Microsoft

Master Chief is getting back in the saddle, with Halo 5: Guardians set to be released next year.

The fifth instalment of the core Halo franchise, which is being developed by Halo 4-maker 343 Industries, is due out "in fall of 2015" (that's "autumn" for UK readers), and will be released on the Xbox One console.

"Halo 5: Guardians is a bigger effort than Halo 4," 343 Industries General Manager Bonnie Ross said in a statement. "That applies to the content and scope of the game, as well as the technology in what's now a brand-new and more powerful engine.

"Certainly there are some core elements carried over from prior games, but we've invested a huge effort in retooling our tech to take full advantage of the Xbox One's hardware and ecosystem to create worlds and experiences worthy of next-gen," Ross said.

343 Industries did not say whether the game will only be available for Xbox One, or whether a version will also be released for the ageing Xbox 360.

Microsoft's Xbox One console is currently locked in a fierce battle with Sony's PlayStation 4 . Microsoft will be hoping more information concerning a new Halo title will persuade gamers to splash out on the Xbox One -- or at least, not buy a PS4 just yet.

Estimates suggest the PS4 is currently winning the console race. Microsoft this week revealed a new, cheaper version of the console that will be sold without the Kinect motion-sensor accessory.

For now, there's no more info, except that we're likely to see more of Halo 5: Guardians at E3, a major videogame show that takes place in LA in June.

What do you want to see in a new Halo game? Let me know in the comments, and to learn more about how Halo become instrumental in Microsoft's console success, check out the video below.