Summary
A franchise that’s always worn its influences on its sleeve,Halohas never been one to shy away from including references and Easter eggs in its games. Over the last 20+ years,Halohas delivered some of the most iconic Easter eggs in gaming, ranging from countless references to Bungie’s past titleMarathon, to hidden secrets likethe Scarab Gun inHalo 2and the flyable Pelican and Phantom inHalo Reach, to hidden terminals that provide extensive lore on the widerHalouniverse.
ThoughHaloswapped hands all the way back in 2012, 343 Industries carried on the franchise’s penchant for Easter eggs and references, withHalo 4,5, andInfiniteall including a wealth of their own hidden secrets. But there’s one particular type of Easter egg that’s become an ingrained part of theHaloidentity over the last few decades, a type of Easter egg that will now feel incredibly bittersweet.
Halo’s Next Rooster Teeth Easter Egg Will Feel Bittersweet
Halo’s Long History of Rooster Teeth Easter Eggs
Debuting all the way back in April 2003,Red vs. Blueis over 20 years old now, and it’s still one of the greatest video game parodies ever made. Created by Burnie Burns and produced by Rooster Teeth,Red vs. Bluehas endured for 18 whole seasons and five mini-series, but now, the end is in sight. Beginning in Spring 2024,Red vs. Bluewill air its final season, but its legacy will live on, not just in its own media, but also as part of theHalofranchise, with almost every entry having some form ofRed vs. BlueEaster egg.
Beginning with a simple Rooster Teeth logo inHalo 2, theHalofranchise has continued to pay homage toRed vs. Bluefor the best part of two decades. Some of the most memorableRed vs. BlueEaster eggs inHaloinclude various voice cameos throughout the franchise fromRed vs. Bluestars, including inHalo 3’s Crow’s Nest mission, multiple missions inHalo Reach, and a series of audio logs inHalo 4’s Spartan Ops mode.
ThoughHalo 5: Guardiansdidn’t contain any majorRed vs. BlueEaster eggs, 343 more than made up for that inHalo Infinite, with there being multiple references to the show. These include a “Lightish Red” A.I. color option, lines of campaign dialogue and an achievement referring to a Scorpion as Sheila, and some Marine lines of dialogue that reference the show’s iconic “You ever wonder why we’re here?” opening line.
Rooster Teeth is Shutting Down
But times are changing. Along with this upcoming season beingRed vs. Blue’s last, it was also recently announced thatRooster Teeth is shutting downin its entirety following a long stint of reportedly being unprofitable for parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. While Warner Discovery is apparently trying to sell the rights toRed vs. Blue, things aren’t looking too great for the series right now, and it does little to help the over 150 employees from Rooster Teeth that now find themselves out of a job.
Though the whole situation is shrouded in uncertainty, one thing is guaranteed, the nextRooster Teeth Easter egg inHalois going to feel very bittersweet. While 343 should definitely go out of its way to continue honoring the legacy ofRed vs. Blue, that next Easter egg is going to act as a reminder of everything both fans and former employees have lost with Rooster Teeth’s closure.
Halo Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
When all hope is lost and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance, the Master Chief is ready to confront the most ruthless foe he’s ever faced. Step inside the armor of humanity’s greatest hero to experience an epic open-world adventure and explore the massive scale of the Halo ring.With Network Campaign Co-Op and Mission Replay, you can relive your favorite moments, rediscover collectibles and explore the wonders of Zeta Halo on your own or with up to three other fireteam members.Experience Halo’s celebrated multiplayer reimagined and free-to-play! With over 70 maps in matchmaking, billions of customization configurations, and countless community Forge creations to experience, Halo Infinite is the franchise’s most expansive multiplayer offering to date.Enjoy an unprecedented variety of gameplay experiences, ranging from fast-paced intense ranked modes to whimsical mayhem in Custom Games, or even co-operative coordination in the wave-based survival mode Firefight: King of the Hill. Assemble your Fireteam and conquer every mode – Halo offers endless opportunities for teamwork, strategy, and unforgettable victories.
