Sure, here’s a rewritten version:
So, it’s been like four years. Can you believe it? Four years since we all jumped into those space boots as Master Chief. Remember? We were out there, you know, battling those Banished folks on Zeta Halo. And honestly, we haven’t moved the story forward since. But hold on, there’s some news. It’s kinda unexpected, though.
Now, before you get super excited, this isn’t about a game update. Nope, we’re talking about a book! Yep, a novel called Halo: The Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay. Fun fact, this was first teased back in January. They dropped the title and were like, "Hey, it’s about Master Chief," and then… crickets for a while. Then, in some blog post called Canon Fodder — seriously, that’s what it’s called — the folks at Halo Studios, which used to be 343 Industries, spilled a bit more. Apparently, it picks right up after the game ends.
Okay, so it’s 2560, right? War Chief Escharum’s toast, Master Chief’s still kicking on Zeta Halo with his new AI buddy and that pilot, Fernando Esparza. Feels familiar, doesn’t it?
And there’s this combat medic, who’s been through some rough times with the Banished and this mysterious Harbinger character. Apparently, they might have these deep secrets about this ancient ringworld. But every step they take, guess who’s lurking? Jega ‘Rdomnai. Yep, that sneaky blademaster with a chip on his shoulder.
For those who’ve read Halo: First Strike by Eric Nylund, it’s being said this new book is kind of like that. It’s a follow-up to Halo Infinite’s events, but it’s got its own storyline groove.
Oh, and the cover art? Saw it just recently. Chris McGrath, the artist, has Master Chief there with The Weapon, while Jega is all shadowy in the back holding energy swords. Looks intense, honestly.
Despite the big talk, they assure us it’s a "self-contained adventure." Yeah, so you don’t have to read it to make sense of the upcoming game, whenever that decides to drop.
Speaking of which, what is the next game? There were whispers during the Xbox Games Showcase, something about 2026 for Xbox’s 25th anniversary. Could be a Halo: Combat Evolved redo with Unreal Engine 5, or something entirely new. I’m intrigued, aren’t you?
Anyway, Halo: Edge of Dawn sounds like a must-read if you’ll be picking up from Halo Infinite’s narrative thread. Kelly Gay, she’s done this five times before, so I’m betting it’ll be good stuff. Her last was Halo: Epitaph, which was pretty Didact-focused. If you’re into prequels, Halo: The Rubicon Protocol — another of Kelly’s — dives into the UNSC’s showdown with the Banished before Halo Infinite.
Quick tip: If you’re not caught up, maybe play the Halo Infinite campaign before diving into Edge of Dawn. Mark your calendar for December 16, 2025. That’s when it hits the shelves. It’s up for preorder now, with Kindle at $13.99 and paperbacks at $19.
Anyway, start saving those credits! Who knows what surprises are next?