Halo
News, coverage and analysis tracking Halo across the outlets.
Latest coverage
From GDC: Building the Next Generation of Xbox
Microsoft is developing a next-generation Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, in partnership with AMD, aiming for significant advancements in rendering and ray tracing. The company is also rolling out 'Xbox mode' to Windows 11, enhancing cross-platform play and game preservation efforts, with alpha hardware versions planned for developers in 2027.
Microsoft Teases "New Ways To Play" Classic Games For Xbox 25th Anniversary
Microsoft is celebrating the Xbox's 25th anniversary by teasing "new ways to play" classic games, emphasizing its commitment to game preservation and backwards compatibility across four generations of Xbox. While specific details were not revealed, the company mentioned enabling iconic titles to be played by the next generation in familiar ways. Microsoft also announced that the Xbox Full Screen Experience will launch on PC in April.
Games Inbox: When will the next big Super Mario game be announced?
Readers express anticipation for a new Super Mario game announcement, speculating it might coincide with or follow the Super Mario Galaxy movie. Other topics include concerns about the rising cost of consoles and amiibo, the precarious nature of game development jobs, and the potential impact of dynamic pricing and AI on the industry.
Easter Eggs
Bungie has included several Halo weapons as Easter eggs within their upcoming game Marathon. This discovery was reported by PC Gamer, highlighting the developer's nod to their iconic franchise.
Young Gamers Never Lived Through the Violent Games Moral Panic
Younger generations of gamers have never experienced the moral panics surrounding video game violence in the 1990s and 2000s, unlike older gamers who faced political scrutiny and societal stigma. This historical amnesia highlights gaming's significant cultural integration but also risks a lack of understanding regarding the fragility of its current acceptance.
Bungie snuck a bunch of Halo guns into Marathon
Bungie's new extraction shooter Marathon features numerous subtle and obvious callbacks to the Halo series, including weapons that mirror iconic Halo firearms. While some similarities stem from Bungie's established 'house style,' specific guns like the Magnum MC and BR33 Volley Rifle, along with attachments for the V22 Volt Thrower, are directly inspired by or transform into their Halo counterparts. The article also notes similarities to Destiny's arsenal.
Halo Master Chief actor condemns 'juvenile war porn' clip from White House
Steve Downes, the voice actor for Master Chief in Halo, has condemned a White House propaganda video that used his voice and the character to promote the war in Iran. Downes stated he did not consent to or endorse the video's message and demanded its removal. The clip also featured other pop culture icons, drawing criticism from figures like director Ben Stiller.
Master Chief voice actor demands White House remove his voice from 'disgusting and juvenile war porn' video
Steve Downes, the voice actor for Master Chief in Halo, has requested the White House remove his voice from a video posted on their X account. The video, titled "JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY," is described as propaganda related to the war in Iran. Downes joins other performers who have objected to their likeness or voice being used by the White House for political messaging.
Master Chief Voice Actor Steve Downes Condemns "Juvenile" White House Video
Steve Downes, the voice actor for Master Chief in Halo, has publicly condemned the White House for using his voice in a pro-Iran war social media video without his consent. Downes stated he did not participate in the video's creation and does not endorse its message, calling it "disgusting and juvenile war porn" and demanding its removal.
Just like Concord, Highguard is checking out; will Marathon go the same way?
Bungie's upcoming game Marathon faces challenges in the live service market, as simply being competent is not enough to succeed. The article argues that with Bungie's pedigree, established by Halo and Destiny 2, Marathon needs to offer more than just another extraction shooter experience to stand out.
Master Chief actor calls out White House's use of Halo footage in "disgusting and juvenile war porn" propaganda
Steve Downes, the voice actor for Master Chief in Halo, has demanded the removal of his voice from a White House propaganda video that glorified the war in Iran. Downes stated he was not consulted and does not endorse the video's message, calling it "disgusting and juvenile war porn." The Pokémon Company also recently objected to the White House's use of its intellectual property in political content.
Master Chief Actor Steve Downes Hits Out at the White House for Use of His Voice in ‘Disgusting and Juvenile' Social Media Video - IGN
Steve Downes, the voice actor for Master Chief in the Halo series, has publicly demanded the White House remove his voice from a social media video he deemed "disgusting and juvenile war porn." Downes stated he did not consent to or endorse the video's message, which spliced his iconic line with war footage and clips from other media. This incident follows previous instances of the White House using popular intellectual property for social media content, including from Microsoft and The Pokémon Company.
Project Helix Has Apparently Been In The Works For More Than A Decade
Microsoft has announced its next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix, which will support both Xbox and PC games. This initiative to converge the two platforms has reportedly been in development for over a decade. Analysts predict a high price point for the console and suggest it may be Microsoft's final attempt to solidify its hardware business.
Halo’s Master Chief Voice Actor Calls Out White House Propaganda
Steve Downes, the longtime voice actor for Master Chief in the Halo series, has accused the White House of using his voice for propaganda without permission. The controversy has sparked discussions within the gaming community and among voice actors about intellectual property rights and the misuse of recognizable voices, especially in the context of advancing AI voice generation technology.
Microsoft CEO Calls Gaming One of Company’s “Core Identities” During Internal Q&A
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated during an internal Q&A that gaming is one of the company's core identities, emphasizing continued investment in both hardware and software. He highlighted gaming as a key entertainment category and discussed the importance of active player engagement over passive consumption. Nadella also stressed the need to maintain and strengthen the loyalty of existing Xbox and PC players while exploring new avenues for growth.
Marathon's story is told like it's a single player game and that's no good when my friends are talking on Discord
The author argues that Bungie's upcoming game Marathon, despite being a multiplayer experience, presents its story in a way that assumes single-player engagement. This makes it difficult for players to follow the narrative while communicating with friends on platforms like Discord. The article suggests that developers of multiplayer games need to adapt their storytelling methods to accommodate concurrent player interaction.
The Xbox isn’t ending, but it needs these 3 changes to return to glory
Despite recent reports and speculation, Xbox is not ending but is entering a critical rebuilding phase. To regain its former glory, the platform needs to focus on three key areas: successfully launching its next-generation 'Project Helix' hardware, consistently delivering high-quality games from its studios, and rebuilding its community culture by reintroducing personality and prioritizing game preservation.
'Oh s**t, here we go again': White House uses videogame clips to promote its war in Iran, including CJ's iconic line from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The White House has used iconic lines and imagery from video games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Halo to promote its military operations in Iran and other political messages. This tactic, also employed by other government agencies using Pokémon imagery, has drawn criticism and a lack of comment from major game publishers like Take-Two Interactive.
PS5 Gets Award-Winning Xbox Action Game This Month
The award-winning action-adventure game South of Midnight, developed by Compulsion Games, is now available on PlayStation 5 after its initial release on Xbox Series X|S and PC. The game features a unique stop-motion animation style and incorporates Deep South mythology, earning it awards for Games for Impact and Outstanding Achievement in Animation. It joins other former Xbox exclusives making their way to PlayStation 5.
The Pokémon Company criticises Trump administration's use of its imagery in political memes, says Pokémon is apolitical, Trump spokesman uses decade-old Clinton post to accuse them of bias
The Pokémon Company International has criticized the Trump administration for using its imagery in political memes without permission, stating the brand is apolitical. In response, a White House spokesman accused the company of bias by referencing past instances of Hillary Clinton's campaign using Pokémon Go for voter registration.
