Microsoft's Xbox One reveal took place Tuesday afternoon and most of those who tuned in got what they were hoping for: a glimpse at the new console, its controller, as well as some gameplay footage from Call of Duty: Ghosts. Redmond also offered up a curveball for those not already satiated: there will be a TV series based on Halo and Steven Spielberg will help produce it.
Not much is known about the series at this point. Steven Spielberg will be producing and the project will be a joint venture with 343 Industries, the game studio responsible for the Halo games, post-Bungie. While Spielberg's involvement is certainly encouraging, it should be treated with a grain of salt as the Oscar-nominated director has lent his name to numerous projects in the past where his involvement was less than prominent. Spielberg, for instance, executive produces the TNT series Falling Skies and while he directed the pilot, it's unclear how much hands-on control he exerts over the show.
Spielberg was not on hand to personally to address attendees and online viewers gathered for the Xbox One reveal, but he did deliver a short message via pre-recorded statement:
"For me, the Halo universe is an amazing opportunity to be at that intersection where technology and myth-making meet to produce something truly groundbreaking."
It will be interesting to see whether the Halo show finds a home somewhere on network or premium cable or if the series will be web-only. Given the targeted audience, a web-series would probably make more sense and 343 Industries previously created one for Halo 4 titled, Forward Unto Dawn. An aborted Halo film was once set to be directed by Neill Blomkamp, who dropped out to make 2009's District 9 instead.
