Microsoft's Halo 5: Guardians is fast approaching a possible release date, and thanks to some recent leaks, it looks like fans may be getting their hands on the game as early as August of this year.
The leak is part of a discovery made by Beyond Entertainment who noticed an Amazon listing for the new book "The Art of Halo 5: Guardians" to be released on August 11, 2015. The reason that this book is important and could mean a similar release date for the game itself is that the same happened when Halo 4 and the Halo 4 art book released simultaneously in 2012. Plus, the art book is bound to include loads of spoilers for the game, so it wouldn't make sense for the book the be released before the game.
"In Halo 5: Guardians, game developer 343 Industries continues to enthrall fans worldwide with the exploits of the legendary Spartan super soldier, the Master Chief, as well as new characters in the Halo® universe, including Agent Jameson Locke and others," the art book's description reads. "This deluxe art book chronicles the creative and breathtaking art of the worlds, vehicles, and characters of Halo 5: Guardians, with exclusive details behind the creation of returning characters, such as the Arbiter and the Master Chief himself. Complete with commentary from 343 Industries, The Art of Halo 5: Guardians is the ultimate exploration of the intricate creature design and groundbreaking gameplay that define the Halo experience."
The game itself was first described in a press release from Microsoft back on December 28, 2014 when pre-orders first went on sale. "Halo 5: Guardians continues the story of the Master Chief, and introduces a brand new central character to the Halo universe - Spartan Locke," the publisher describes. "Peace is shattered when colony worlds are unexpectedly attacked. And when humanity's greatest hero goes missing, Spartan Locke is tasked with hunting the Master Chief and solving a mystery that threatens the entire galaxy."
The game will be launched for the Xbox One exclusively and was first aiming for a "Fall 2015" release window. Pre-order are currently available in three different editions:
Standard Edition for $59.99 - Halo 5: Guardians plus an exclusive poster, only available to those who pre-order.
Limited Edition for $99.99 - Everything in the Standard Edition plus new digital content to enhance Spartan combat and exclusive items wrapped in a uniquely designed steel book.
Limited Collector's Edition for $249.99 - Everything in the Limited Edition as well as additional content such as a commemorative numbered statue designed by 343 Industries. More details on the design to be shared at a later date.
The Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta just ended on January 18, showcasing a 4v4 arena, which is said to be only a small part of the multiplayer experience in the final game. But for those who purchased Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the multiplayer content in the beta will be carried over to the retail game when it launches in the fall.
And if that's not enough Halo for you, the behind-the-scenes documentary "The Sprint" is now available on YouTube. The six-episode video series take a look at what developer 343 Industries accomplished up to the launch of the multiplayer beta, including a deeper look at how the game is tested by the QA team and how the game's story progressed.
In addition, a television series based on the franchise is currently being produced by Steven Spielberg for a 2015 launch (possibly closer to that fall launch date) and it's expected to be shown on the cable network Showtime.
