It has been quite a while since PC players saw a new Halo release given Microsoft moved the franchise exclusively to Xbox with Halo 3, Halo Wars, Halo Reach and the more recent Halo 4. Well, fret no more, as fans of the series have taken it upon themselves to create a new Halo game for the PC.

Currently named Project Contingency, the fan made Halo game is being developed by more than 20 game makers, some of which are industry veterans. The game will use Crytek's CryEngine 3 and has no connection with Microsoft, 343 or anyone else involved with the Halo IP.

That may sound as an infringement lawsuit in the making, but the Contingency team says that there will be no legal issues with Microsoft and has taken to its forum to quell concerns.

"Project Contingency is created under Microsoft's "Game Content Usage Rules" using assets from Halo," the site's legal section reads. "It is not endorsed by Microsoft and does not reflect the views or opinions of Microsoft or anyone officially involved in producing or managing Halo. As such, it does not contribute to the official narrative of the fictional universe."

The team claims it is completely in-line with Microsoft's usage rules and is doing everything in its power to avoid that dreaded cease and desist request. This essentially amounts to the devs having to avoid trademarked logos, using the name "Halo" in the title, using someone else's assets and making a profit. All of which seem, for the most part, to be quite acceptable to the Contingency team. The site goes on to point out that this is a completely free-to-play game, being made on a volunteer basis. They aren't even taking donations at this point.

Members of the development also recently spoke with 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor and Jessica Shea, who confirmed that they should be safe from a cease and desist so long as they follow the Halo Terms of Service.

You can see the CE3 tech demo for Contingency below.