Halo: Combat Evolved
News, coverage and analysis tracking Halo: Combat Evolved across the outlets.
Latest coverage
A Halo extraction shooter and battle royale hybrid game was reportedly scrapped during the development of Campaign…
A planned Halo multiplayer game, described as a hybrid extraction shooter and battle royale, was reportedly scrapped by 343 Industries. The project, codenamed 'Project Ekur' and previously 'Project Tatanka,' would have featured squads of Spartans and Banished Brutes fighting AI-controlled Flood and other players on Zeta Halo. The studio also faced significant layoffs and the cancellation of other projects, including a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved.
Why Do Big Games Keep Being Made Playable In Browsers? A Guide To Vibe-Coded Ports
Recent advancements in AI, particularly large language models, are enabling the reverse-engineering and porting of classic video games to run directly in web browsers. This trend, often referred to as 'vibe-coding,' allows players to access titles like Call of Duty and Halo without downloads or emulators, posing a significant challenge to traditional game publishers who are actively trying to shut down these ports. Companies like Microsoft are reportedly exploring similar browser-based initiatives, while others like Sony and Nintendo are issuing takedowns.
Microsoft reveals Xbox Labs and it's desperately pretending it's not about AI
Microsoft has announced the formation of Xbox Labs, a new division focused on experimenting with 'emerging ideas' in response to AI-driven game modding and browser-based games. Led by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who previously worked on AI at Microsoft, the division aims to explore new possibilities in game accessibility and player creation without explicitly mentioning generative AI. The initiative, headed by CTO Scott Van Vliet, is intended to leverage Xbox's expertise in game development to shape future technologies, though the article expresses skepticism about the venture's tangible outcomes and potential monetization.
After Zelda: Ocarina of Time, "Nintendo should be even more focused on remakes" to avoid PS5-like game droughts, ex-marketing leads say: "You'll be Sony, you'll have a problem"
Former Nintendo PR leads Krysta Yang and Kit Ellis suggest Nintendo should increase its focus on remakes, citing the success of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake as proof of audience interest. They argue that remakes can supplement the Switch 2's library and help avoid the game droughts experienced by platforms like the PlayStation 5, though they caution against over-reliance on them.
Original Xbox Version of Halo: Combat Evolved Made Available to Play in a Browser
The original Xbox version of Halo: Combat Evolved is now playable directly in a web browser. This allows players to experience the classic title without needing original hardware.
You can now play Halo: Combat Evolved in a web browser, and it even has multiplayer
A developer has successfully implemented the original Halo: Combat Evolved to run in a web browser, complete with mouse and keyboard support and up to 128-player multiplayer. This technical feat is built upon a decompilation project and has seen significant traffic, even briefly causing the site to go down.
How every major character in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment would fare if they had to survive the plot of Halo 1
This article humorously speculates on how major characters from Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment would fare if they were placed into the plot of the original Halo: Combat Evolved. It analyzes their potential strengths and weaknesses against the game's enemies and scenarios, offering a unique crossover perspective.
Halo Stopped Being Relevant A Long Time Ago
The Halo franchise has been irrelevant for longer than it was ever popular, with its peak relevance ending around 2010. The departure of Bungie and subsequent games imitating trends rather than defining them, such as Halo 4's loadouts and Halo 5's MOBA-like Warzone mode, contributed to its decline. Despite attempts at innovation like Halo Infinite's open-world campaign and battle pass, the series has failed to recapture its former glory and is now seen as a victim of poor management and trend-chasing.
How to throw a LAN party in 2026
This guide offers advice on hosting a successful LAN party in 2026, drawing from a recent personal experience. It covers essential tips such as renting tables and chairs, planning a game list, and ensuring proper power and network setups. The author emphasizes the enhanced social experience of playing games together in person compared to online multiplayer.
The Biggest Gaming Stories That Happened Since GTA 5 Came Out 13 Years Ago
Since Grand Theft Auto 5's release in September 2013, the gaming landscape has seen significant shifts, including the rise of live-service games like Fortnite and the eventual decline of E3. Major events include numerous Skyrim ports, the expansion of the Watch Dogs franchise, Halo appearing on PlayStation, and Grand Theft Auto 5 itself releasing on multiple new platforms. The period also saw the rise of Andrew Wilson at EA, the entire Phil Spencer era at Xbox, the successful launch and dominance of the Nintendo Switch, and a significant increase in console prices.
