I mean, I feel like it’s the opposite? They integrated all the weird novels and leaned into this complex, almost operatic, melodramatic writing hard with 4 and 5. It’s like they were jealous of Mass Effect or something.

Infinite was an attempt to reset and “ignore the writing for the gameplay,” but IMO its problem was dev hell thanks to the custom engine, and the whole world being written into a corner.

I mean, even 3 is an awkward place to continue. I dunno what Halo should be now, but “MCU space opera” is not it.