Editing Reclaimer Saga

{{Era|RW}}
{{Title|''Reclaimer Saga''}}
{{Newcontent}}
{{disambig header|the second phase of the Halo series|articles of the same name|Reclaimer (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Newreclaimertrilogylogo.png|thumb|right|300px|A promotional image for the original ''Reclaimer Trilogy'']]

{{Quote|The journey is the important part, the growth is the important part, and so really where does [[John-117|he]] still need to go as a human? That became the key to, not just the story of Halo 4, but the entire trilogy.|[[Christopher Schlerf]], Former Lead Writer<ref>'''[[Making Halo 4: A Hero Awakens]]'''</ref>}}


The '''''Reclaimer Saga''''',<ref name="Saga">[http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/21/halo-reclaimer-trilogy-expanded-to-saga '''IGN:''' ''Halo Reclaimer Trilogy Expanded to 'Saga<nowiki>'</nowiki>'']</ref><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/halo-4 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Games - Halo 4'']</ref> originally the '''''Reclaimer Trilogy''''',<ref name="xbox">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/video/halo-4-panel-opening-video/98674976-d76d-4c91-8048-084c9cf7982b '''Halo Official Site''': ''Halo 4 Panel Opening Video'']</ref> is the next generation of the ''[[Halo]]'' video game franchise, following [[Bungie]]'s original trilogy of ''Halo'' games consisting of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Halo 2]]'', and ''[[Halo 3]]''. The ''Reclaimer Trilogy'' launched with ''[[Halo 4]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s release on [[2012|November 6, 2012]],<ref name="Waypoint 4172012">[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/04/17/The-Halo-Bulletin-41712.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin 4.17.2012'']</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py2wB8GPygk&feature=related '''YouTube''': ''Halo Fest 2011 - Halo 4 Discussion! PART 3'']</ref> and was continued with the release of ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' on [[2015|October 27th, 2015]].<ref name="H5">[http://news.xbox.com/2014/05/games-halo-journey-announcement '''Xbox Wire''': ''The Halo Journey'']</ref>

==Development==
The first installment of the then-trilogy, ''[[Halo 4]]'', was announced on [[2011|June 6th, 2011]] with a [[Awakening|teaser trailer]] presented at [[Microsoft]]'s [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 Media Briefing]].<ref name="E3">[[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2011]]</ref> The subseries was first identified as the ''Reclaimer Trilogy'' during Halo Fest at [[Wikipedia: Penny Arcade Expo|PAX Prime 2011]].<ref name="xbox"/><ref name="h4panel">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD429ZWcQ_w '''YouTube''': ''Halo Fest: Halo 4 Panel'']</ref>

The series marks the ''Halo'' games' first foray into the post-[[Human-Covenant War]] ''Halo'' universe. "[[Reclaimer]]" is a title given to [[human]]s by the [[Forerunner]]s, which coincides with humanity's status in the time period the ''Reclaimer Saga'' is set. Two [[Halo novels|novel]] series, [[The Forerunner Saga]] and the [[Kilo-Five Trilogy]], written by [[Greg Bear]] and [[Karen Traviss]], respectively, were created as tie-in material to more thoroughly establish the story and themes present in the new game series, particularly the extensive Forerunner elements in the case of the former. Both novel series introduce and build on many characters, technologies and locales encountered in the games.<ref name="SDCC">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNDQN7nwZlw&feature=related '''YouTube''': SDCC 2011: Halo Universe Panel Part 1]</ref> This was not a one-way process, as multiple elements were incorporated into the games after their inclusion in the novels.<ref name="kast17">[http://waypointassets.blob.core.windows.net/mobilecontent/legacysupport/content/assets/en-us/podcast/343Sparkast_017.mp3 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''343 Sparkast 017'']</ref> This is part of 343 Industries' efforts to more seamlessly integrate the ''Halo'' games with the other media exploring the ''Halo'' universe,<ref name="expanded">[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/05/10/the-future-of-halo-wars-and-halo-39-s-expanded-universe.aspx '''Game Informer''': ''The Future Of Halo Wars And Halo's Expanded Universe'']</ref> eliminating the divide between the games and the "expanded universe".<ref name="eurogamer">[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-16-343s-master-plan-for-halo-5-guardians '''Eurogamer''': ''343's master plan for Halo 5: Guardians'']</ref>

