While character Agent Locke will be a primary character in Halo 5: Guardians, Master Chief remains the main protagonist, 343 Industries franchise development director Frank O'Connor confirmed on NeoGAF.

"'A' primary character, Chief is the main character and hero,” O'Connor writes, responding to theories that Chief won't be the main protagonist. He also shot down comments that the developer is going to “test the waters to see if they can retire Master Chief.”

The reports were triggered by a recent X-One Magazine interview with actor Mike Colter. The actor's comments suggested that his character Agent Locke will be the main hero who finishes the proverbial fight in Halo 5: Guardians

"Yeah, I'm a playable character in Halo 5," he said. "Once Halo: The Master Chief Collection is released, and then Halo 5 comes out shortly thereafter, you're basically going to be playing a game with me as the primary character. I'll have some cool weaponry, and some cool abilities, because by that time I'll be a Spartan IV."

Locke is a prominent character in television adaptation series Halo: Nightfall. Ridley Scott-produced Nightfall bridges the gap between Halo 4 and 5, and provides insight into Locke's character and his role in the Halo fiction.

Nightfall will packaged with Halo: The Master Chief Collection when it launches November 11. You can find out more about the collection on IGN First's coverage . Halo 5: Guardians is slated to release in 2015 on Xbox One.Thanks, JBG News

Jenna Pitcher is a freelance journalist writing for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter