Halo 3 co-op confirmed

By Robert Purchese Published 1 August, 2007

Four players over Live.

Bungie has finally confirmed that Halo 3 will feature four player co-operative play over Xbox Live and System Link.

The news follows much thumb-twiddling by the developer over what exactly it would be offering the salivating crowds in late September. We are suitably pleased.

Co-operative games will be started by selecting Campaign mode then choosing your type of network. Once you've created a lobby you'll wait for up-to three friends to join, and start once you're happy with the numbers. You can either start from the beginning of a map or from one of your saved checkpoints. It'[s worth noting you can't join once the game is under way.

Split-screen play for two of you is still included, and you can join two others playing like this over Live or System Link, too.

You won't all be Master Chief, either - Bungie wanted to keep that aspect of the story intact. Instead, player two will be the Arbiter, while three and four will choose one of two new Elite characters.

These are N'Tho 'Sraom, a Sangheili, who is the youngest member of the special team with no real ties outside of family relationships. He's furious at the politicians who let Jiralhanae packs replace Sangheili units, and also admires us humans for our resolve and audacity. Bless.

The other chap is aSangheili, too, called Usze 'Taham. His father was rather handy with a sword and taught him to fight rather well, helping him get through War College with honours. He was offered a place on the Royal Guard but declined, twice, and his attitude has led to punitive actions against him and even assassination attempts.

After the dissolution of the Covenant he was approached by the Ascetics to become one of their liaisons within the Navy.

Each character will be equal in power, just look different and start with varying weapons.

Halo 3 is due for release in Europe on 26th September. We're excited. Pop over to our Halo 3 gamepage to see why.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (64) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • tedster11 #1 5 years ago

    Hoorah. Now to buy a router and a 360...

  • Putty-Man #2 5 years ago

    Excellent news, everyone breathe a sigh of relief..

  • Dizzy #3 5 years ago

    Nice they fixed the bandwidth issues. Gz Bungie.

  • octo #4 5 years ago

    Welcome to last night Eurogamer.

    This is really excellent news.

  • lennon #5 5 years ago

    Was this "really" ever in doubt?

  • Steroyd #6 5 years ago

    b-b-b-but we don't want to tick boxes for the sake of it.

    I knew their semi excuses earlier was pooh.

  • sheldipez #7 5 years ago

    better late than never eurogamer - but seriously - i am one happy bunny :-)

  • Lutz #8 5 years ago

    First... PAGE!

  • Razz #9 5 years ago

    That's rather awesome!

    Shame about the game :p

  • rhinoxious #10 5 years ago

    So once through on Heroic,

    then with a couple of friends on Legendary.

    Followed by a small LAN party to round it all off.

    It's going to be a good couple of weeks.

  • ManicDrunkMonk #11 5 years ago

    Yay!

  • bioreit #12 5 years ago

    Er, hello!

    You MIGHT want to mention that there are story spoilers in that article, for those of us who have studiously avoided knowledge of the storyline outside of the two games!

    But excellent news.

    Hopefully all those that said this feature being omitted was a "deal-breaker" can breathe easy now.

    Or find something else to moan about :-)
    Edited by bioreit at 01/08/07 @ 10:39

  • krudster #13 5 years ago

    "Welcome to last night"

    I don't know about you, but I like to stop work at 6pm.

  • Ace_McCloud #14 5 years ago

    Do you think there was ever a problem? Smacks of tactical publicity... But Hooray anyway!

    As for these extra Elite chaps, BAH! Couldn't some of Master Chiefs old Spartan mates have found their way back to him. I'm totally racist when it comes to the covenant.

  • Drpwnage #15 5 years ago

    Can't wait, it's great to see Online Co-op modes so often overlooked, starting to appear in more games.

  • lambtron #16 5 years ago

    FUCKING YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • mattigan #17 5 years ago

    GET IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Yossarian #18 5 years ago

    Or find something else to moan about :-)

    correct

  • Monkey-Wizard-Ken #19 5 years ago

    Its all good

  • Yossarian #20 5 years ago

    I don't know about you, but I like to stop work at 6pm.

    this is why you give me the keys to the news system

    I can picture it now...

