Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare has recently caught some flak, with some suggesting they’re trying to be a bit too much like Halo (with their exo-suit and futuristic weaponry). However, 343 Industries isn’t having any of that talk on their watch!
In a recent interview, Dan Ayoub (who is executive VP at 343) made a clear distinction regarding what sets Halo apart from its counterpart. Even though they naturally share the FPS mechanic, it’s Halo ’s deep mythology that makes all the difference. “I think what differentiates us as a brand from CoD is our story. I think one of the reasons Halo ‘s been around as long as it has is that there’s a really rich story, a huge universe–we have so many stories that we can tell.” he states.
While big wigs like Kevin Spacey may add some serious star-power to Call of Duty that Halo lacks, it can’t compare to the connection fans of the series feel towards its key characters. According to Ayoub, people “…really care about Johnson, Cortana, the Arbiter and want to know what’s going to happen to them. I think that just creates not only a loyalty but an eagerness, and when I think about why Halo ‘s been around so long, it always comes back down to that–on top of just amazing gameplay.”
Master Chief’s latest epic, Halo: The Master Chief Collection , is available now exclusively for the Xbox One.