Halo 4

Halo 4 is a 2012 first-person shooter developed by 343 Industries and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox 360. It marked a major transition for the franchise as the first mainline Halo developed not by series creator Bungie but by 343 Industries, the studio Microsoft formed to steward the property. The game opens the 'Reclaimer Saga', picking up the story of super-soldier Master Chief and his AI companion Cortana four years after Halo 3, as they crash-land on the mysterious Forerunner planet Requiem and confront a new antagonist, the Didact, alongside a deeply personal storyline about Cortana's deteriorating state. Halo 4 retains the series' celebrated 30-second-loop combat, sandbox weapons and vehicles, while introducing new Forerunner foes and weaponry. Its multiplayer, branded 'Infinity', folded in persistent progression, loadouts and ordnance drops influenced by contemporary shooters, alongside the cooperative episodic 'Spartan Ops' mode that replaced Firefight. Critically and commercially successful, it was praised for its stunning visuals, refined gunplay and emotional narrative, though some longtime fans debated the multiplayer changes and the shift in direction under new stewardship. Halo 4 confirmed 343 Industries' ability to carry the flagship franchise forward and set the stage for subsequent entries. It was later remastered as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox One and PC.