On June 21, [[2013]], Microsoft announced that the ''Reclaimer Trilogy'' will be expanded into the ''Reclaimer Saga'', which will not be limited to a trilogy format.<ref name="Saga"/><ref>[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/415889/halo-reclaimer-trilogy-expanded-to-a-saga-says-ms-exec/ '''Computer and Videogames.com''' - ''Halo Reclaimer Trilogy expanded to a 'saga', says MS exec'']</ref>

Starting in the fall of 2014, a multimedia project known as ''Halo: The Journey'' is intended to tie together the stories and characters of ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' and those encountered in previous ''Halo '' media. The "Journey" refers to a personal journey undertaken by [[John-117]], who has begun to question his past worldview and left the UNSC. [[Jameson Locke]], who has been dispatched to find the Master Chief, will be a pivotal character in media released during this phase of the story. 343 Industries has stated that they wanted to create a wider cast of recurring characters to appear in future media; 343 Industries General Manager [[Bonnie Ross]] stated that ''"We ... had a tendency to kill all of our characters besides Master Chief. We are not [[Wikipedia:Game of Thrones|Game of Thrones]], and we actually want to make sure going forward we have a larger cast of characters with which to tell stories."''<ref name="eurogamer"/>

Released on November 11, 2014, ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' marked the beginning of ''The Journey''. The collection contained ancillary cinematics that ''"tie you up and leave you on the doorstep of Halo 5,"'' as well as the digital series ''[[Halo: Nightfall]]'' which introduces Jameson Locke.<ref name="eurogamer"/> The comic series ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'', particularly the final issues, also served to bridge the gap between ''Halo 4'' and its sequel.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/07/halo-escalation-comic/ '''Wired.com''': ''Dark Horse Will Turn World of Halo 4 Into Ongoing Comic Series'']</ref> ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]'' will likewise have ties to the ongoing story.<ref name="eurogamer"/>

Spin-off titles are also envisioned.<ref>[http://time.com/4090404/halo-5-frank-oconnor/ '''Time.com''': ''Halo‘s Frank O’Connor Reacts to Criticism of Halo 5'']</ref>

==Games==
===''Halo 4''===
{{Main|Halo 4}}
{{Quote|Set in the aftermath of Halo 3, Master Chief returns to confront his own destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. Halo 4 marks the start of a new trilogy that begins with its release in 2012.|Official summary<ref name="xbox"/>}}

''Halo 4'' marks the return of [[John-117]] as a playable protagonist after three ''Halo'' games focusing on different sets of characters. Having been lost in space in the finale of ''Halo 3'', John-117 and [[Cortana]] are adrift aboard the wreckage of the [[Charon-class light frigate|frigate]] ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]''. They find themselves being drawn into [[Requiem]], a [[Forerunner]] [[Shield World]] first seen in the [[Legendary]] ending of ''Halo 3''.<ref>'''[[Awakening]]'''</ref>  

They confront a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|remnant faction]] of the former Covenant Empire as they are pulled into the planet's abyss. Inside Requiem, John is determined to rescue Cortana as she struggles with her own capability and mortality, finally experiencing the effects of [[rampancy]] as she nears the end of an AI's seven-year life span. Together they face a new, seemingly unstoppable foe when they awaken the [[Ur-Didact]], an ancient Forerunner and fallen warrior hero first explored in the [[Forerunner Saga]]. After aiding the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} upon their arrival, the pair depart from ''Infinity'' and set off to battle the Didact and his army of [[Promethean]]s to prevent him from obtaining the [[Composer]], a powerful Forerunner device capable of wreaking vengeance and annihilation on the human race. 

===''Halo 5: Guardians''===
{{Main|Halo 5: Guardians}}
{{Quote|The quest of [[Jameson Locke|the hunter]] and [[John-117|the hunted]] has begun.|Official summary}}
''Halo 5: Guardians'' is the second game in the ''Reclaimer Saga''. It was released October 27, [[2015]],<ref name="trailer">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/detail/111609fe-d53c-4400-b4d6-44ae3629dda3/halo-xbox-one '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Halo Xbox One'']</ref><ref name="H5"/> with a [[Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta|multiplayer beta]] playable from December 27, 2014 to January 22, 2015.<ref name="amazon">[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Master-Chief-Collection-Xbox-One/dp/B00KSQHX1K/ref=zg_bs_videogames_1 '''Amazon''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection'']</ref>
''Halo 5: Guardians'' continues the story of [[Master Chief]], and introduces Spartan Jameson Locke. After several human colony worlds are attacked, and John-117 goes AWOL along with [[Blue Team]], Spartan Locke and [[Fireteam Osiris]] are tasked with finding the Master Chief and solving a mystery that threatens the entire galaxy.<ref>[http://news.xbox.com/2014/12/28/games-halo-5-preorder-and-beta/ '''Xbox Wire''': ''Halo 5: Guardians Pre-Order Details Released, Multiplayer Beta Starts Today'']</ref>

