Halo Online

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Halo Online is an upcoming multiplayer-focused game, developed by Saber Interactive and Innova Systems in collaboration with 343 Industries. It was officially announced in March 25, 2015, with a closed Alpha test that started on April 21, 2015 in Russia only. On December 28, 2015, a closed Beta test was suspended.

Synopsis

Halo Online takes place shortly after the events of Halo 3 around January 28th 2555. The game is set on a secret UNSC space installation called Anvil, where SPARTAN-IV and Sangheili soldiers train together in simulated war exercises to sharpen their battle skills and test experimental technology.

Appearances

Species and entities Human Sangheili Organizations Covenant (Mentioned only) Covenant remnants Swords of Sanghelios Unified Earth Government United Nations Space Command UNSC Defense Force Spartan SPARTAN-IV program UNSC Navy Office of Naval Intelligence (Mentioned only) Locations Anvil Station (First appearance) Concord (Mentioned only) Epsilon Eridani system Reach (Mentioned only) Installation 00 New Carthage (Mentioned only) Partition Sol system Earth Africa Kenya Voi Memorial Asia Russia Tyumen Precinct 13 (First appearance) Events Human-Covenant war Battle of Concord (Indirect mention) Treaty of 2552 ANVIL initiative

Vehicles AV-14 Hornet CCS-class battlecruiser Charon-class light frigate UNSC Aegis Fate M12 Warthog M12 Warthog LRV M274 Mongoose M808 Scorpion Space station Type-25 Chopper Type-26B Banshee Type-26 Wraith Type-32 Ghost Weapons AIE-486H machine gun BR55 battle rifle BR85HB battle rifle LAU-65D/SGM-151 missile pod M247H machine gun M395 DMR M41 rocket launcher M45D shotgun M6 Spartan Laser M6C/SOCOM M6H magnum M7 SMG M7S SMG M7057 flamethrower M9 fragmentation grenade MA5D assault rifle SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle Type-1 energy sword Type-1 plasma grenade Type-2 gravity hammer Type-2 spike grenade Type-3 firebomb Type-25 plasma rifle Type-25 Brute plasma rifle Type-25 Brute Shot Type-25 Spiker Type-25 plasma pistol Type-27 beam rifle Type-33 Needler Type-51 carbine Type-52 Mauler Sentinel Beam Technology and equipment Active camouflage Deployable cover Flare M2705 regeneration field Man cannon MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2] Air Assault variant Breaker variant Buzzsaw variant (First appearance) Cain variant (First appearance) Caladcholg variant (First appearance) Cyclops variant (First appearance) Defender variant EOD variant Flenser variant (First appearance) Gunslinger variant (First appearance) Gladiator variant (First appearance) Halberd variant (First appearance) Hoplite variant Infiltrator variant Inquisitor variant (First appearance) Juggernaut variant (First appearance) Mirmillion variant (First appearance) Mongoose variant (First appearance) Ni-Hard variant (First appearance) Ninja variant (First appearance) Omni variant (First appearance) Operator variant Oracle variant (First appearance) Paladin variant (First appearance) Pioneer variant Rampart variant (First appearance) Ranger variant Reaper variant Recon variant Recruit variant Renegade variant (First appearance) Rogue variant Samurai variant (First appearance) Sceptre variant (First appearance) Scout variant Soldier variant Spectrum variant (First appearance) Strider variant Tremor variant (First appearance) Venator variant Void Dancer variant War Master variant Warrior variant Widow Maker variant (First appearance) ODST armor (Mentioned only) Overshield Power core Power drain Radar jammer Sangheili combat harness Minor variant Sentinel Constructor variant TR/9 trip mine Type-27 hologram Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance‎ Z-2500 Autosentry Z-4190 bubble shield Z-5080 Promethean vision Z-90 hardlight shield (Mentioned only)

Gameplay

Halo Online will include "classic weapons and vehicles" from the Halo franchise, including the Hornet and the energy sword. Several new weapons will also be implemented into the game. Fan favorite multiplayer maps will return, along with several new maps—one of which is set in a Russian town. Halo Online is optimized for keyboard and mouse controls. Online matches can currently handle up to sixteen players, with four players being required for a match.

Players will be able to customize their loadouts, including armor, weapons and abilities. There are several variants of each weapon available for modification. Each weapon features variants with increased damage, accuracy, and rate of fire. Unlike most of Halo games, players will not be able to change their armor pieces individually, only as a whole set.

Similar to Halo 5: Guardians there is an ending animation for a match. Though in Halo Online it features only the top three players rather than the entire team.

Professions

In Halo Online three professions are available to the player: Assault, Sharpshooter, and Tactical. These professions dictate what paths the player can go though and what items are available to be unlocked.

Multiplayer maps

Original Maps

• Diamondback
• Edge
• Icebox
• Reactor

Halo 3 Maps

• Bridge
• Closed Area
• Elevation
• Guardian
• Hangar
• Refuge
• Riverworld
• Sandtrap

Development

Halo Online is powered by a highly modified version of the Halo 3 engine and optimized for smooth performance on lower-end PCs.

Closed Alpha

On April 6th 2015 the Halo Online closed Alpha test started, and a special armor was given to people who played on that day during the Alpha to signify they were their day one. The Closed Alpha's servers were only active for small hours during the day. All players' stats and progress, were wiped after the closed alpha finished on September 11th 2015

Closed Beta Access

On September 3rd, it was announced that there would be four different ways to get into the Closed Beta.

• Free Application

This didn't guarantee access

• Basic Kit

This guaranteed access, gave the used 5000 gold, gave an exclusive emblem and nameplate, and the ability to reserve a nickname.

