HTMCC-H2A Menu Multiplayer.jpg|Custom game menu in 2014.
File:HMCC - Mission selection menu.png|Cross-campaign playlist menu in 2014.
</gallery>

====Illustrations====
Prior to the August 2022 Update, the [[Season]] and certain lobbies used to determine menu backgrounds. Following the update, players were allowed to directly customize the art themselves.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-mcc-august-update|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=MCC - August Update|D=8|M=9|Y=2022}}
<gallery>
File:MCC Planet Background.png|The original menu background until [[2018]].
File:HR-MCCMenuHelmets.png|Menu background of [[Season 1: Noble]].
File:H3ODST-MCCODSTmenu.png|Menu background of [[Series 3: Recon]].
File:H4-MCCMarkVIMODmenu.jpg|Menu background of [[Series 4: Reclaimer]].
File:MCC Winter Background.jpg|2018 Christmas menu background.
File:MCC Winter Splashscreen.jpg|2018 Christmas splash screen.
File:MCC Yapyap splash.png|[[The Yappening (Halo: The Master Chief Collection)|The Yappening]] splash screen.
File:MCC Yapyap desktop.png|The Yappening menu background.
File:MCC Flood Background.png
File:MCC - HCEA main menu preview.jpg
File:HCEA-MCCCryomenu.jpg
File:H2A-MCCM46Vulcanmenu.png
File:MCC H4 Background.png|Artwork used in some ''Halo 4'' lobbies.
File:MCC H3 Background.png|Artwork used in some ''Halo 3'' lobbies.
File:MCC CEA Background.png|Artwork used in some ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' lobbies
File:MCC H2A Background.png|Artwork used in some ''Halo 2'' lobbies
File:MCC H3ODST Background 2.png|Artwork used in some ''Halo 3: ODST'' lobbies
File:MCC Reach Background.png|A previously cut menu background.
</gallery>

===''Halo 5: Guardians''===
{{Main|Halo 5: Guardians}}
====Pre-release====
In the ''[[Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta]]'', the menu was set in an orbital facility of some kind (the skybox of which is used on [[Breakout Arena]]) with [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IVs]], [[UNSC Navy|Naval personnel]], and scientists at various computer and [[Holography|hologram]] stations. 

Musically, the menu opens with parts of [[Osiris Suite, Act 1]], then moves into [[On Deck]], before finally playing parts of [[Osiris Suite, Act 4]]. The music will repeat in that order.

<gallery>
File:H5GB Menu.png|''[[Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta]]'' menu
</gallery>

====Release====
The menu consists of a profile shot of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} in orbit of [[planet]] [[Kamchatka]]. Various [[UNSC starship]]s and [[dropship]]s will fly by, dock or move about the ''Infinity''. These include {{Class|Anlace|light frigate}}s, {{Class|Winter|prowler}}s and [[D79H Pelican]]s. 

When getting to the start screen and for a time afterward, [[Halo Canticles]] will play. The music will then rotate through [[Rock and Ice]], about a minute of [[Blue Team]], [[Dominion (music)|Dominion]], the first minute of [[Jameson Locke (music)|Jameson Locke]], about a minute of [[Osiris Suite, Act 3]], and two minutes of [[Osiris Suite, Act 4]]. After returning to the menu from playing a multiplayer match, [[On Deck]] will play. 

If sat on the main menu for long enough, the [[Floating Grunt]] [[Easter egg]] will play out.

<gallery>
File:H5G MainMenu Fleet.jpg
File:H5G - Armor customization - Final.png
File:H5G CustomGamesMenu.png
</gallery>

===''Halo Wars 2''===
{{Main|Halo Wars 2}}
====Pre-release====
<gallery>
File:HW2 Beta Start menu.png|The splash screen for the [[Halo Wars 2 Open Beta|''Halo Wars 2'' Open Beta]].
</gallery>

====Release====
The menu is composed of a tableau scene of several units from either the [[Banished]] or [[UNSC]]. The menu background is chosen at random upon the game's launch. The music heard in the background is [[Cratered]]. After purchasing ''[[Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|Awakening the Nightmare]]'', the menu can also be [[Voridus]] or [[Pavium]] themed.

<gallery>
File:HW2-Spartanmenu.jpg|[[SPARTAN-II]] focused menu, with two [[M12B Warthog]]s and an [[M808S Scorpion]] in the background.
File:HW2 Menu SpartanWithMA5B.png|Close look at the SPARTAN-II.
File:HW2-SpecialistMenu.jpg|Assorted UNSC units; [[HRUNTING Mark III (B) Cyclops]]', an [[M9 Wolverine]] and a few snipers.
File:HW2-Kodiakmenu.jpg|Assorted UNSC units; an [[M121 Jackrabbit]], an [[M400 Kodiak]], and several [[Hellbringers]].
File:HW2-Decimusmenu.jpg|[[Decimus]] focused menu, with a [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Marauder]] in the background and some [[Grunt]]s off to one side.
File:HW2-Ghost&Wraith.jpg|A [[Zaagokelu Workshop Ghost]] with a [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Wraith]] in the back.
File:HW2-Locust&Rangers.jpg|[[Elite Ranger]] focused menu, with a [[Barug'qel Workshop Chopper]] and [[Barukaza Workshop Locust]] in the background.
File:HW2-MenuWarlord.png|A [[Jiralhanae Warlord]] with his [[Paegaas Workshop gravity hammer]].
File:HW2-MenuVoridus.png|[[Voridus]] with his Paegaas Workshop gravity hammer.
File:HW2-MenuPavium.png|A [[Pavium]] focused menu, with a [[Zaagokelu Workshop Ghost]] in the background.
</gallery>

===''Halo Infinite''===
{{Main|Halo Infinite}}
====Pre-release====
During the ''Halo Infinite'' gameplay demo, the menu was set in grasslands on [[Installation 07]] with the title placed in the middle of a ring-like Forerunner machine. The accompanying music is [[Reverie]].

<gallery>
File:HINF XGS2020 Start Demo Screen.png|Menu from the [[2020]] [[Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere|''Halo Infinite'' gameplay demo]].
</gallery>

====Release====
<gallery>
File:HINF-CustomizeLanding.jpg|Customization menu.
File:HINF-Season01multiplayermenu.png|[[Season 01: Heroes of Reach]] multiplayer menu.
File:HINF Shop.png|''Halo Infinite'' store menu.
File:HINF - Event - Tac Ops - 00004.png|[[Tactical Ops]] battle pass menu.
File:HINF PK DecemberUpdate 01.png|The [[custom game]] browser menu.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Gameplay]]