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Original Halo art director "may disagree" with some Campaign Evolved "creative decisions," but says…
Original Halo art director Marcus Lehto stated that while he genuinely enjoyed Halo: Campaign Evolved and is rooting for the franchise, he may disagree with some of its creative decisions. Lehto, who co-created the franchise with Bungie, expressed his continued care for Halo despite its recent struggles and acknowledged that fans might not like his own potential future contributions to the series.
Gamescom 2026 is "proof that the game industry is working towards a better tomorrow"
Despite widespread layoffs and studio closures in the game industry during 2026, Gamescom Director Tim Endres and Stefan Heikhaus, Head of Gamescom at Game, express optimism. They believe the event's full capacity and focus on networking, fan engagement, and future technologies demonstrate the industry's resilience and drive towards a better tomorrow.
47 video game things that spark joy
This article compiles a list of small, often overlooked moments in video games that bring players joy, ranging from humorous bugs and satisfying combat mechanics to clever design choices and nostalgic elements. Contributors share personal anecdotes about specific instances that enhance their gaming experience, highlighting the unique pleasures the medium can offer.
The opportunity cost of Sony's live service pivot is enormous | Opinion
The article argues that Sony's pivot to live service games has incurred enormous opportunity costs, particularly for its first-party studios like Guerrilla Games. This strategic misstep has led to significant delays in major exclusive titles for the PlayStation 5, potentially impacting the console's lifecycle and Sony's relationship with consumers. The author suggests that the long-term damage to the brand and product pipeline may outweigh the direct financial investments in live service projects.
The most profound objective in any Halo series was 'spiritually inspired' by the nuke sequence in Modern…
Niles Sankey, a designer for Halo: Reach, revealed that the campaign was heavily inspired by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 1 and 2. Specifically, the 'Objective Survive' mission in Halo: Reach drew spiritual inspiration from the nuke sequence in Modern Warfare 2, aiming to create a similarly impactful and emotionally resonant experience.
Bungie Had “Five or Six” Projects in the Works Before Sony’s Acquisition – Rumor
A report indicates that Bungie had five or six projects in development before its acquisition by Sony, including Destiny 2 and Marathon. Most of these projects were canceled due to various reasons, leading to significant layoffs at the studio. Bungie is currently focusing on Marathon and has ended support for Destiny 2.
Halo: Reach Designer Reveals that Modern Warfare Series Were a 'Huge' Inspiration for Bungie
Niles Sankey, a designer for Halo: Reach, revealed that the game drew significant inspiration from the first two Call of Duty: Modern Warfare titles. This influence is noted as a major factor in Bungie's design choices for Halo: Reach.
Halo co-creator thinks "many of you would not like" his ideas for a "darker" PvPvE sequel, including…
Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto shared his ideas for a darker, more grounded Halo sequel that would feature a PvPvE structure and potentially alter existing lore. He acknowledged that these concepts might not appeal to the current fanbase and that Xbox owner Microsoft may not be interested in pursuing them.
The live-service elements of Horizon Hunters Gathering are reportedly being stripped out following 'poor feedback' as new details emerge about several canceled PlayStation titles
Guerrilla Games is reportedly overhauling its upcoming live-service title Horizon Hunters Gathering, removing its multiplayer-focused features and shifting to a traditional cooperative multiplayer game with a story mode and smaller scope due to negative playtest feedback. This change comes as part of Sony's broader, and reportedly troubled, initiative to push its single-player focused studios into the live-service market, with several other PlayStation live-service projects, including a God of War game from Bluepoint and an online Spider-Man title from Insomniac, having been canceled.
Bungie reportedly had "5 or 6 games" in development, including Marathon and Destiny 2 – but most fell apart after Sony's $3.6 billion acquisition
Bungie reportedly had five or six games in development, including Marathon and Destiny 2, but most were canceled following Sony's $3.6 billion acquisition. These projects were a key part of Sony's interest in acquiring the studio, but ultimately, most were scrapped due to various reasons, with only a few, like Project Gummy Bears, remaining in some form of development.
