--- description: With the release of its sixth iteration, Halo: Reach, the Halo gaming franchise continues to excite and entice fans. title: A Brief History of Halo image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [World](/section/world/) * [LightBox](/tag/time-section-lightbox/) # A Brief History of Halo by [TIME](/author/time/) Sep 15, 2010 4:00 AM CUT by [TIME](/author/time/) Sep 15, 2010 4:00 AM CUT With the release of its sixth iteration,Halo: Reach, theHalogaming franchise continues to excite and entice fans. ### Halo: Combat Evolved  Released for Xbox on Nov. 15, 2001, the original Halo introduce gamers to the war torn world some 500 years in the future, and bio—engineered supersoldier Master Chief, the next in a long line of gaming icons. A first—person shooter developed by Bungie, Halo positions players on a quest to defeat alien invaders, the Covenant, the powerful superweapons they control. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### Halo Wars  In February, 2009, Microsoft released for Xbox 360, the first Halo universe game not developed by Bungie. Instead, Ensemble Studios crafted the game, a real–time strategy game setting it 20 years before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, and giving players a new, aerial view. Mario Anzuoni / Reuters ### Halo 3: ODST  Released in September, 2009, Halo 3:ODST (originally Halo: Recon) was a prequel to Halo 3, bridging the gap between the second and third game. Players no longer control supersoldier Master Chief and instead play members of the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, a squad lost in the ruins of Earth's future city of New Mombasa on an unknown secret mission. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### A Continuation  The release of Halo 3: ODST, though not necessarily as profitable as the original trilogy, proved an extension of the franchise could be fruitful and went on as one of the top–selling game titles of the year. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### Halo: Reach  Released on Sept. 14, 2010, is a prequel to the Halo trilogy, with its events focusing on the premiere attack the Covenant on humanity. Gamers are introduced to a new supersoldier, Noble 6, and do battle with alien forces with the back up of a squad for the first time ever. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### Future  Though sales figures haven't been released, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft expects that sales for Reach will surpass the $600 million generated by Halo 3 in 2007\. Aside from retailer (and consumer) excitement, the game does mark a significant milestone for the franchise: Reach will be last of the series that long-time developers Bungie will be working on. Microsoft is expected to continue its Halo games under another developer. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### Record Breaker  Halo sales hit the one—million mark less than a year from its release, outpacing sales of any other console game of its generation at the time. Besides being widely acclaimed by critics, the game's boom in popularity sprawled beyond video games with off shoot of the Halo universe in books, comic series and graphic novels. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### Phenomenon  The game's widespread appeal made it a perfect fit for the LAN—party circuit, a congregation of gamers who hook their computers into a local area network to play together. Parties typically happen at night, with number of hours at play outnumbering those spent sleeping. Jan Johannessen / Getty Images ### Inspiration  With Halo fever gripping the gaming sphere, Rooster Teeth Productions created Web series Red vs. Blue, a comedic spoof on the gaming universe. The series was the first to use machinima — a technique of coordinating video with pre—recorded audio — with Halo serving as the visual footage for the show. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### Halo 2  Released for Xbox on Nov. 9, 2004, the second game in the Halo franchise became the best-selling first-generation Xbox game in history, with more $125 million in sales in the first 24 hours. Players reunited with hero Master Chief, but could also assume the role of the alien Arbiter, who left the Covenant to fight along side humanity. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### Game Changer  The first of the Halo series to be available over Xbox Live, Halo 2 changed the way gamers played together. Multiplayer functionality allowed users to play together from separate living rooms using a split–screen. For two years after its release, Halo 2 was the most popular Xbox Live game on the market, with more than 710 million hours of play recorded. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### Halo Nation  With the games' popularity still skyrocketing, the franchise's growing menage of fans began to rival more established franchises, earning comparisons with meatier fan followings like Star Wars or Harry Potter. Known as the , the group has spent billions of dollars on games and other merchandise. Reuters ### Halo 3  Released on Sept. 25, 2007, was the first of the franchise released for the new Xbox 360 console. The third chapter of the battle to save humanity, takes the fight to Earth, a fight led by space marine Master Chief, the game's plot follows the end of the battle between the Covenant and the human race. Microsoft Game Studios & Bungie Studios ### Trilogy  Representing the much-anticipated conclusion of humanity's interstellar war, Halo 3 did $170 million in sales during the first 24 hours of its release, securing its place in history as one of gaming's most popular franchises. 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