5 Things to Do Before the Halo 5 Release Date

The whole world could change when the Halo 5: Guardians release date arrives. At least, that’s what Microsoft’s executives are hoping. Having successfully navigating the very dangerous waters that it found itself in after launch, Microsoft has been hard at work, retooling and rethinking its approach. Halo 5: Guardians has been in development for years. With new user-friendly software coming in November and Backwards Compatibility on the way with it, Halo 5: Guardians is a lure, a way to get casual and hard-core gamers excited and into stores to buy a console this fall and holiday shopping season to try the new Xbox ecosystem.

Every video we have, every bit of information developer 343 Industries has shared with the world about Halo 5: Guardians indicates that it will be a very different game from past titles. Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 4 featured Master Chief John 117 as mostly a lone hero, saving humanity with the help of people willing to sacrifice it all. Halo 5: Guardians still puts John at the center of what’s going on, but it has a very heavy emphasis on more characters from the Halo universe.

Halo 5: Guardians is so different and so important for the future of the Xbox One that it’s hard not to get excited even if it doesn’t arrive on store shelves until October 27th. Luckily, there’s plenty for interested fans to do long before the Halo 5 release date.

Pre-Order the Limited Edition Console

Millions of Xbox One consoles have been sold. Microsoft is banking that on Halo 5: Guardians release day and soon after it’ll sell millions more.

Halo 5: Guardians isn’t coming to the Xbox 360 or Windows PCs; it’s strictly an Xbox One affair. That means that if you’re still on the Xbox 360 you’ll need to upgrade. If you’re looking to keep the cost of upgrading reasonable, consider any of those console bundles. Just note that with all of them except one you’ll need to purchase Halo 5: Guardians separately.

Read: Which Xbox One Bundle Should You Buy?

The one console that does come with Halo 5: Guardians is the Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition Xbox One with 1TB of storage. It’s a big-time Halo fan’s dream because it comes with all sorts of extras, a custom paint job and a custom controller. At $499, it’s not cheap. You’re better off trying to pre-order this console now instead of waiting, if you are interested.

Pre-Order Your Version of the Game

If you already have an Xbox One console than you have a ton of different options. Microsoft is selling three different physical versions and two different digital versions of Halo 5 directly from its Xbox Store.

Halo: 5 Guardians Standard Edition is just the game with no extras. You can pre-order from the Microsoft Store now. Also available at the Microsoft Store is the $99.99 Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition package and the $249.99 Halo 5: Guardians Limited Collector’s Edition. If you’re aiming for the standard version of the game, don’t bother pre-ordering unless you want a bonus a particular retailer has to offer. For example, Microsoft is offering $10 Xbox gift cards to anyone that pre-orders directly from its retail store. GameStop has opened Halo 5: Guardians pre-orders now too.

Read: Which Halo 5 Guardians Edition Should You Buy?

Watch Halo Nightfall

Earlier this year 343 Industries confirmed publicly that users will be able to play as more than just John 117. Specifically, the developer confirmed that Agent Jameson Locke would be a playable character.

Locke is completely new to the Halo franchise, having only been introduced to fans with the Halo: Nightfall television series that came with copies of Halo: The Master Chief Collection now. Locke is still a fresh character, but there’s plenty revealed about his command style and outlook on the battle with the Covenant in the series.

Halo Nightfall is available for free with The Master Chief Collection and available for purchase within Microsoft’s Movies & TV app.

Play Halo: The Master Chief Collection

If you haven’t played through Halo 4 yet, now is the time to. Actually, if you haven’t played through the Halo games in a long time, it may be worth it to you to pick up Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

The Master Chief Collection launched last year as a way to celebrate the franchises’ legacy and bring classic games to the Xbox One. Inside is every single Halo game to feature John 117. Each game comes with its multiplayer and maps, plus a playlist maker that lets gamers stitch together their favorite moments from across the games.

A new copy of Halo: The Master Chief Collection costs $49.99 from GameStop. If you move quickly you can also pick up a basic Xbox One bundle that includes Halo: The Master Chief Collection at no additional charge. The Microsoft Store has the bundle for $349.99.

Listen to Hunt The Truth

To setup the story of Halo 5: Guardians Microsoft went in a slightly unorthodox direction. 343 Industries didn’t produce a live action trailer, but has aired an audio drama series designed to set up the game’s story and build hype. The series is called Hunt The Truth and Season 2 began just this week. You can listen directly through iTunes and SoundCloud.

Get excited, the Halo 5 release date is almost here.