Halo 4 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games coming out this year, though sometimes it seems like there are as many people just waiting to lambast it as there are who can't wait to delve in.
After all, it's the first Halo game (besides Halo Wars, a strategy spin-off) ever to be developed by a studio other than Bungie, who've moved on to develop a new sci-fi series with Activision.
At the helm instead are 343 Industries, headed by the likes of Frank O'Connor and Kiki Wolfkill, two Halo mega-fans who sat down with us at E3 to show off the fruits of their labors.
Frank, or "Frankie" to fans, is 343's Franchise Development Director, and Kiki is the game's Executive Producer. Both were enthusiastic as they played the game and answered our questions.
"With Halo 4, we do look at it as the start of the next 10 years, the start of a new saga for Halo. Our aspirations are definitely to deliver on an epic sci-fi experience. I think that's a key piece of Halo, and to be able to deliver on that mystery and that awe and that sense of wonder, of being somewhere new and alien," O'Connor said. "It's been a long plan, but it's about to pay off."
Check the next ten slides to learn 10 new things about Halo 4—including some of our own insights, as we were lucky enough to play the game's multiplayer ourselves. Let us know what you think in the comments or on Twitter.