14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has confirmed that it will release a special live action web series of videos called Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn ahead of the actual game’s launch on November 6.
Halo 4 is certainly one of the biggest videogames that will appear at the end of the year and, despite some serious competition, Microsoft is adamant that it will be a huge success.
In order to further hype up the series and get new players interested in the experience, a special webseries will be launched ahead of the game’s November release.
Titled Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, it will act as a sort of prequel for the events in Halo 4, with the franchise’s main protagonist, Master Chief, inspiring a young UNSC cadet in his adventures.
The cadet, throughout five weekly installments that will last around 15 minutes each, will eventually become the leader of the UNSC Infinity spacecraft, on which the multiplayer of Halo 4 takes place.
"Microsoft had to make sure that the web series didn't just appeal to hardcore Halo fans," said Frank O'Connor, franchise development director at 343 Industries, to Variety. "We needed a way to ensure there was a way for people to get onboard this universe without feeling intimidated. [Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn is] an origins story that teaches you about a lot of different facets of the universe."
The best part about the webseries is that the videos are completely live action, just like the array of promotional ads that were released ahead of previous Halo games.
"Every time we do a live-action commercial the audience says, 'We want to see more so that we can explore the 'Halo' universe a little bit more," O'Connor added. "Demand grew more and more out of the two little vignettes we'd previously produced."
More details about Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, alongside a cast announcement, will be revealed in July at the San Diego Comic-Con.
The actual webseries will debut before the launch of the game and will be viewable both on the Halo Waypoint community website but also on the Machinima YouTube channel.
You can be sure that these videos will also be launched on the Xbox Live online service at a later time.