  • kangarootoo #21 5 years ago

    Yay \o/



    P.s. people contsantly rattling on about how someone else reported news X 14 seconds earlier need to get a f*cking life that involves more than scouring the web.

    I didn't know about this until just now, and unsurprisingly my head wasn't on fire pending this announcement. How does it seriously matter when we find out this kind of thing. Its not like we can actually DO anything with this new information.

    Next time someone feels the urge to write a comment like that, here is a question to ask yourself.

    "What the f*ck is my actual point?"

  • octo #22 5 years ago

    Nine to fivers weird me out :-)

    On another note, can this game possibly live up to the hype? Have people learned nothing from last time?

  • MoGamer2006 #23 5 years ago

    @Kangarootoo

    +1, mate, +1

    I get really cheesed off with those snide, smug comments too. Eurogamer is UK-based news site about *games* - do people really expect them to have a night desk scouring the web and updating the site through the wee hours?

    I'd suggest that these people perhaps take a few minutes away from their 24/7 web vigil and, to coin a cliche, get a life.

  • lambtron #24 5 years ago

    "On another note, can this game possibly live up to the hype? Have people learned nothing from last time?"

    Well the beta had much more the feel of Halo1 than Halo2 and they've had more time to spend on the campaign. The online of 2 was always great so that should be a given. So hopefully, yes.

  • Darren #25 5 years ago

    I can't help but think that Halo 3 will be a big disappointment... I didn't think much to the recent beta, it was very meh, and the graphics were underwhelming. Then there was that E3 trailer which did absolutely nothing for me. I have the game pre-ordered but it seems this is a series that started superbly (I loved the first game) but appears to be getting weaker with each instalment (unless you rate the online mode which I don't). Just as well it ends with Halo 3 really.

    Nice that they've confirmed the four online player co-op mode though even though I doubt I'll ever make use of it personally.

  • kangarootoo #26 5 years ago

    I guess it is horses for courses. For me, co-op play was a core part of what made the original Halo so much fun, and I frequently came back to both H1 and H2 years later because of the co-op functionality.

    As far as dissapointment and living up to the hype. I think often it is the hype that feeds the disappointment. DeusEx 2 (which was a perfectly serviceable game) is an example of a title that suffered from this. People all over the web declaring it to be total shite, when it was clearly nothing of the sort, jsut because it didn't (and could never) live up to their greatest hopes and dreams.

    I try to keep disconnected from that sort of hype machine, as it doesn't actually serve me as a gamer. I just want to have fun playing games, and if getting too involved and swept up by the hype means there is a greater chance of me being disappointed in the end... well I'd rather just avoid that thanks very much.

    I expect Halo 3 will be a lot of fun to play. It may not align the planets, but so long as I don't expect it to, I think everything will be fine.

  • klixman #27 5 years ago

    good news

  • spongebob #28 5 years ago

    More co-op supporting games, less Halo. Thanks.

  • klixman #29 5 years ago

    more halo for me please

  • EmiliasHorse #30 5 years ago

    Thanks EG this IS news to me and I am very happy to hear it.

    I am on Holiday in Dubai for the H3 launch... Wonder if the Missus would notice if I stayed at home.

  • rincewind128 #31 5 years ago

    Online co-op, that's awesome. Does anyone know if they are going to include bots for the multiplayer? It's something that's been missing all through out the Halo series, and it surely can't be very complicated to code when compared to the whole game. I really enjoy having 4 mates on one console vs a load of bots in games like GRAW and the original perfect dark. I think that Bungie think; well why not play on live? Main reason I don't play online is its full of idiot americans, bots don't talk shit.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #32 5 years ago

    Fucking AWESOME.

  • peteb #33 5 years ago

    I don't play online is its full of idiot americans, bots don't talk shit.

    They don't teabag either. Sadly.

    Theres an idea, "teabagging bots", that would be hilarious! :D

  • Benno #34 5 years ago

    YESSSSSSSSSSS

  • Xerx3s #35 5 years ago

    I don't know about you, but I like to stop work at 6pm.

