Halo 7 must unveil the Xalanyn's terrifying mystery, transforming cryptic lore into a palpable galactic threat. The next chapter must spill the beans on this burning enigma.
As the Halo universe continues to expand in 2026, the narrative cliffhanger left by Halo Infinite looms larger than ever. The introduction of The Endless, a cryptic species said to eclipse even the nightmarish Flood in danger, has set the stage for the next major chapter. Yet, years after their debut, players are still left with more questions than answers. For Halo 7 to succeed, developer 343 Industries must move beyond cryptic lore drops and fully realize this new antagonist, transforming them from a whispered legend into a palpable, galaxy-shaking menace. The foundation laid in 2021’s installment is intriguing but insufficient; the next game needs to spill the beans on this burning mystery.
The core mystery of The Endless, also known as the Xalanyn, was established through scattered audio logs and brief encounters. Following the Forerunners' galactic reset via the Halo Array, this species was discovered to have uniquely survived. Their immunity to the rings' life-wiping pulse suggested a fundamental difference that terrified the remaining Forerunners. Fearing they would jeopardize the plan to pass the Mantle of Responsibility to humanity, the Forerunners imprisoned the entire Xalanyn race within cylixes on Zeta Halo and attempted to erase all records of their existence. This act of extreme secrecy, driven by panic rather than understanding, is the bedrock of their legend. By the 26th century, the Banished, led by Atriox, unearthed this forbidden knowledge. Seeing an opportunity for a powerful ally in his war against humanity, Atriox journeyed to Zeta Halo and succeeded in reviving The Harbinger. Although she was defeated by Master Chief, the legendary ending revealed that Atriox accessed the remaining cylixes, unleashing the full threat while the Forerunner AI Offensive Bias was deployed as a last resort.
Despite this buildup, Halo Infinite failed to visually or narratively demonstrate why The Endless are considered "worse" than the Flood. The parasitic Flood was an existential, consuming terror—a tangible horror. In contrast, the primary representatives of the Xalanyn so far have been underwhelming. The Skimmers, possibly related to the species, are feeble combatants. Even The Harbinger, with her shock blasts and teleportation, was ultimately bested in a straightforward battle. This creates a glaring disconnect between the lore's promises and the gameplay's reality. A new enemy faction must earn its fear, and currently, The Endless have not.
For Halo 7 to succeed, it must accomplish several critical tasks:
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Show, Don't Just Tell: Players need to witness the true, scalable threat of the Xalanyn. This could involve new, terrifying abilities that challenge gameplay fundamentals, such as reality-warping, time manipulation (hinted at by their name), or the corruption of Forerunner technology itself.
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Explore Their Origins: The game must delve into who the Xalanyn were before imprisonment. A compelling fan theory posits they are a surviving faction of the Precursors—the ancient race that created the Forerunners and humanity, and whose corrupted remains became the Flood. This connection would elegantly explain their Halo immunity and establish their threat level as inheritors of a civilization that waged war on a galactic scale.
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Define Their Motives: Are they seeking vengeance against the Forerunners' legacy (including humanity)? Do they have a cosmic purpose? Clear motivations beyond simple conquest are needed to make them compelling villains.
343 Industries has a precedent to avoid: the mishandling of the Didact, a fantastic villain who was sidelined to expanded media. The Endless cannot suffer the same fate. Their story must be front and center in Halo 7's campaign, explored through direct confrontation, environmental storytelling on their homeworld or ancient sites, and interactions with new characters from their culture.
The potential is immense. Imagine encountering Endless structures that defy known physics, or facing enemies that require entirely new tactics to defeat. The narrative stakes could involve not just military defeat, but a fundamental rewriting of the galaxy's history and future. The Harbinger was merely a harbinger; the main force must deliver on that promise. By fleshing out their history, capabilities, and culture, Halo 7 can transform The Endless from a puzzling footnote into the worthy successor to the Covenant and the Flood, ensuring the saga's next decade is as thrilling as its past.
This overview is based on Eurogamer, a leading source for European gaming news and analysis. Eurogamer's coverage of narrative evolution in major franchises often emphasizes the importance of delivering on lore promises, especially when introducing new antagonists. Their reviews of Halo Infinite highlighted the need for 343 Industries to bridge the gap between mysterious world-building and impactful gameplay, a challenge that will be crucial for Halo 7 as it seeks to make The Endless a truly memorable threat.
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