Halo
News, coverage and analysis tracking Halo across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Jimothy, a particularly round raccoon and the internet's latest sensation, has now broken into games
Jimothy, a round raccoon that has gone viral online, is now being featured in various video games. Titles like World of Warcraft, RuneScape, Dead by Daylight, Mouse: P.I. For Hire, The Sims, and Halo have created renders or in-game depictions of the popular animal. The article speculates that Fortnite might also feature Jimothy in the future.
Subscriptions, Clouds, and Streams
Xbox Game Pass is adding Halo: Campaign Evolved and Beast of Reincarnation to its service, alongside other titles. The article touches on broader industry trends like subscriptions, cloud gaming, and game streaming.
Xbox admits its game exclusivity strategy isn't "obvious", but insists Gears of War and Clockwork Revolution won't be the only non-PlayStation games
Xbox executives Matthew Ball and Matt Booty discussed the company's evolving game exclusivity strategy, acknowledging it may not be obvious to players. While confirming that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be exclusive, they indicated more titles are planned, and the distinction between single-player exclusives and multi-platform live-service games is not strictly defined.
MMO Week in Review: Lament for Elder Scrolls Online
Microsoft's decision to lay off a significant portion of The Elder Scrolls Online team has led to further management turnover and a restructuring of the studio. This week's MMO news also covers the early access launch of SpiritVale, the cancellation of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile, and discussions on lessons for Guild Wars 3.
'The mid-2000s was the golden era of first-person shooters': David Syzmankski, creator of Dusk and Iron Lung,…
David Szymanski, creator of Dusk and Iron Lung, discusses his gaming history and preferences in a 'Disk Cleanup' feature. He highlights Myst as a foundational experience and considers the mid-2000s the golden era for first-person shooters due to their variety. Szymanski also shares his high playtime in Elden Ring and his enduring appreciation for Doom.
Halo Studios Reportedly Has No New Campaign Or Multiplayer Game In Development
343 Industries reportedly has no new Halo campaign or multiplayer games currently in development. Projects like 'Project Ekur' have been cancelled, raising concerns about the future of the franchise following the release of Campaign Evolved.
Games Inbox: Are you playing EA Sports FC more because of the World Cup?
Readers discuss their current engagement with EA Sports FC, with some playing less due to the lack of an official World Cup license and the team's performance. Other topics include potential Grand Theft Auto 6 boycotts, Xbox's mobile gaming strategy, the future of console design, and the impact of industry layoffs on studios like id Software.
Halo TV Show Director Comes Aboard Odysseus TV Show As Nolan’s The Odyssey Hits Theaters
A new television series titled Odysseus is in development, with Roel Reiné, a director from the Halo TV show, attached to direct. The series, described as visceral and muscular, is based on Homer's epic poem and aims to expand into a larger universe. Filming is slated to begin in early 2027, with no release date or platform announced yet. This project is separate from a film adaptation of The Odyssey, which is also set to release soon.
Microsoft Says Id Tech Is Safe, Former Staffers Say They’ve Fired Everyone Who Could Save It
Microsoft is facing scrutiny following significant layoffs at id Software, with former employees expressing concern that the studio's proprietary id Tech engine may be discontinued. While Microsoft maintains that id Software has sufficient staff and is committed to id Tech, reports suggest that key personnel responsible for the engine's development were among those let go. This situation raises questions about the future of the engine, which is known for its optimization in first-person shooters, and the broader implications of industry reliance on engines like Unreal Engine 5.
Will Halo: Campaign Evolved's New Missions Continue The Series' Ambitious, Troubled Expanded Universe?
The new Operation METEORITE missions in Halo: Campaign Evolved may serve as an entry point into the series' ambitious expanded universe. This development raises questions about the continuation of the franchise's lore beyond the main campaigns.
Halo Studios Reportedly Cancels New Multiplayer Project
A new Halo multiplayer game has reportedly been canceled, according to sources familiar with the project. The cancellation marks a significant shift for the franchise's development.
Halo Studios reportedly ends development of large-scale multiplayer PvP shooter Project Ekur
Halo Studios has reportedly cancelled the development of Project Ekur, a large-scale multiplayer PvP shooter codenamed by Certain Affinity. Resources were allegedly reallocated to finish the remake Halo: Campaign Evolved. The cancellation means a new large-scale PvP experience in the Halo universe will not be released.
Rumor Mill
Work-in-progress videos for a rumored 'Call of Duty' game, potentially 'Doom 4', have been leaked. Additionally, reports suggest that 343 Industries has canceled a Halo multiplayer project known as 'Ekur', which featured customizable Spartans and Elites.
Halo Studios reportedly cancels Halo multiplayer project Ekur, which had customisable Spartans and Elites and large player battles
343 Industries has reportedly cancelled Project Ekur, a multiplayer Halo project that was being prototyped by Certain Affinity. The cancellation appears to be linked to recent Xbox layoffs and potential development issues with the Halo 1 remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved. Project Ekur was envisioned as a large-scale multiplayer experience with customizable Spartans and Elites, drawing inspiration from Halo 5's Warzone mode.
Xbox’s ‘Reset’ – What its Franchise-First Future Could Look Like | IGN Opinion
This opinion piece explores Xbox's potential future strategy of releasing its major franchises more frequently, including titles like Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. It suggests ways Xbox could leverage its resources to achieve this goal.
Halo Studio Leadership Accused of Mistreating Employees, “Destroying the Halo Franchise” – Rumor
Halo Studios leadership, including studio head Pierre Hintze, is accused of mistreating employees and mismanaging the Halo franchise. Allegations detail verbal abuse, disregard for work-life balance, favoritism, and poor decision-making that have negatively impacted development and employee morale. Several former employees and industry figures have come forward with complaints.
PlayStation and Xbox are both dead, they just don’t realise it yet - Reader’s Feature
A reader argues that both PlayStation and Xbox are in terminal decline due to recent layoffs, a move away from physical media, and increasing prices. The author believes that in ten years, only PC and Nintendo consoles will remain dominant, with Xbox and PlayStation potentially becoming third-party publishers.
Xbox needs to make a choice, says former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden: be a publisher or a platform, but you can't be both
Former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden argues that Xbox must choose between being a major game publisher or a platform holder, stating it cannot effectively be both. He highlights the need for exclusive content to support a platform, contrasting it with the multiplatform approach required for a top publisher, a dilemma exacerbated by recent Xbox layoffs and strategic shifts.
'All options are on the table, considering the drastic measure already put in place' — Could Microsoft sell Xbox? Analysts say it's too expensive for that, but that it could be dismantled piece by piece
Industry analysts are discussing the potential sale or dismantling of Microsoft's Xbox division amidst a significant restructuring. While a full sale is considered unlikely due to its high cost, analysts suggest that individual studios or intellectual properties might be sold off piecemeal. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has acknowledged the business is 'not healthy' and is implementing changes to improve its financial performance and strategic direction.
Former Destiny 2 and Marathon director settles $200 million lawsuit against Sony and Bungie: 'The outcome is one I…
Former Destiny 2 and Marathon director Christopher Barrett has settled his $200 million lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie. Barrett alleged he was wrongfully terminated to avoid paying him over $45 million in owed compensation and to scapegoat him for business failures. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Barrett expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