• Premium Kit

This guaranteed access, gave the used 10,000 gold, gave an exclusive emblem and nameplate, and the ability to reserve a nickname. Gave the user access to a damage weapon create for 14 days and gave the user the unique BR55 battle rifle.

• Elite Kit

This guaranteed access, gave the used 15,000 gold, gave an exclusive emblem and nameplate, and the ability to reserve a nickname. Gave the user access to a Gold 2.0 weapon create for 30 days and gave the user the unique BR55 battle rifle, and a unique OPERATOR-class Mjolnir armor set.

Closed Beta

On September 30th 2015 the closed beta started, and on December 28, 2015, the closed Beta test was suspended. The developers said that they encountered serious problems during the development of Halo Online, and with 343 Industries' counsel they decided to suspend testing and "send the game to a serious revision" for several months. Because of that, for people who bought the exclusive premium Beta tester kits, there was a compensation offer.

Update 1

On June 1st 2015 an update was released for the closed Alpha build that included

• 3 new armor modifications: The Bombing, Protective scope, and Camouflage.

The bombing: Allows you to throw a few grenades at once.
Protective Scope: Creates a spherical barrier, impervious to virtually all types of projectiles. Living beings, however, can easily pass through it.
Camouflage: refract light around the fighter, making it a little while partially invisible.

• New weapons were added: M7 SMG Damage and Accuracy, MA5D assault rifle Speed, M395 DMR Speed, and BR85HB battle rifle Mag.
• Updates to the Missions.
• Improved chat.

Update 2

On June 18th 2015 an update was released for the closed Alpha build that included

• New weapons were added: MA5D assault rifle Damage, and BR85HB battle rifle Damage.
• 5 new armor modifications: De-energizing, Enhanced Radar, influx of energy, Suppression radar, Energy pack.
  

De-energizing - generates EMI , incapacitating the enemy shields and equipment within range. Active takpak.
Enhanced Radar - Increases the range of the radar and its sensitivity . Support Package.
The influx of energy - increases energy regeneration. Support Package.
Suppression radar - disables the motion sensor enemies , bringing them decoys . Active takpak.
Dop.zaryad energy - gives an extra boost of energy . Support Package.

• You could now also move the location of the weapon sight from either the center or like other halo games.

Update 3

On July 2nd 2015 an update was released for the closed alpha build that included

• 5 new emblems
• 3 maps: Bridge, Closed Area, and Hangar
• 3 New armor: BASTION-class Mjolnir, SCEPTRE-class Mjolnir, and MIRMILLION-class Mjolnir.

Update 4

On July 21st 2015 an update was released for the closed alpha build that included

• 4 New armor: HALBERD-class Mjolnir, STRIDER-class Mjolnir, SABOTEUR-class Mjolnir, and SADIST-class Mjolnir
• 5 new emblems.
• Plus various other bug fixes and features

Update 5

On August 14th 2015 an update was released for the closed alpha build that included

• Team Deathmatch was added.
• 3 maps: Reactor, Valhalla and Diamondback
• The shop was updated.

Update 6

This update released with the Halo Online Closed Beta on September 30th 2015.

• 2 maps: Refuge, and Elevation.
• New weapons
• The ability to switch between male and female.
• 2 new armor: PROPHET-class Mjolnir, and WRESTLER-class Mjolnir.
• Plus other various features

Update 7

On December 2nd 2015 an update was released for the closed beta build that included

• 1 map: Sandtrap
• 2 New Weapons: M7B-R49 and MA5-A46
• 2 armor modules: Hologram and Shockwave
• A new grenade: Type-3 firebomb
• Plus other various features

Unreleased updates

On October 9th 2015 a developer took an image of an upcoming update that had the user in an Armory on Anvil Station.

Marketing

Announce trailer

Main article: Halo Online Announce Trailer

An announcement trailer was revealed in March 26, 2015 on YouTube, showing the first in-game gameplay of Halo: Online, displaying the return of some weapons of Halo 3 and the introduction of new armors.

Press Conference(March 26th 2015)

On March 26th 2015 a press conference about Halo Online happened. At this press conference there were holographic pyramids with several renders of Halo Online content were in them.

Story Trailer

Main article: Halo Online Story Trailer

An story trailer was released around December 29th, 2015 on the official Halo Online site. The trailer went though the story elements leading up to the training the Spartans and Elites on Anvil Station on January 28th, 2555. The story trailer can be found here.

Gallery

Normal Gallery

• 

  Concept art of Halo Online.

• 

  SPARTAN-IVs on the game's website.

Development gallery

• 

  The armor parts in the game as seen in the Announcement trailer during the Pre-Alpha Build.

• 

  Some of the weapons and their variants in the game as seen in the Announcement trailer during the Pre-Alpha Build.

• 

  A first person view.

• 

  Render of a Spartan wielding an MA5D assault rifle.

• 

  In-game screenshot of a Spartan with a Type-51 carbine.

• 

  A SPARTAN-IV on Icebox.

• 

  Gunslinger armor in different color schemes.

• 

  A Spartan in Widowmaker armor in 4 color sets.

• 

  The top three players in a game.

• 

  Armor that was available by playing the Alpha during August 6th 2015.

• 

  A developers look into the Armory of Anvil Station.(October 9th 2015)

• 

  Closed Alpha Test graphic to show what changed from the Alpha to Beta.

Cancelled Premium Beta-tester Kit Rewards

• 

  Exclusive BR55 Pioneer Skin.

• 

  Exclusive Operator Skin with 10% extra protection against explosions and 10% extra melee damage.

• 

  Exclusive Beta Nameplate.

• 

  Exclusive Beta Emblem.