This thread is for anyone who has missed past news, etc. Remember, its a HUGE Read.
Covenant: The Covenant have broken off into factions, 3 factions to be precise;
Arbiters Covenant - The Group we shook hands with at the end of Halo 3.
The Heretics - The Group of Covenant that broke off in Halo 2.
Lost Faith - The Faction we’ll be facing in Halo 4, and the Faction from Glasslands.
UNSC: After the Treaty was signed the UNSC worked hard on creating a more peaceful way to explore the Galaxy, and inhabit planets, also the result of their Logo Changing, and the result of the UNSC Infinity.
The Infinity: Although it is battle capable, it is truly purposed for creating peace, and exploring the galaxy.
Ancient Evil: No one knows for sure, but the highest perspective right now is precursors, although it is clear we will be seeing the Didact in Halo 4, it does not mean he is the Ancient Evil, clearly he has to be there due to the Promethean’s, but who knows, 343/ Greg Bear sure know how to get us excited! 
Promethean’s: The Promethean’s were once forerunners, but had their souls moved from their Forerunner Bodies to the Mechanical/Robotic Bodies by the Composer. (Theory not Fact)
Spartan IV’s: ODST/Marines who have been trained for years, and instead of being kidnapped at a young age, had volunteered to be Spartan IV’s. They went through the Augmentation Process, and Survived, these Spartans will act alot more human then the Chief, and his other Spartans have.
Thomas Lasky/Halo Forward Unto Dawn: Thomas Lasky is the Young boy in Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, the Machinima Series will follow this boy into battle and show the growing process and the moment he meets his inspiration. The Master Chief. Also Reaching up to the start of Halo 4.
John 117 (Master Chief): Halo’s Master Chief was born in the year 2511 on the planet Eridanus II, not much is known about John except that he is roughly 47 years old, and looks probably about 34. He has been in countless battles, including:
Insurrection;
Assault on Eridanus Secundus
Raid on Camp New Hope
Human-Covenant war
Battle of Chi Ceti
Harvest Campaign
Battle of Jericho VII
Raid on the Third Fleet of Glorious Consequence
Battle of Sigma Octanus IV
Fall of Reach
Battle of Installation 04
Operation: FIRST STRIKE
Battle of Earth
Battle of Installation 05
Battle of Installation 00
He is also known has Sierra 117 in Halo 3, and we will follow him into battle once again in the long waited release of Halo 4, a Continuation of the 2007 Game Halo 3.
Requiem: Requiem is a Mysterious Forerunner World toward which the aft section of the Frigate UNSC Forward Unto Dawn, containing John-117 and Cortana, is seen drifting towards in the Legendary Epilogue of the game Halo 3. Although people seem to believe it is a Dyson Sphere, those people would be mistaken, this is a Dyson Shell, or in easier Terms a “Halo Ring Blast Protector” surrounding a Forerunner Planet, it holds many secrets, one of them being an Activated Forerunner Cryptum, and in Halo 4 we might just discover more.
Halo 4 Limited Edition: A limited collector’s edition of the game was announced by 343 Industries on May 16, 2012. 343 Industries also confirmed that there are no plans to launch a Legendary Edition. The Limited Edition is set to be launched on November 6, 2012, at a cost of $99.99.
The first look at the Limited Edition as seen on Halo Waypoint.
Halo 4 Limited Edition contains:
Bonus in-fiction bonus content expanding the characters and stories of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn and their connections to Halo 4.
Special Featurette: Bringing Gaming into Reality.
Making of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.
Bonus digital content through Xbox LIVE:
Unique in-game Spartan IV armor skin.
Unique in-game weapon skin for the Assault Rifle.
An exclusive in-game emblem.
Xbox LIVE Avatar prop.
Xbox LIVE Avatar Spartan IV armor set.
The Limited Edition also contains the UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet which includes a Spartan armor customization schematic, an introduction to the massive ship UNSC Infinity, and insight into what it means to be one of humanity’s finest warriors: The Spartan IVs.
War Games Map Packs: The Limited Edition includes access to nine maps - three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations, available for download post-launch on Xbox LIVE.
Specializations: Receive early access to six Specializations, available at launch on Xbox LIVE, and use them, one at a time, to achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career. In addition to gaining access to new ranks, Specializations unlock new customization options.
The Special Edition of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, a 90-minute extended version of the live-action digital series which will take fans back to the terrifying beginning of the Human/Covenant war, when the Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC’s greatest vessel ever: the UNSC Infinity.
Official Game Summary: “Set in the aftermath of Halo 3, Master Chief returns to confront his own destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. Halo 4 marks the start of a new trilogy that begins with its release in 2012.”
Beginning/Spoiler: According to the Halo 4 article in Game Informer magazine, the game starts off with the Master Chief and Cortana in the remains of the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn in 2557, with Cortana stating she’s updated the MJOLNIR suit’s firmware while the Master Chief was unconscious, apparent from the new HUD. Intruders are detected on multiple decks, which are identified through flying through an elevator shaft and making the way to the observation deck 4 floors up as Covenant. Firstly, the Master Chief is attacked by an Energy sword wielding Elite, to which he comments “I thought we had a truce with the Covenant”, then encounters Grunts and Elites as he continues towards the observation deck. Cortana points out that the hostiles “aren’t outfitted like standard military” and could be rogue. Some Elites, for example, have no armor on their arms, as some Grunts lack methane masks on their face, but rather a tube into their noses. The ship is then boarded by more landing craft and eventually the pair crash land on Requiem.
UPDATE; The Flood: The Flood are not making a return in this Game… As Enemies… we may see them, but we will not fight them.
Thanks for Reading! I hope you got caught up on some of the Facts & Fiction of Halo and Halo 4. Signed - Noble Protocol
Battlefield being my Second! 