I Played Halo 2 Before the Rest of the World and Almost Reported the Abrupt Ending as a Bug
The author recounts playing Halo 2 before its official release in 2004 and mistaking its abrupt ending for a bug. This experience led them to nearly report the issue to developer Bungie, highlighting the unexpected nature of the game's conclusion at the time.
Horizon 3 is reportedly still years away as a small team continues to plan the single-player sequel
Horizon 3 is reportedly still years away from release, with the majority of Guerrilla Games developers focused on the multiplayer spin-off Horizon Hunters Gathering. A small team is planning the next single-player installment, which is expected to have a longer development cycle than previous titles. This comes as PlayStation continues to invest in live-service games, with mixed results.
Sony are rebooting their live service Horizon game as a more traditional co-op affair, claim sources, with a proper Horizon Forbidden West sequel still years away
Sources indicate that Guerrilla Games is rebooting its live service game, Horizon Hunters Gathering, into a smaller, more traditional co-op multiplayer experience with a story mode. This change comes after negative reception to the original concept, and some staff are being reassigned while a small team works on a new single-player Horizon title. PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino previously stated the company's commitment to live service games, despite several recent setbacks in the genre.
Report: Live-service removed from Horizon Hunters Gathering following negative player feedback
Guerrilla Games is reportedly removing live-service elements from its upcoming co-op title, Horizon Hunters Gathering, due to negative player feedback. The game is being redesigned as a traditional multiplayer experience with a story mode and a reduced scope. This change follows PlayStation's broader challenges with live-service games, including cancellations and studio closures.
Report: PlayStation scales back live service ambitions for Horizon Hunters Gathering, reassigns devs
PlayStation-owned Guerrilla Games is reportedly scaling back its live-service ambitions for Horizon Hunters Gathering due to negative playtest feedback. The game is being reworked to be a smaller-scope multiplayer experience with a story mode, and many developers will be reassigned. This follows Sony's broader struggles with live-service titles and recent layoffs across PlayStation Studios.
Marathon's limited time Ordnance Heist is a multi-run and map event that nets you a cool gun you can't keep
Bungie has launched a new limited-time event for Marathon called Ordnance Heist, running from August 18th to September 1st. This event focuses on completing multiple runs across various maps to acquire the exclusive Firestorm power weapon, which features custom mods but cannot be kept after extraction. While the Firestorm is temporary, it will persist as a possible drop in Supply Drops on specific zones after the event concludes.
A Call Of Duty Studio Could Work On Halo, Report Says
A report suggests that Microsoft enlisted Sledgehammer Games, a Call of Duty studio, to help develop a Halo multiplayer game. While an initial prototype was canceled, Microsoft is reportedly still exploring the proposition. This follows speculation that Activision Blizzard studios might contribute to the Halo franchise after Microsoft's acquisition.
Call Of Duty studio rumoured to help out with new Halo games
Rumors suggest Microsoft is considering having Activision assist with future Halo games, potentially including multiplayer development. Activision reportedly created a prototype for a new Halo multiplayer game, though it was abandoned. This follows speculation that Microsoft might place the Halo franchise under Activision's umbrella.
"The most offensive thing we see every time we boot up the game" Halo co-creator takes shots Campaign Evolved art direction
Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto has criticized the art direction of Halo: Campaign Evolved, specifically the main menu's depiction of the Halo ring. Lehto argues that the Forerunner technology should appear ancient and imposing, rather than shiny and new, stating it's the 'most offensive thing' upon booting the game. He also noted discrepancies with the lore regarding the ring's location in the galaxy.
Hit markers are an FPS crutch
This opinion piece argues that hit markers, while providing clear feedback in multiplayer first-person shooters, have become an overused crutch that detracts from immersion, particularly in single-player experiences. The author contrasts the effectiveness of intuitive visual and audio feedback in older titles like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Left 4 Dead 2 with the modern prevalence of hit markers in games like Halo and Back 4 Blood, suggesting a decline in immersive design.
