Halo 5 in 2015 opens the door for Halo 2 Anniversary in 2014

With today's announcement that Halo 5: Guardians will be releasing in fall 2015, Microsoft has further fueled the rumor fires that 2014 could see the release of a Halo 2 Anniversary Edition. Though 343 Industries stopped short of actually announcing such a thing, they did strongly hint at its existence.

"Many fans noted that I was very deliberate with my phrasing on stage at E3 last year," said 343 Industries General Manager Bonnie Ross. "I spoke about a “journey,” rather than a destination – and that journey definitely begins in 2014 with a giant leap, rather than one small step."

Okay, so it's not exactly confirmation of Halo 2 Anniversary, but if you remember back in February, Master Chief voice actor Steve Downes specifically told us that we shouldn't expect to see Halo 5 in 2014 — and as today is proof, he was correct. Instead, he told us to look forward to Halo 2 Anniversary this year.

“I think you may be ahead of yourself on Halo 5,” Downes told us at the time. “I wouldn’t expect anything until 2015. What you can look forward to this year is an anniversary edition of Halo 2.”

Now it's worth pointing out that Downes later retracted his initial statement and issued us a new, revised one with changed wording; but, if today is any indication, then I think it was all a cover up and that we can, in fact, look forward to Halo 2 Anniversary Edition in fall 2014.

For Microsoft's part, they remain vague in confirming only that our "next 'Halo' journey will begin in 2014." With the Halo television series also set to debut in fall 2015, what else is there? Fall 2014, Halo 2 Anniversary. You heard it here first, folks. Unfortunately, we'll likely have to wait until Microsoft's E3 media briefing on June 9 before we get official confirmation.