Over in Amsterdam where Bungie is demoing Halo 3, the developer has apparently confirmed that the game will ship with online, four-player co-op. Rumors had been circling that co-op would only initially be available offline, but these thankfully look to be untrue. The news comes from Netherlands Website Xboxworld, and Joystiq now claims to have confirmed the good word with an English-speaking Bungie representative. The developer should be making a formal announcement later this afternoon.While previous Halo games have included a co-op mode, it was only for two people.
Update: Over at Bungie.net, Luke has confirmed the info regarding four player co-op. Additionally, Bungie has revealed two new characters who will play alongside the Arbiter and Master Chief in this four player mode. They are N'tho 'Sraom and Usze 'Taham
Here are the details on each character, straight from the source:Name: N'tho 'Sraom Affiliation: Fleet of Retribution/Special Warfare Group/Special OperationsHistory: N'tho 'Sraom is the youngest member of his Special Operations unit and is one of a growing number of human sympathizers amongst the Sangheili youth. He is a fairly typical young male adult Sangheili—he began compulsory military service at the end of adolescence, and remains unmarried with no close, non-familial relationships outside of his martial order. N'tho Sraom refused to stand idly by while the Prophets replaced Sangheili units with Jiralhanae packs, and now bears deep resentment toward those Sangheili politicians who landed his kind in their current predicament.Although N'tho 'Sraom's romanticized nationalism is emblematic of all Sangheili, he has developed a healthy respect for humanity—not for their physical abilities or martial prowess, but for their audacity and resolve.Name: Usze 'TahamAffiliation: Fleet of Retribution/Special Warfare Group/Fleet SecurityHistory: Although Usze 'Taham was born into a respected merchant family he was fathered by Toha 'Sumai—one of the preeminent swordfighters of this age. Usze graduated with honors from the top War College in the Iruiru region of Yermo, Sanghelios (a distinction he shares with Rtas 'Vadum). Shortly after receiving his first post within the Covenant Navy he was offered a place on the Prophets' Honor Guard but he declined citing "lack of practical experience". In truth, he had no desire to be part of a largely ceremonial unit, and at the end of his third combat tour, Usze 'Taham again refused the post—even though his superiors warned him such behavior could be misinterpreted as apostasy.Since that time Usze has evaded countless punitive actions, at least two assassination attempts, and served with distinction for two additional tours before the Schism. Following the dissolution of the Covenant, he was approached by the Ascetics to become one of their liaisons within the Navy.All four characters will perform identically, but the Elites will start with Carbines rather than Battle Rifles. Taken from ign.com
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