Halo Studios can’t promise that the previously-announced Halo novel will land on shop shelves, but the company is “determined” to see the project cross the finish line regardless.
Xbox’s influential sci-fi series is in the middle of a massive shakeup behind the scenes. As part of the console maker’s sweeping restructure, mass layoffs hit developer Halo Studios and the entire series moved under Activision’s supervision. Xbox’s Matt Booty said “a small team at Halo Studios will continue supporting the Halo community and games in-market.”
Now, franchise writer Alex Wakeford has addressed what’s happening with two of the series’ upcoming stories – Troy Denning’s Halo: Fireteam Noble and Kenneth Peters’ Halo: Burn the Road Home novella.
“Many have been asking whether this novel will still be releasing,” Wakeford wrote in a recent Halo Waypoint blog post, speaking about Fireteam Noble. “To this we can say that it is absolutely our intent to see this project cross the finish line. Troy has written a fantastic story and a good chunk of the editorial process has been conducted. In my remaining time at the studio, I will be doing all I can to ensure this can be achieved.”
As for the newly-revealed novella, Wakeford also said “we are determined to see this through to completion.”
Question marks have understandably lingered over multiple Halo-related projects in recent weeks. The studio confirmed that December’s Halo Fest event is still going ahead, despite the dramatic shakeup, but Activision’s rumored lore reboot had many folks still worried about the future of Fireteam Noble and any other in-development novels, which presumably exist in the current Halo continuity.
Halo: Fireteam Noble was previously set to come out next year and takes place after Halo 5’s story. Denning penned several of the best Halo books, and also contributed to Halo: Campaign Evolved’s three-mission prequel arc. Details on Burn the Road Home are a little lighter, but a portion of the studio’s blog post that was written before the layoffs mentioned it’s “dropping out of slipspace next year.”
The rest of the Halo Waypoint post includes several never-before-seen pieces of concept art set on Zeta Halo – the ring from Halo Infinite – and shows off biomes that definitely didn’t end up in the final game. Perhaps they were made for a follow-up project? I’ve left a few of them embedded above.
“With that, Canon Fodder has come to an end,” Wakeford wrote. “Forever? Who knows, eh? Who knows. Those who come after may well choose to continue it, a new author may yet lend their pen to this series for future narrative endeavors. In such an event we’ll take this moment to offer a firm handshake to whoever this future person may be. Go forth and deliver unto the community the good word about all things Halo story and lore… And we have loved this great journey with you all so very, very much.”