On the surface of Zeta Halo sits the shattered hull of the UNSC Infinity. The lore that accompanies the artwork explains that the vessel has begun blending into its surroundings, and its remains now serve as a refuge for the soldiers who made it out alive.
It’s a single snapshot from a Halo game that, by now, is all but guaranteed never to see the light of day.
UNCN $0.2836 ▼ -0.3% Halo 7 Concept Art Reveals the 343 Sequel That Will Never Ship 28">A sizable trove of concept art, apparently linked to Halo 7, has come to light. It offers a glimpse of the direction Master Chief’s journey could have taken following Halo Infinite, had the series remained with Halo Studios (the developer most fans still know as 343 Industries).
And the origin couldn’t be much more official. The images were published on the Halo Waypoint website as part of the last entry in the Canon Fodder series.
A farewell that comes with a gift
Titled “Heart and Soell,” the post marks the 171st and closing installment of Canon Fodder. In it, franchise writers Alex Wakeford and Jeff Easterling signed off to the community after almost 12 years of entries, leaving fans with a set of previously unseen images from the Halo universe as a farewell present.
What makes it hurt is the timing. The team is preparing to pass control of the franchise to someone else, and that sentiment runs all through the post.
Snowfields, jungles and towers rising from the sea
The highlights are fresh takes on Zeta Halo itself. There are sprawling snow-covered landscapes, thick jungles, Banished installations woven into trees and the ancient ruins left behind by a forgotten human civilization.
In one piece, Master Chief explores structures deep underground. Another depicts enormous Forerunner towers jutting up out of the sea.
Fans who live for deep lore will find plenty to chew on in what’s revealed about the Xalanyn, the enigmatic Primordial and the Flood containment facilities. The artwork features creatures, technologies and locations that might have served as the backbone of a major Halo Infinite sequel.
Why none of this will reach your console
If it slipped past you, Microsoft confirmed on Sept. 22 that Activision is taking over development of the next Halo with a newly formed team. Halo Studios, for its part, has been hit with heavy layoffs and will be restricted to supporting existing titles going forward.
That means the series’ next chapter will probably head in an entirely different creative direction.
It’s also worth tempering expectations. What’s on display are concept sketches and illustrations, not gameplay screenshots of Halo 7, and a great deal of concept art never progresses beyond the drawing board.
Still, the collection offers a captivating peek at what a follow-up to Halo Infinite might have looked like.
Now that Activision holds the keys to the next Halo, the odds of this specific version of the story ever becoming a playable game are very slim. The complete collection can be found in the final Canon Fodder post.
And somewhere within that gallery, the Infinity still rests on Zeta Halo, gradually being absorbed into the ring.