When most people think of landmark exclusive video game franchises for the Xbox line of consoles, most will probably think ofHaloandGears of War. For about 20 years, these two series have remained as Xbox’s most popular and celebrated exclusives, spawning sequels, spin-offs, books, comics, and esports multiplayer competitions. BothHaloandGears of Warare best known for their intriguing science fiction campaigns and addictive gameplay, which have remained relatively consistent over the years. However, despite the two franchises’ long history as Xbox’s go-to exclusives, the two have seldom collaborated. With the introduction ofHalo’s Fracture alternative timelines,Halo Infinitemay be able to cross over withGears of War: E-Dayin fun and interesting ways.
The History of Halo and Gears of War Collaborations
HaloandGears of Warboth helped Xbox become a successful brand in the early 21st century.Halo: Combat Evolvedwas the original Xbox’s killer appand launch title thanks to its cinematic campaign and engaging gameplay.Halo 2made breakthrough innovations with its online multiplayer and continued to make waves with its complex narrative thanks to the Arbiter. WhileGears of War 1wasn’t a launch title for the Xbox 360, it was released early enough in the console’s life to become one of the console’s earliest platinum hits and was one of the most played multiplayer games untilHalo 3.Gears of War’s brutal narrative combined with its iconic chainsaw lancer and innovative cover system quickly guaranteed the Xbox 360 would be a success.
The Xbox 360 era saw multipleHaloandGears of Wargames released, but the two franchises wouldn’t officially cross over until the reign of the Xbox One. 2013’sKiller Instinctreboot fighting game was the first place the two Xbox exclusives would come together in fights to the death. InKiller Instinct’s third season, both theArbiter Thel ‘Vadam and General RAAMwere released as DLC fighters. Here, fans could finally see how one of the galaxy’s deadliest Sangheili would handle against one of Sera’s most merciless Locust warriors. Both Arbiter and RAAM could be customized to appear as other ranks of Elites and Locust soldiers such asHalo: Reach’s Zealots and Theron Guards.
Gears 5’s Halo: Reach Collab Explained
2019’sGears 5was the firstGears of Wargame to introduce playable characters from beyond the wars of Sera. This first began with the inclusion ofTerminator: Dark Fate’s T-800 and Sarah Connor alongsideCatherine-B320 and Emile-A239 fromHalo: Reach. Players could unlock these Spartan 3s by purchasing theHalo: Reachcharacter pack orGears 5Ultimate Edition, and both Spartans could be played in Horde, Versus, and Escape game modes. Kat and Emile came equipped with their own ultimate abilities, such as the drop shield reminiscent ofHalo: Reach’s bubble shield armor ability and the hologram reminiscent of the hologram armor ability.
Both Emile and Kat’s original voice actors Jamie Hector and Alona Tal fromHalo: Reachreprised their roles forGears 5, whereas Keith David did not voice the Arbiter forKiller Instinctand was substituted with Ray Chase.
Halo Infinite’s Potential Crossover with Gears of War: E-Day
SinceGears 5there has been nocrossover betweenHaloandGears of War, but Halo Studios and The Coalition should strive to collaborate once more for the upcoming release ofGears of War: E-Day. The two developers could bring moreHalocharacters intoE-Day’s multiplayer similar toGears 5, such as Master Chief, Agent Locke, or Atriox. Master Chief and Locke could play similarly to ordinary COG soldiers, while Atriox could play similarly to Locust troops. The Coalition could create newHalo-themed skins to go along with these characters, including a red or blue energy chainsaw lancer reminiscent of the red and blue energy swords from the Covenant and Banished. However, the crossover doesn’t have to be restricted toGears of War: E-Dayalone.
The Coalition could work with Halo Studios to develop a new Fracture armor core forHalo Infinitefeaturing new Spartan armor inspired by those worn by COG and Locust soldiers. PreviousFracture armor cores such as Yoroi and Eaglestrikeare already based on alternateHalouniverses, so thisGearsarmor core could be oneHalouniverse where similar events to Sera’s wars occurred.Haloplayers could finally wear Spartan armor based on the iconic appearances of the tragic Carmine brothers, special ops Onyx Guards, and lethal Theron Guards. This collaboration could finally bring Xbox’s two most beloved franchises together in a way never seen before and help increase player interest in both game series.
Halo Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic open-world adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.With Network Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay, you can relive your favorite moments, rediscover collectibles and explore the wonders of Zeta Halo on your own or with up to three other fireteam members.Experience Halo’s celebrated multiplayer reimagined and free-to-play! With over 70 maps in matchmaking, billions of customization configurations, and countless community Forge creations to experience, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s most expansive multiplayer offering to date.Enjoy an unprecedented variety of gameplay experiences, ranging from fast-paced intense ranked modes to whimsical mayhem in Custom Games, or even co-operative coordination in the wave-based survival mode Firefight: King of the Hill. Assemble your Fireteam and conquer every mode – Halo offers endless opportunities for teamwork, strategy, and unforgettable victories.
