Master Chief’s voice actor, Steve Downes, has dropped a major hint about ‘big news’ on the horizon for the Halo series. This exciting tease comes just after Microsoft itself confirmed an upcoming Halo reveal scheduled for later this month.
During a recent appearance at Collect-A-Con in Chicago, Downes was spotted sporting an ‘I Love Cortana’ t-shirt. He expressed his and Jen Taylor’s (the voice of Cortana) anticipation for the Halo World Championships, taking place in Seattle on October 24 and 25. Adding fuel to the speculation, Downes ended his statement with a clear, ‘PS: BIG NEWS A’COMIN!! 👀👀’
Master Chief voice actor Steve Downes recently posted on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a photo of himself and Jen Taylor (Cortana’s voice actress) at Collect-A-Con. He reiterated their excitement for the upcoming Halo World Championships in Seattle on October 24-25, closing with an emphatic ‘PS: BIG NEWS A’COMIN!! 👀👀.’
Late last month, Microsoft reiterated earlier announcements from June, confirming that they will finally unveil ‘what we’ve been working on’ at the highly anticipated Halo World Championships this October.
According to Halo Studios, their team is set to take the main stage for an in-depth discussion. Fans should also prepare for a ‘deep dive’ panel, which Halo Studios promises will be an unmissable event.
Both events are scheduled for Friday, October 24. Microsoft has remained tight-lipped about the exact nature of the announcement, leaving fans to wonder if it pertains to new games or other significant developments.
Regardless of the specifics, Microsoft has previously confirmed several new Halo projects are in development. Notably, rumors suggest one of these is a full remake of the original Halo game, potentially coming to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
With 2026 marking the 25th anniversary of both Xbox and the Halo franchise, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has hinted at a possible new Halo release next year, alongside new installments in the Fable and Gears of War series.
The article also included a gallery showcasing various Halo FPS games, ranked from best to worst, inviting readers to revisit the franchise’s rich history.
Recall that the 2024 Halo World Championships featured the ‘A New Dawn’ trailer, which unveiled concept art for several new Halo initiatives built in Unreal Engine, including Project Foundry. It was also at this event that 343 Industries officially rebranded as Halo Studios.
Halo Infinite, released in 2021, remains the most recent mainline installment. Since its launch, Microsoft has implemented significant changes, including a new executive leadership team and a shift in game engines for upcoming titles. The company openly acknowledged that Halo Infinite didn’t quite hit the mark, with Xbox boss Matt Booty famously comparing its launch to ‘a runner tripping at the finish line.’
Studio head Pierre Hintze emphasized this shift, stating, ‘Halo Infinite was the last remnant of how we made Halo games in the past. That was our recipe. And what we’re doing right now is changing our recipe.’ This signals a fresh approach for the beloved franchise.
Stay tuned for more updates on all things Halo as developments unfold.