: Wait, what? I stopped keeping up with the fiction post Halo 4, when did
: anyone say that? I mean, it's not going to really change my opinion of the
: armor (I still think it's ugly as sin) but they did actually give a reason
: for the appearance change somewhere?

: Or is this their famous "Because nanotech" logic?

Little of both. I believe it was mentioned in the Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, and it explains why Spartan-IVs have a more traditional Mk. VI onboard the Infinity, more in line with what we remember from Halo 3.