Halo's Hidden Gem: Unleashing the Epic Arbiter Spin-Off Game

Highlights

Master Chief may be the main star of Halo, but the Arbiter is a fan-favorite side character with deep and intriguing lore.

The Arbiter's narrative and viewpoint on the Halo universe have garnered increasing admiration from fans, despite an initially turbulent beginning in Halo 2.

With his distinctive design and exceptional vocal portrayal, the Arbiter is undoubtedly worthy of having his own standalone game, offering abundant opportunities to delve into various captivating settings and storylines.

The Master Chief has always been the star of the Halo franchise and will likely remain so. With his iconic armor and presence on game covers, billboards, posters, and Xbox marketing, the Master Chief has become a beloved character, thanks in part to Steve Downes' excellent voice performance. However, he is not the only fan-favorite character in the Halo universe.

Since its debut in 2001, the Halo franchise has introduced a variety of popular side characters. From Cortana, Master Chief's partner-in-crime, to the bold and brash Sgt. Johnson, to the Chief's fellow Spartans in Halo 5: Guardians, each fan has their own favorite side character. Yet, there is one character who consistently claims the top spot in many fans' hearts – the Sangheili warrior, the Arbiter. Surprisingly, the Arbiter still does not have his own spin-off game.

Why The Arbiter Deserves His Own Halo Spin-off

The Arbiter made his first appearance in 2004 with the launch of Halo 2, but it didn't leave the best impression. Fans were eager to continue the Master Chief's story, so when they were suddenly forced to play as the unfamiliar Elite character, many were unhappy. Halo 2 employed a similar tactic to Metal Gear Solid 2, but it wasn't as disliked because players still had opportunities to control the Master Chief. However, a significant portion of the game was dedicated to playing as the Arbiter, whose story failed to captivate fans at the time.

Now, almost twenty years later, fans have grown more accepting of Halo 2's dual protagonist approach. While playing as the Master Chief is always enjoyable, fans recognize that there are now plenty of games offering that experience, making the chance to play as someone else a unique aspect of Halo 2. The same can be said for the Arbiter's story. Although fans initially didn't appreciate the intricacies of the Covenant's lore, they now view it as crucial to building the world of the entire franchise.

Following the resolution of the previous controversy surrounding Halo 2, fans now have a deeper appreciation for the complexity and intrigue of the character known as the Arbiter. Despite initially being defeated by the Master Chief in the first Halo, the Arbiter was thrust into a life of servitude under the Prophets, with the expectation of undertaking a suicide mission. This naturally led to a deep resentment towards humanity, particularly the Chief, making his eventual cooperation with them in Halo 3 all the more captivating.

The Arbiter has garnered a strong presence through consistently impressive visual design and the exceptional voice performance of the legendary Keith David. It is a missed opportunity that a Halo spin-off focused on the Arbiter in a leading role has never been created. Since his brief appearance in Halo 5, the character has not been seen, leaving ample potential for an Arbiter-centric spin-off. Numerous settings are readily available for exploration, such as the Arbiter's home world of Sanghelios, aiding the Master Chief on Zeta Halo, or delving into the period between Halo 3 and 5.