Give Master Chief a break – I want more Halo games like ODST and Reach
The author argues that while Halo's core FPS gameplay is legendary, its narrative potential, particularly seen in titles like Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach, has been underutilized in recent years. With the rebrand to Halo Studios and the release of Halo: Campaign Evolved, there's an opportunity to draw inspiration from these past successes and explore new storytelling avenues within the Halo universe, rather than solely focusing on Master Chief's main saga.
There isn't an official Lego Xbox, so Mattel just said "fine, I'll do it myself"
Mattel Brick Shop has released a 3,509-piece, 1:1 scale replica of the original Xbox console and its 'Duke' controller to celebrate the console's 25th anniversary. The model features interactive lights and sounds, and opens to reveal dioramas from Halo: Combat Evolved, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and Psychonauts.
The Original Xbox Is Back, And This Time You Have To Build It Yourself
Mattel is releasing a 1:1 scale replica of the original Xbox console, featuring 3,509 pieces, realistic lights and sounds, and a buildable Duke controller. The replica also includes three dioramas themed around Halo: Combat Evolved, Psychonauts, and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, with shipping expected in October. This release coincides with Xbox's 25th anniversary amidst a turbulent period for Microsoft's gaming division, marked by layoffs and revenue declines.
Halo co-creator says the remake's lack of PvP is a "misstep" resulting "from lack of oversight and…
Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto has criticized Halo: Campaign Evolved for its lack of PvP multiplayer, calling it a significant misstep due to poor planning and oversight. He believes this omission is a major drawback for fans of the original Halo: Combat Evolved and a key reason for the remake's underperformance compared to other recent releases.
The 'father of Master Chief' doesn't like the new Halo's new halos
Marcus Lehto, the art director for the original Halo: Combat Evolved, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the art style of the upcoming remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved. He criticizes the new halos for appearing too new and shiny, lacking the ancient, worn, and massive feel of the originals. Despite these gripes, Lehto acknowledges enjoying the game's upgrades in movement, cinematics, and visuals.
'Halo Studios Went Too Far in the Wrong Direction' — Co-Creator of Halo Hits Out at the Main Menu Ring in Xbox's New Remake
One of the original creators of Halo has criticized Xbox's remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, specifically pointing out the main menu's ring design and the absence of player-versus-player multiplayer. The co-creator feels the development went in the wrong direction.
Halo Co-Creator Criticizes Art Direction of Campaign Evolved’s Forerunner Tech
Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto has criticized the art direction of Halo: Campaign Evolved, specifically its depiction of Forerunner technology. Lehto stated the remake's Forerunner structures look too modern and lack the ancient, mysterious feel of the original. Despite these criticisms, he acknowledged positive aspects like the Covenant and Flood aesthetics and previously praised the game's upgrades and lighting.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Sales Estimates Put It at a Nearly 50-50 Split Between Xbox and PS5 Buyers
Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, has sold an estimated 1.2 million copies across Xbox, PlayStation 5, and PC. Sales are nearly evenly split between Xbox and PlayStation 5 buyers.
Halo Co-Creator Says Issues With Campaign Evolved Are Taking “A Back Seat to the Fun”
Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto believes criticisms of the Halo: Campaign Evolved remake are overblown, stating that the game's fun factor outweighs its issues. Lehto praised the remake's lighting, animations, cinematics, and movement, while acknowledging minor gripes, including some cringe-worthy cinematics and overly heavy-handed hints for new players. The remake has been released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, though initial sales on PlayStation 5 were reportedly overshadowed by other releases.
Halo: Campaign Evolved PS5 Launch Was Overshadowed by Black Ops 1 and 2, Says Analyst
Halo: Campaign Evolved saw underwhelming sales on PlayStation 5, selling only 351,000 copies in July, significantly overshadowed by older Call of Duty titles. Analyst Rhys Elliot suggests the $60 price point was too high for a graphical remake of a 2001 game, contrasting it with more successful nostalgic releases and Halo's own past sales trajectory.
