In the Official Spartan Field Manual, the various iterations of MJOLNIR armor are laid out. One of them is MJOLNIR [GEN3]. It states:
“GEN3 is a conceptual design framework for next-generation MJOLNIR, incorporating lessons learned from Generation 2 improvements while also returning to some of the performance characteristics and higher levels of protection offered by GEN1. The latest Mark VII armor iteration is the testbed for these improvements, though it remains to be seen if the major arms manufacturers are able to adopt this standard and still meet there rigorous cost accounting demanded by the UEG.” -Spartan Field Manual, pg. 179
Canonically, this Field Manual is issued prior to Halo 5, with notes making mention of Fireteam Osiris prepping for their mission to Kamchata. So it’s possible that the UNSC, specifically the Infinity, would have something related to Mk VII or even progress on GEN3.
It could be, but if chief new armor is a GEN 3 mark VI then will every armor in the game be GEN 3 and be their classic version (if their have 1). Hopefully some redisgn stay and we can finally have chief Halo 4 armor in the MP.
Obviously it could be.
Though that would possibly be a bit too early for that unless some forerunner reverse engineering has unlocked some leaps on power armor technology.
But if its simply some Mark VII, as in a next model that could be Gen 2. I would think it to be more likely.
It could be Gen 3 too but in either case it would make sense for the design change to be Mark VII.
Unless its constructed of scavenged parts after some events that have happened after H5g/HW2.
In any case, I think the little we have seen seems like a better design than what has been in the franchise after the disaster of H4 armor.
> GEN3 is a conceptual design framework for next-generation MJOLNIR, incorporating lessons learned from Generation 2 improvements while also returning to some of the performance characteristics and higher levels of protection offered by GEN1. The latest Mark VII armor iteration is the testbed for these improvements, though it remains to be seen if the major arms manufacturers are able to adopt this standard and still meet there rigorous cost accounting demanded by the UEG
That seems like some very strong hinting. It certainly matches what we saw in the Infinite trailer in my opinion.
The vibe I got from this is most of if not all the armor in infinite is likely gonna be GEN 3 to reflect the new artstyle, but at the end of the day its anyones guess.
That’s what I’m guessing too. If so, it’s a good explanation; especially if it’s all supplied by Infinity from stock that they have on the ship, or a secure ONI facility outside Cortana’s sphere of influence.
Infinity does seem to keep all the latest and top of the line stuff on board or get access to it so I wouldnt be the least bit surprised if thats what they go with. Really surprised this thread hasnt blown up, I know this is a small section of the book but after all the discussion of chiefs new look in the trailer this seems like something people would be all over.
aww come on, I posted this already and got chewed out for it. all comments were saying its a dumb idea, only a lot more aggressively.
I honestly think its possible. look at the AI port on the helmet, thats a gen 2 port. look at the back of the legs; the lower section of the thigh armor resemble gen 2. the helmet looks like a cross between new and old Mark VI
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> aww come on, I posted this already and got chewed out for it. all comments were saying its a dumb idea, only a lot more aggressively.
>
> I honestly think its possible. look at the AI port on the helmet, thats a gen 2 port. look at the back of the legs; the lower section of the thigh armor resemble gen 2. the helmet looks like a cross between new and old Mark VI
What did they think it was?
So I’m guessing they’re bringing back the old look but keeping the thrusters.
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> So I’m guessing they’re bringing back the old look but keeping the thrusters.
That’s the impression I got as well, which is what I’d personally like to see since I prefer the classic artstyle but liked the spartan abilites(minus spartan charge).
I also hope the badass GEN 2 armors dont get the axe because of the change in style, cuz i’d love to see them in GEN 3.
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> The latest Mark VII armor iteration is the testbed for these improvements
The only canonical representation we have of a Spartan wearing Mark VII (that I know of) Is Naomi from the Kilo-Five trilogy, and her armor looks nearly identical to Mark V from Reach (which, in turn, was nearly identical to Mark IV**, which came before that). This is an important detail, and because of that, I think this quote is probably the strongest point of your argument.**
<strong><strong>If Mark IV was the testbed that inevitably lead to the development of Mark VI armor, and the Mark VII is returning to those Mark IV design roots, it stands to reason that it’s successor (GEN3) would likely end up resembling Mark VI, which would perfectly explain Chief’s new armor in the Infinite trailer.</strong></strong>
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> I also hope the badass GEN 2 armors dont get the axe because of the change in style, cuz i’d love to see them in GEN 3.
