Vacant Throne May Shape the Future of Halo Games

In mid-February, a collaboration among Halo Studios, Simon & Schuster, and Xbox brought us the 37th Halo novel—Halo: Empty Throne. This novel marks Jeremy Patenaude’s debut as a writer for the franchise, and it’s a substantial addition, spanning 512 pages brimming with numerous well-loved characters and factions. Set during the final months of 2559 and the early part of 2560, Empty Throne dives into the galaxy’s happenings while Master Chief and the UNSC Infinity were entangled with Zeta Halo. Fans are treated to a deeper understanding of the UNSC, ONI, the Banished, the Created, and the remnants of the Covenant. Considering the timeline overlapping with Halo Infinite, along with its numerous faction revelations, the novel might be laying the groundwork for several upcoming Halo games.

While Patenaude makes his mark with Empty Throne, the novel connects deeply with other stories in the Halo universe, like Halo: The Fall of Reach, Halo: Shadow of Intent, Halo: Fractures, and Halo: Envoy. A year has passed since Cortana seized control in Halo 5: Guardians, leaving the UNSC relatively hushed with Cortana reigning over Earth. Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood and ONI Commander-in-Chief Serin Osman have retreated to a secluded planet. Meanwhile, the Swords of Sanghelios join forces with active UNSC fleets to fend off threats from the Banished and the Created, while tracking down the elusive San’Shyuum who fled during the Great Schism. Through Empty Throne, readers gain insights into the Banished’s internal dynamics, spotlighting War Chief Severan at the helm of the Banished home fleet, steering things in Atriox’s absence.

Hood and Osmin find an ally in Gray Team, composed of Spartan-II and Swords interspecies strike warriors, for Operation: Bookworm—a mission to neutralize Cortana using a Domain gateway named Lithos on the planet Boundary. Yet, the Covenant fragments have gathered again, now under San’Shyuum-led Order of Restoration, driven by dreams of resurrecting the old Covenant and accessing the Domain’s divine powers. Captained by Abigail Cole, daughter of the esteemed Vice Admiral Preston Cole, alongside Shipmaster Rtas ‘Vadum, the UNSC and Swords fleets venture to Boundary aiming to dismantle this Order and Cortana. The stakes escalate with Doisac, the Jiralhanae homeworld, becoming a casualty of Cortana, prompting Severan to mount an assault on Earth.

In a dramatic twist, Severan, far from being just another War Chief, stands as the last surviving progeny of the revered Chieftain Tartarus, clandestinely loyal to San’Shyuum High Lord and the Order of Restoration’s spearhead, Dovo Nesto. His offensive on Earth draws the watchful eyes of the Guardians, halting mid-battle upon Cortana’s demise—an event echoed in Infinite. Consequently, the Banished withdraw, returning to Boundary to support an Order-led fleet by the “Hand of the Didact,” Sali ‘Nyon. Amidst conflict, Lithos is obliterated, and Severan is betrayed by Nesto, surviving the betrayal with vengeance in his heart. Nesto, however, eludes capture, regathering his forces with plans to advance the Order’s objectives at the Shield World Cloister, sanctuary of the remnant San’Shyuum populace.

First appearing in Halo: Divine Wind, the Shield World Cloister was known as a refuge for the San’Shyuum flotilla, awaiting the Prophet of Truth to fire the Halo Array during Halo 3.

Halo: Empty Throne emerges as a pivotal narrative within the franchise, establishing a cornerstone for future conflicts beyond the threats introduced by the Endless in Infinite. Whispers of Halo 7’s development, possibly alongside a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, have circulated based on job listings and studio rumors, yet narrative specifics remain under wraps. Should these developments be underway, Halo 7 might draw heavily from the pivotal events in Empty Throne. While Master Chief contends with the Endless, Severan’s Banished and the Order of Restoration may provide substantial side conflicts in Halo 7.

With figures like Atriox and War Chief Escharum presumed deceased by most Banished, Severan stands ready to locate Zeta Halo and launch a vendetta against Master Chief and UNSC Infinity’s remnants. Now part-cyborg following his Boundary defeat, Severan could offer a unique boss experience in Halo 7. Concurrently, the Order of Restoration might target Zeta Halo, aiming to seize control over the ring and the Endless, paving the way for players to encounter Prelates, Drones, and foes reminiscent of the Covenant alongside Banished forces. As Nesto hints, Cloister holds a treasure trove of Forerunner knowledge and tech, potentially guiding them to Zeta Halo for the ring and the Endless’ fabled power.

Should Halo 7 not expand upon the events from Empty Throne, Halo Studios would do well to explore a spinoff, wrapping up the novel’s intricate stories. Many fans have yearned for the vision Empty Throne portrays, akin to Halo 4’s initial aspirations, bringing together the UNSC and Elites to quash lingering threats from the Jiralhanae and San’Shyuum factions. A spinoff could rekindle fond familiarity, bringing back beloved characters and answering the popular demand for playable Elites, reflecting the intertwined efforts of the UNSC and the Swords against their common adversaries. With multiple protagonists, just like in Halo 2, players could navigate through distinct campaigns featuring characters such as Jai-006, Severan, and Tul ‘Juran, contributing to a rich narrative experience.