    EG Doesn't use polish immigrants locked up in the basement?!

    /shocked

  • Xerx3s #36 5 years ago


    On another note, can this game possibly live up to the hype? Have people learned nothing from last time?

    What last time?

  • bdc #37 5 years ago

    He's probably talking about Halo 2 which had the most online players of any console game till GoW

  • SomaticSense #38 5 years ago

    Sangheilis are Elites right? So why not just put that, instead of trying to show off about your Halo knowledge, eh EG?

    edit: "He's probably talking about Halo 2 which had the most online players of any console game till GoW "

    Yeah, most of them twats.
    Edited by SomaticSense at 01/08/07 @ 12:31

  • GamesConnoisseur #39 5 years ago

    Halo 3 will be shit, totally crap and worse than Barbie and Ken Adventure 3.

    Then be suprised at being delighted that you are enjoying the game, loving the co-op, multi-play and so on.

    Me, always judge the game myself and not what the crowd are saying.
    Crackdown is poo poo it was said by many before the release, I found the light and loved the game!

  • Kropotkin #40 5 years ago

    So lets list the spoilers:

    1) The covenent has been broken up.
    2) The elites are a race called Sangheilis.
    3) Humanity has allied itself with the Sangheilis.
    4) Master Chief is fighting alongside the Arbiter.

    Have I missed anything? Blimey EG might want to be a bit careful about blurting out press releases from Bungie verbatum.

    Anyway there is one little problemette with this new 4 player co-op mode everyone is jumping for joy over. Only 1 of the players can be Master Chief. Oh I can hear the screaming 13 y/o fights now 'I WANNA BE MASTER CHIEF!'. It's like Reservoir Dogs all over against with the thugs fighting over who gets called 'Mr Black'.

    Edited by Kropotkin at 01/08/07 @ 13:14

  • lambtron #41 5 years ago

    "So lets list the spoilers:

    1) The covenent has been broken up.
    2) The elites are a race called Sangheilis.
    3) Humanity has allied itself with the Sangheilis.
    4) Master Chief is fighting alongside the Arbiter.
    "

    I thought this was all pretty clear from Halo2...

    "Oh I can hear the screaming 13 y/o fights now 'I WANNA BE MASTER CHIEF!'"

    Hmm I'd be quite happy to be an Elite as they are awesomo characters.

  • alpha-0ne #42 5 years ago

    Great news not only that you can record the gameplay as films and watch it back, edit the best bits, change the camera angles etc etc then send it to a friend this is gaing to be awsome :-)

    Oh if people dont know there will also be a feature called METAplay whihc will allow for people to play through a level again with additional challenges etc or customisations etc.

    The theres the FORGE multiplayer custom game editor.. head explodes
    Edited by alpha-0ne at 01/08/07 @ 13:37

  • evild_edd #43 5 years ago

    Just to echo the general sentiment here - GET THE F*CK IN THERE!!! \0/

    Absolutely fantastic news... it might also mean that everyone actually plays through the campaign mode this time as well.

    Oh, and "teabagging bots"!?!?!? Consider me scared of the Eurogamer community...

    ;0)

  • Dermoth #44 5 years ago

    This is going to rock all the bells. I'm buying it for the multiplayer anyway (American kids aren't so bad if you take the piss out of them mercilessly - adds quite a bit to the gameplay, IMO), but now there's the added advantage that I'll definitely get some fun out of the campaign, even if it's shit.

    And you never know - it might not be.

  • kapowaz #45 5 years ago

    Those aren't really spoilers; unless you've not played Halo 2, you'll know all of that or know that those things are about to happen. Do you not remember Sgt. Johnson taking point for you whilst you were The Arbiter? Like, and all the other Elites protecting him?

    ZOMG SPOILER FROM 2004!!!11one

  • Lutz #46 5 years ago

    Vader is Lukes dad.

  • Dr_Rofl #47 5 years ago

    Hell yeah! Very good news. The hype machine is getting fueled.