Personally, I think most of the GEN2 designs are utter -Yoink-. From the completely impractical greeble and massive, jutting thrusters, to the hideous colored undersuits, I seriously son’t see why other people like them. However, I’m not opposed to them being re-introduced, because I know a TON of other players obviously love the designs, and I think 343 should try to please everyone, where they can. I’m not a completely selfish a-hole. 
With that said, though, I don’t see how most of the GEN2 designs could even be updated to fit alongside a more classic Mark VI-style armor chassis, to be honest. A lot of the helmets could work well with minimal updates, but most of the actual armor is just so completely different, that I can’t imagine it being in the same game. The “classic” Halo armor designs all centered around a single, universal base armor, that all Spartans shared. In Halo 5, armor is all over the place, with nothing sharing any common “base,” of any kind, really. Again, I’m not opposed to 343 bring the better designs from 4/5 into Infinite, I just don’t think most of them would work without massive overhauls.
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> > 2533275026446288;8:
> > aww come on, I posted this already and got chewed out for it. all comments were saying its a dumb idea, only a lot more aggressively.
> >
> > I honestly think its possible. look at the AI port on the helmet, thats a gen 2 port. look at the back of the legs; the lower section of the thigh armor resemble gen 2. the helmet looks like a cross between new and old Mark VI
>
> What did they think it was?
some of them thought it was just an upgraded gen 1Mark VI, which does make sense.
to this, I noted that if it is a gen 1 with gen 2 components, could it still be considered gen 1 or 2? cause it is neither a 1 or 2, but a 3rd generation oddly sits between them
another person suggested it could be Mark VII, but there is only one Mark VII so far in canon, in use by Naomi. but I appreciate the thought.
most of others didn’t actually say they thought it was anything, they just said it was a dumb idea that it could be a 3 when only 2 1/2 years have past, while I see the concern there, gen 2 only took 5 years to develop, and the time it takes to develop a new MJOLNIR is rapidly decreasing when new contractors and developers are taken into account, we see this with the LEGIONNAIRE class MJOLNIR, but from our description of Gen 3, a 3 would just be the mixing of 2 already existing platforms, thus taking even less time to develop.
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> > 2533274804813082;1:
> > The latest Mark VII armor iteration is the testbed for these improvements
>
> The only canonical representation we have of a Spartan wearing Mark VII (that I know of) Is Naomi from the Kilo-Five trilogy, and her armor looks nearly identical to Mark V from Reach (which, in turn, was nearly identical to Mark IV**, which came before that). This is an important detail, and because of that, I think this quote is probably the strongest point of your argument.**
> <strong><strong>If Mark IV was the testbed that inevitably lead to the development of Mark VI armor, and the Mark VII is returning to those Mark IV design roots, it stands to reason that it’s successor (GEN3) would likely end up resembling Mark VI, which would perfectly explain Chief’s new armor in the Infinite trailer.
[/quote]
plus Mark VII got discontinued only after one suit was made, way too expensive and complicated</strong></strong>
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> …a 3rd generation oddly sits between them
According to the Spartan Field Manual, GEN3 is after GEN2, not before it. MJOLNIR Mk VII [GEN1] is the groundwork for GEN3, which probably means that they’re focusing on the nanotechnology, as well as the shaped energy shields that apparently mimic Forerunner hardlight technology.
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> > 2533275026446288;14:
> > …a 3rd generation oddly sits between them
>
> According to the Spartan Field Manual, GEN3 is after GEN2, not before it. MJOLNIR Mk VII [GEN1] is the groundwork for GEN3, which probably means that they’re focusing on the nanotechnology, as well as the shaped energy shields that apparently mimic Forerunner hardlight technology.
I don’t have the field manual, thanks for informing me
The GEN III could be some new nanotech upgrades for already existing platforms, maybe that’s why Chief is portrayed as having “older armor”. Or maybe its just Mk VI GEN 3. I’ll bet GEN III has some cyber intrusion counter measures to help combat Created forces.