New Halo Book Has "Connective Tissues" To Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite doesn't release until 2021, and its story remains largely a mystery, but we may soon learn a little more about the narrative. The new book Halo: Shadows of Reach, which releases on October 20, will provide some "connective tissues" that link to the new game.

Author Troy Denning said in an interview with 343 Industries that the new book will "whet the appetite" for Halo Infinite, and he was keen to join the project from the very beginning.

"When Ed [Schlesinger, Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books] asked me to write the book, the first thing he mentioned was that it would be a Blue Team novel with connective tissues related to the Master Chief's role in Halo Infinite--and I was sold," he said. "I just love the Halo universe and characters, so writing a novel that moves the timeline forward–and helps whet the appetite for Infinite–is definitely something I was interested in."

Denning also teased that Shadows of Reach will provide a "glimpse into certain plot points that also come to fuller fruition within Halo Infinite." He added, "Often times this can mean that certain elements I'm writing in my manuscript are brought to life in parallel with ones being developed for Halo Infinite's story and gameplay."

Halo franchise lead editor Jeremy Patenaude is also quoted in the interview, saying Shadows of Reach will touch on the main villains in Halo Infinite, The Banished.

"They should also expect further introduction to the Banished, the enemy which takes center stage as the main threat to humanity in both this story as well as Halo Infinite," Patenaude said. "This isn't entirely new for those who've played Halo Wars 2 or read Halo: Rise of Atriox, but it does offer new details on who they are and what they're like."

While Shadows of Reach may connect to Halo Infinite in some ways, it is not "required reading" to enjoy Halo Infinite, according to Microsoft.

For more on Shadows of Reach, you can listen to Master Chief voice actor Steve Downes read a special excerpt.