When Halo 5: Guardian’s cover was revealed, everyone launched right into speculation as to the nature of the character on its revealed cover art- was it Master Chief? Some other Spartan? Just who was it?

343i was playing coy with us- they would only tell us that it wasn’t Master Chief, that it was in fact a brand new character. E3 came and went, and we never learned anything about the new Spartan. Well, now we finally know more. His name is Agent Locke, and he will be playing a major role in Ridley Scott’s Halo series.

Speaking to Eurogamer, 343 Industries’ boss Bonnie Ross explained that in spite of his crucial status to the game’s story, Master Chief is still the main character, and that the game will follow his search to find his own humanity.

“He is human, he’s always been human, but at the end of Halo 4 he really is reflecting on who he is and why he exists. That was very deliberate because the story we want to tell on Xbox One really is an important part and the main part of his hero’s journey. It’s more about what he’s searching for versus what the UNSC is asking him to do.”

Halo 5: Guardians launches next year exclusively for the Xbox One. A beta for it will be offered exclusively to all those who purchase the Halo Master Chief Collection for the Xbox One later this year, which also includes the fully remastered and restored Halo 2 Anniversary.