The Halo TV series features a Mass Effect Easter Egg in the very first episode.
The long-awaited adaptation premiered today on Paramount+ and gaming fans have already noticed a reference to another beloved sci-fi games franchise.
This article features minor spoilers for Episode 1 of the Halo TV series.
Around 33 minutes into the episode, after a conversation between Miranda Keyes and Kwan Ha (played by Olive Gray and Yerin Ha respectively), a radio in the background states: "Commander Shepherd, you are requested at the Skyllian Response Centre."
Commander Shepard is the protagonist of Mass Effect while the Skyllian Verge is a location within its universe where a major assault on humans took place.
Halo developer 343 Industries' Kiki Wolfkill – who's also an executive producer on the TV series – confirmed to GamesRadar that the showrunners did purposely slip in a Mass Effect reference, saying the reference was made because the games industry is a "very collegiate environment."
The Halo TV series will air weekly on Paramount+ with new episodes released every Thursday until all nine are available. Xbox has also announced that Game Pass Ultimate members can access a month of Paramount+ for free.
In our review of the premiere, IGN said: "While the Halo series struggles the capture the dynamic action of the games, the first episode succeeds in building a compelling narrative that forges its own path."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
Source: IGN.com Halo TV Show's First Episode Includes a Mass Effect Easter Egg