Yah, everything I've read is that the Grimoire was basically created within the last 6-months/year in development.
It certainly reads like generic sci-fi but even generic sci-fi can look amazing next to nothing.
Similarly, I keep hearing people say Destiny's story is garbage and I think the better criticism is that it's nonexistent. Or rather the more apt and succinct criticism.
There is no story. Not one that was made over a span of 5 years. It was gutted and thrown out late and it's clear. It's a shame because, as pulpy and generic as Halo's story was, I loved Joseph Staten's stuff and wished to see what he actually planned for us.
But he left, and presumably (although of course this was all speculation but it makes too much sense to me) what story he was trying to craft ended up getting thrown out ... for something? I doubt we've seen that something but I'd like to know who they have helping make the next game's story instead.
But from the sounds of it and from the sounds of DeeJ's stupid non-answers, it sounds like they care less about a world, a fiction, and a story encompassing all that and care more about chasing the DayZ/Minecraft "immergent" storytelling bullshit.
haha