Halo Studios
Halo Studios business and news from across the web.- Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re MakingXbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
- The $69 Billion Hangover: Every Xbox Layoff Since The Activision Blizzard MergerMicrosoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion has been followed by significant layoffs and studio closures within its Xbox division. These cuts, described by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma as a "reset" due to an unhealthy business, have impacted thousands of employees and led to the cancellation of several game projects across various studios since January 2024.
Halo: Campaign Evolved pays tribute to the hugely popular Red vs. Blue series with a new Machinima modeHalo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the classic shooter, will feature a new Machinima mode to pay tribute to the popular webseries Red vs. Blue. This mode allows players to use a freecam and control their Spartan to create custom content. The feature is available to all players without unlocking and can be combined with other settings for enhanced video creation.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Includes Machinima Mode and Dropping Weapons for TeammatesHalo: Campaign Evolved, launching July 28th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, will feature a Machinima mode allowing players to control freecams and lower weapons. The game also includes the ability to drop weapons for teammates, a feature from Halo Infinite. Developer Halo Studios confirmed that enemy AI has been improved in recent builds and that LASO mode will feature a curated selection of skulls.- Halo: Campaign Evolved Studio Confirms Physical Release Will Include Disc in the BoxHalo Studios has confirmed that the physical release of Halo: Campaign Evolved will include a disc, addressing fan concerns following Rockstar Games' decision to omit discs from Grand Theft Auto 6. The game will also feature a robust Machinima mode, replacing a traditional photo mode, and will be optimized for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and handheld systems like the Steam Deck.
Halo Campaign Evolved creative director says the remake will have 'all the original content' and new features to bring it into more of a modern shooter'Halo Campaign Evolved, a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, will include all original content alongside new features and weapons to modernize the shooter experience. Creative director Max Szlagor and executive producer Damon Conn stated the game aims to be more accessible with improved wayfinding and optional quality-of-life features like a sprint button, built using Unreal Engine 5. The game is set to launch on July 28 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.
Halo Campaign Evolved's three new missions were inspired by Troy Denning's Halo books, but Halo Studios would recommend playing them after finishing the original story — 'It is meant to be played that way'Halo Studios executive producer Damian Kahn and creative director Max Schlomberg revealed that the three new missions in Halo Campaign Evolved were inspired by Troy Denning's Halo novels and developed with his input. While playable in any order, the developers recommend completing the original Halo campaign first due to the intermediate difficulty of the new missions. The expansion, featuring a focus on the relationship between Sergeant Johnson and Master Chief, is set to release on July 28 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Halo Fans Can Relax: Campaign Evolved Won’t Require PS Plus For Split-ScreenMicrosoft has clarified that Halo: Campaign Evolved will not require PlayStation Plus for split-screen co-op on PlayStation 5, contrary to earlier statements. While each player will need a PlayStation account, only one PlayStation Plus subscription is necessary for online co-op. PC and Xbox players will only need a Microsoft account for local co-op, which also enables cross-progression.- Halo: Campaign Evolved Main Menu Video Sparks Fan Debate Over Ring DetailHalo Studios released a 6-hour video of the Halo: Campaign Evolved main menu, sparking a fan debate over the detail of the new Halo ring. Some fans have expressed concerns that the remake's ring is too detailed.
Halo: Campaign Evolved PS5 split-screen issue clarifiedHalo Studios clarified split-screen co-op requirements for Halo: Campaign Evolved on PlayStation 5, confirming a PlayStation Plus subscription is only needed for online play, but a Microsoft account link is still mandatory for local multiplayer. The article also notes the absence of a photo mode and that Master Chief's appearance will not change in cutscenes to maintain narrative fidelity.
Halo: Campaign Evolved announces restrictive PS5 account requirements for multiplayerHalo: Campaign Evolved will require PlayStation 5 players to link their PlayStation accounts to a Microsoft account and maintain an active PlayStation Plus subscription for both online and offline multiplayer. This requirement, mandated by either Sony or Microsoft, is a notable restriction for a paid PlayStation Plus subscription. The game will launch on June 29th, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, featuring only the main campaign and three prequel missions, with no plans for additional content or competitive multiplayer modes.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Won’t Have Theater or Photo Modes, Or Post-Launch Content Like FirefightHalo Studios has confirmed that Halo: Campaign Evolved will not include Theater or Photo Modes, nor any post-launch content like Firefight, focusing instead on remaking the original campaign and adding three new prequel missions. The game will launch on July 28th for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, with an optional Premium Edition offering early access starting July 23rd.
Halo Campaign Evolved's PS5 port has strict split-screen co-op requirements: both players need PSN memberships and…The upcoming PlayStation 5 port of Halo: Campaign Evolved will require both players to have PlayStation Plus memberships for split-screen and online co-op, a stricter requirement than on Xbox Series X|S. Players on all platforms will need a Microsoft account and Xbox Gamertag for cross-platform progression. The game also features dynamic difficulty scaling based on player count.
Here's How You Unlock Halo's PS5 Platinum Trophy Next MonthHalo: Campaign Evolved will feature its first Platinum Trophy on PlayStation 5, requiring players to complete the campaign on Legendary difficulty with all Skulls activated, a mode known as LASO. Halo Studios has released the full Trophy list early, detailing the challenging tasks required for 100% completion, including the notoriously difficult 'Mythic' Trophy.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Goes All-In on PS5 Pro Support as Xbox Bets Big on Rival ConsoleMicrosoft is heavily investing in PlayStation 5 Pro support for Halo: Campaign Evolved, including features like PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, SSD optimization, and DualSense integration. Despite being an Xbox franchise, the game is being optimized to leverage the PS5 Pro's capabilities, with reports suggesting even the Xbox Series X may struggle to match its performance on Sony's upgraded console.
Halo: Campaign Evolved reignites Halo's longest-running argumentHalo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, will introduce sprinting, a feature absent in the original but present in later installments. Creative director Max Szlagor and executive producer Damon Conn discuss how the addition of sprinting and other features like destructible vehicles are intended to modernize the gameplay while remaining faithful to the original's tone and challenge.
New Xbox CEO reportedly pushing for faster Fallout and Elder Scrolls games as Bethesda crosses 8 years since The Elder…New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly pushing for faster development cycles on major franchises like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Halo by providing additional funding to studios like Bethesda Game Studios. This initiative comes as The Elder Scrolls 6 approaches eight years since its announcement with little information released, and amid reports of upcoming layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division.
I had a blast playing Halo: Campaign Evolved, but it's not the remake Halo deservesHalo: Campaign Evolved offers a visually updated take on the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, utilizing Unreal Engine 5. While the graphical enhancements are impressive, the remake largely retains the original's mechanics and level design, leading to questions about whether it goes far enough to justify its existence, especially given the omission of multiplayer.
Halo: Campaign Evolved ‘Assault on the Control Room’ and third-person ‘The Silent Cartographer’ gameplay walkthroughsHalo Studios and Xbox Game Studios have released new gameplay videos for Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved. The videos showcase "Assault on the Control Room" and a new third-person camera perspective for "The Silent Cartographer." Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to launch on July 28 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series, and will be available on Game Pass.
We Played Halo: Campaign Evolved, And The Old Remade Missions Are Pretty “Meh”A preview of Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original 2001 game, suggests that while some visual updates have been made, the remade missions feel generic and lack the unique charm of the original. The game is set to launch on July 28 for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5, with a premium edition offering early access on July 23.