===''“Halo 6”''===
{{Main|Halo 6}}
A sequel to ''Halo 5'' had entered the planning stages by September, 2015. By this point, the developers are aware of where the story will go, and have begun writing the game. The game has been referred to offhand as "''Halo 6''."<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-6-is-undergoing-serious-real-planning-microso/1100-6430903/ '''GameSpot''' - ''Halo 6 Is Undergoing "Serious, Real Planning," Microsoft Says'']</ref> Frank O'Connor has argued that the next installment would feature "a much more human story". The studio plans on keeping the [[Cooperative play|cooperative mode]] introduced in ''Halo 5''. "Halo 6" will have splitscreen, as will all other future Halo FPS games.<ref>[https://youtu.be/h_7M93WRFng?t=1h31m27s '''Dice Summit 2017''' - "''And I will say, for every FPS going forward, we will have splitscreen, going forward''", Bonnie Ross.]</ref>  As of June 2017, it has been confirmed that "Halo 6" will not be discussed "for quite some time", implying a longer development cycle.<ref>[http://au.ign.com/articles/2017/06/19/e3-2017-halo-6-reveal-wont-be-soon-says-343-industries '''IGN''' - ''E3 2017: HALO 6 REVEAL 'WON'T BE SOON,' SAYS 343 INDUSTRIES'']</ref> "Halo 6" will have a beta at some point prior to its release.<ref>http://in.ign.com/halo-5/76851/news/all-future-halo-games-will-have-betas-says-343-industries "Going forward, you will never see a Halo game coming out without a beta." -Bonnie Ross</ref> "Halo 6" will also have more focus on the Master Chief by "doubling down" on him.<ref>[http://wccftech.com/343i-halo-5-mistake-master-chief/ '''343i Acknowledges Halo 5 Storytelling Mistake, Will Double Down on Master Chief Focus''' - "''We took some digs for storytelling in Halo 5, but they were absolutely merited. We very much realized that people wanted Master Chief’s story of Halo 5. We definitely marketed in a way that we hoped was going to bring surprise, but for some fans and certainly fans of Master Chief, it was a huge disappointment because they wanted more Chief. They loved Blue Team, they liked Osiris, but they wanted Chief. And that has been a big learning. Chief we tend to think of as kind of a vessel for your adventure rather than necessarily this major character in the universe. He’s really just your entry into the universe. But people have become attached to him over the last fifteen years and they’ve started to sort of fill in the gaps that the character deliberately has for gameplay reasons with a genuine emotional attachment. We certainly underestimated that with Halo 5. The effect that the character has on his surroundings and ‘the fate of the galaxy’ has had a resonant effect on fans over the years. It wasn’t that surprising to me, but the volume of ‘give us more Chief’ at the end of Halo 5 was significant and so I think if anything he’s slightly more important now than he has ever been, certainly to our franchise. Instead of focusing on bringing new characters into the world and expanding the playable characters we’ve sort of shifted the focus a little bit to making the world a little bit more realistic and compelling and, I would say, more fun for players who get to inhabit the Chief in the future, pretty much as they demanded. There’s always a call and response element of shipping a game, you have to ship improvements, you have to ship tweaks and you have to ship changes and sometimes you have to walk some of those back. Doubling down on Master Chief story and the amount of focus on him was probably the easiest learning from Halo 5. That was a really simple thing to absorb and embrace.''", Frank O’Connor .]</ref>

343 Industries created a joke script for "Halo 6" titled [[Halo 6: Yabda Cuts Loose]]. It was featured in their mannequin challenge video.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/bounty-hunters Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder: Bounty Hunters]</ref>

==Sources==
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{{Halo Games}}
[[Category:Projects]]