It’s no secret that theHalofranchise is in a bit of turmoil right now. WhileHalo Infinitemay have just received a fairly sizable update, adding some new maps and features, it’s too little, too late. Over the last decade, 343 Industries has fumbled the bag multiple times while leading theHalofranchise, and now many fans are calling for a new developer to take the reins. But before that happens, 343 Industries should try and scourthe Bungie-eraHaloseriesfor any elements that could save the franchise, and there’s one character in particular that’s already primed for a return.
Over the years, there have been countlessHalocharacters, some completely forgettable and a handful being some of the most iconic video game characters of all time. The Arbiter certainly belongs to the second camp, not only being one of the most beloved characters in theHalofranchise, but being one of the most popular secondary playable characters in any game. It’s been a while since fans have seen the Arbiter in action, and bringing him back could be just what 343 Industries needs right now.
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It’s Time for Halo to Bring Back the Arbiter
When the Arbiter was first introduced inHalo 2all the way back in 2004, opinions on the new character were a little divided. On one hand, the Arbiter’s story added an incredible amount of depth toHalo’s overall universe and its Covenant antagonists, but on the other, any time spent with the Arbiter was time not spent with the series' iconic mascot, the Master Chief.Halo 2’s decision to split its runtime between two protagonistsmay have been incredibly divisive at the time, but over the years fans have become a lot more accepting of this change in perspective.
Halo 3continued to cement the Arbiter as one of the series' most compelling characters by teaming him up withthe Master Chiefdirectly. The tale of two old foes having to unite to defeat a common enemy is a classic one, andHalo 3’s core dynamic embraces it expertly, with the duo gaining a newfound level of respect for each other by the time the credits roll. That admiration was also shared among the fan-base, as the more exposure they got to the Arbiter, the more fans began to appreciate his presence.
The Arbiter made his last canonical appearance inHalo 5: Guardians, when Spartan Locke’s team goes to find out the location of a Forerunner Guardian. At the end ofHalo 5, the Arbiter reunites with the Master Chief, presumably for the first time since the finale ofHalo 3. However, the camera cuts before the Arbiter and the Chief say anything to each other, being a real missed opportunity. It would be great to see 343 Industries try to make up for this missed opportunity by adding the Arbiter to the nextHalogame.
It would be fairly easy for 343 Industries to bring the Arbiter back toHalo.Halo Infiniteends withAtriox teaming up with The Endlessto presumably resume their combined war on humanity and the rest of the galaxy. The Master Chief is going to need all the help he can get to take them down, and it only makes sense that he’d want the Arbiter fighting alongside him. Gameplay-wise, the Arbiter could either act as an AI-controlled ally, much like inHalo 3, or could be controlled by a second player in co-op, which is another franchise staple that 343 really needs to ensure is there from the get-go in its nextHaloentry.
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