343 Industries Offers New Details On Upcoming Beta For Halo 5: Guardians

With the recent release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection coupled with the upcoming beta for Halo 5: Guardians, it’s safe to say that Microsoft wants Xbox One owners to enjoy a very Halo-centric holiday. And though fans of the franchise have enjoyed a nostalgia trip within the well-received compilation, developer 343 has its sights firmly set on the fifth numerical entry in the series and specifically, how the renown multiplayer component will be retooled for the modern audience.

And so, amidst all the kerfuffle surrounding the aim down sights mechanic, the studio’s executive producer, Dan Ayoub, took some time to touch upon the upcoming beta and how the character of Locke will have a big influence come next year.

The beta’s going to focus on multiplayer, but if you look in the Master Chief Collection, however, we do start to drop a few hints – we’ve got some stuff with Locke, who’s a central character in Halo 5, turning up in the cinematics, and if you remember the terminals in the first Halo Anniversary that focused around Guilty Spark, our terminals this time focus around the Arbiter and tell you a bit more about his story. So similar to the first Anniversary, you’re going to start getting some hints into exactly what you’re talking about.

As a matter of fact, further in the revealing interview Ayoub explicitly stated that December’s testing phase for Guardians will allow the development team to make meaningful changes to the game, and is not merely a concealed marketing ploy. Besides, given that players will be able to check out a vertical slice of the sequel almost twelve months before it release, 343 will have an abundance of in-game data to sift through all in the effort of making Halo 5: Guardians a better title. At least, that’s the idea.

The beta for Halo 5: Guardians will go live on December 29th for those who pre-ordered Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Tell us, are you looking forward to 343’s new entry into the seminal shooter? Let us know in the comments section below.