The Halo universe can be bewildering at times. Like any good sci-fi franchise, it has its own vocabulary--Forerunners, the Flood, the Mantle, Reach. It also a lot of backstory, most of which has been parceled out in licensed books and other material over the years.

Is it even possible to get into Halo 4 without knowing about the original games? Should you be playing Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary first? Here's the case for both approaches.

Read more: A stand-alone story »

With Halo 4 arriving on store shelves next week to start a new chapter in the series, it's time for another story to end. The fifth and final episode of live-action webseries Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn launched today, wrapping up the prequel story of a rag-tag group of space-cadets facing an alien invasion.

Watch: Pow zap »

If the newly announced Star Wars: Episode VII is anything like Halo 4, it figures to be at once ambitious but conservative; ready to rope in new fans, but desperate to please the old ones. As such, newcomer 343 Industries is looking less for a new beginning than to set the table for the franchise without alienating the fans. In that, they are reasonably successful.

Halo 4 picks up where the last numbered entry left off, but a few things have changed in the intervening years. The Flood is long gone, and the franchise's namesake -- the galaxy-busting Halo superweapons--only warrants a passing few mentions. The Covenant is still kicking around, but they could be replaced with any generic alien villain and function just as well. Their presence in the story mostly feels like a product of 343 Studios trying to inject a sense of familiarity into the proceedings. From there, Halo 4 jumps into what amounts to its own Mass Effect or Star Wars Episode IV--a standalone story that leaves the door open for something bigger.

Read more: Building for what's to come »

Halo 4 is due out in less than a week, and you'll be able to hop onto a game on Xbox Live and hear insults you didn't even know were still in use. Gendered insults are among the popular past times on the service, and developer 343 wants users to know that is not cool. In fact, you guys shaming ladies are flat-out "jerks."

Read more: 'Dangerous to give adolescents a broadcast mechanism' »

With Halo 4 arriving next week, Microsoft is cramming trailers and titbits into the gaping maws of hungry fans awaiting the most expensive game it's ever made. Someone's been sneaking snacks, though, as a trailer for the co-op Spartan Ops mode has appeared on the Internet, seemingly leaked out early.

Watch: Ooh, those naughty Covenant! »

Halo 4 is the most expensive game Microsoft's ever made, which isn't really surprising considering the surrounding marketing includes a feature-length live-action webseries with special effects up the wazoo. You can see more of the fruits of that big spending today, as fourth episode of Forward Unto Dawn is out now, introducing a real-life version of everyone's favourite chef, Petty Officer John-117.

Watch: Come on, you donkey »

Microsoft has put out a lot of big games, but none have had more riding on them than Halo 4. Microsoft Studios chief Phil Spencer said the next installment in the Master Chief series is the most expensive game the company has ever made.

Read more: A $3 billion franchise »

As expected for a tripe-A multiplayer game like Halo 4, there will be a DLC season pass available. Developer 343 Industries had revealed that the War Games Map Pass would be available for sale when the game launched November 6, but we finally find out what maps the DLC will include.

Watch: An ancient evil returns launch trailer »

Episode 3 of the live-action Halo 4 video series Forward Unto Dawn is out today, with Cortana talking to herself, the cadets getting an unauthorized look at a Spartan, and war finally hitting the UNSC military academy.

Watch: Lasky has an allergy »

The much-anticipated "Scanned" trailer for Halo 4 debuted last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, giving a glimpse into the origins of Master Chief. It also makes it quite clear that Spartan 117 and the alien Prometheans aren't going to be getting along very well.

Watch: The origin of Master Chief »

The Halo series in known for its multiplayer, but Halo 4 is looking to infuse some story in the multiplayer experience. 343 Industries has released a 13-minute trailer talking about co-op and multiplayer and how it ties to Infinity, the UNSC capital ship at the center of it all.

Read more: New map called Vortex »

The Internet was abuzz this weekend with word of a Halo 4 leak, and warnings to steer clear of spoilers. But it also had the inadvertent effect of raising questions about a purported second disc. Microsoft has stepped in to clarify that it contains multiplayer install data.

Read more: Requires 8GB of memory »

The weekly webisode series surrounding Halo 4 presses onward, with the second episode of Forward Unto Dawn out today. This one follows the cadets decoding videos, clashing with each other, and learning to be proper UNSC heroes. Sometimes that means a little self-sacrifice.

Watch: Lasky takes one for the team »

The Halo movie may be dead, but it certainly doesn't seem like it. In addition to the live-action series, Forward Unto Dawn, Microsoft has announced that the upcoming launch trailer for Halo 4 will be produced by David Fincher (Fight Club, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Visual effects lead Tim Miller (Scott Pilgrim vs the World) will serve as the trailer's director.

Read more: 'Emotionally-charged' back story to be revealed »

Oh, you may enjoy playing those Halo video games, running around and shooting people over the Internet, but you don't truly appreciate Halo unless you've read the novels and comics, bought the dolls, and watched the anime and, now, live-action series. Microsoft released the twenty-minute first episode of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn this morning, with more of the universe-building any true fan craves.

Watch: Plucky cadets pull together »