  • Entity #48 5 years ago

    P.s. "people contsantly rattling on about how someone else reported news X 14 seconds earlier need to get a f*cking life that involves more than scouring the web."
    QFT
    and yay glad it's in
    Edited by Entity at 01/08/07 @ 15:07

  • afghan_jones #49 5 years ago

    sounds grand. please tell me that this will be easy to connect to.

    all that strict NAT bollocks makes me a sad panda.

  • ChromeMud #50 5 years ago

    YES!

    /orders HALO 3

  • ronuds #51 5 years ago

    Bungie is a great dev.

  • Yossarian #52 5 years ago

    courtesy of the NeoGAF:

    http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1076/9753...

  • daz_john_smith #53 5 years ago

    Sitting down with the intention of playing 30 minutes of Co-op Halo before dinner and after buying an Xbox at launch with one of my best friends, then realising 11hrs had past and we'd finished the entire game, is one of my favourite gaming moments. We got together to do the same with Halo 2 unfortunately it did not live up to the hype or the quality of Halo 1. Even so I welcome the addition of 4 player co-op, now I can get my other best friend involved and we can all get together and play it through on launch via co-op. If you have the option, playing it through first time with other people is so much better than playing it through on your own. Experiencing all the twists and turns and new features with someone else is priceless.

    Now I've got a question about the Halo mythology that hopefully another Eurogamer reader might be able to shed some light on. The way I understood it from Halo 1, was that humans didn't understand Covenant technology and therefore couldn't reload their weapons, hence why the Chief has to keep replacing Plasma pistols and rifles. I assumed in Halo 2 that the reason the Arbiter couldn't reload Plasma weapons was because of that ancient armour he was wearing. But if players 3 & 4 in Halo 3 are playing regular elites shouldn't they be able to reload Plasma weapons? If not and the covenant don't even reload them, doesn't that make the weapon design pretty stupid and a manufacturing nightmare. Having to replace the entire gun everytime it runs out of ammo is pretty crazy, hence why we don't do it in real life.
    I know I must sound really anal, and I apologise, but its always kinda bugged me since playing the Arbiter in Halo 2.

  • wired009 #54 5 years ago

    Precisely the news I wanted to hear. My hope for Halo 3 has been renewed.

  • kangarootoo #55 5 years ago

    Spoilers follow.

    Dr Crowe is a ghost.

    He's already killed him. Teddy Gammell is tricking him for his own ends.

    Reznik blocked out the memory of the car accident.

    Hey, this is fun (answers on a postcard).

  • kangarootoo #56 5 years ago

    On a more related note, the first time I ever played Halo was split screen co-op on a friend's spanking new XB. It blew both our socks off.

  • mcmonkeyplc #57 5 years ago

    God save our gracious bungie. Long live our noble Bungie, send them victorious ooooooooooo God save our bungie.

    BUNGIE!BUNGIE!BUNGIE

  • Anthony_UK #58 5 years ago

    hmmm, If the game is going to be designed for 4 player co-op, does anyone else have the slightly worrying feeling that this might effect the single player experience?

  • Benno #59 5 years ago

    yeah i know what you mean

    :(

  • Xerx3s #60 5 years ago

    Yossarian: LOL & too true. However, that crow will ALWAYS find something negative to say.

  • Xerx3s #61 5 years ago

    The way I understood it from Halo 1, was that humans didn't understand Covenant technology and therefore couldn't reload their weapons, hence why the Chief has to keep replacing Plasma pistols and rifles.

    It's the other way around really. The covenant have only butchered technology they found from forerunner sites. They hardly understand how it works or what it's true purpose is. The humans have a far better understanding but are unable to reproduce such tech. The only ones in the cov who understand the tech are the engineers.
    That's the reason why they intended to tow the captured cov ship back to earth.

  • smartgun #62 5 years ago

    Anyone see the new Edge magazine today? Halo 3 comes with a map building tool called Forge. You can even play certain multiplayer game types while building stuff, and multiple players can work on a map at the same time. I shit you not.

  • foamy #63 5 years ago

    Yuppi :D

  • Jo0j #64 5 years ago

    Great news, so glad I am fortunate enough to have 360 and Live.