Halo
News, coverage and analysis tracking Halo across the outlets.
Latest coverage
The 10 greatest male video game heroes of all-time - Reader's Feature
A reader's personal list ranks the top 10 male video game heroes, featuring iconic characters like Kratos from God of War, Link from The Legend of Zelda, and Master Chief from Halo. The list highlights characters known for their development, bravery, and impact on gaming history.
Netflix reveals their Assassins Creed series cast, along with more details
Netflix has revealed the cast for its upcoming Assassin's Creed live-action series, with David Wiener and Roberto Patino serving as showrunners. The series, which begins in Rome in 64 AD, will tell an original story and has begun filming in Italy. While the full cast has been announced, character roles have yet to be detailed.
Saros ‘PS5 Features’ trailer
The author discusses the niche appeal of bullet hell games like Returnal on PlayStation 5, noting it's not for everyone. They then list their most anticipated games, including Grand Theft Auto 6, Forza Horizon 6, and Fable, while also mentioning other titles they are keeping an eye on.
Peak extraction shooter is waiting 7 minutes and 38 seconds to kill one guy in particular
This opinion piece delves into the unique tension and emotional investment found in extraction shooters, using Bungie's Marathon as a primary example. The author, Morgan Park, recounts a lengthy encounter that highlights both the thrilling highs and frustrating lows of the genre, particularly when playing solo.
Starfield is coming to PS5 on April 7
Starfield is officially launching on PlayStation 5 on April 7, with preorders now open for both standard and premium editions. The PlayStation 5 version will feature DualSense controller integration. The premium edition includes the base game, the Shattered Space and Terran Armada story expansions, a skin pack, virtual currency, and a digital artbook/soundtrack for $70, with a $25 upgrade option available.
Marathon UI Designer Fires Back at Claims of Halo, Destiny Developers Not Being Involved
Bungie UI designer Elliot Gray responded to claims that developers involved in Halo and Destiny are no longer with the studio, listing numerous long-term employees. Former Vice President of Destiny, Mark Noseworthy, supported Gray's statements, emphasizing the passing down of cultural and technological legacies within the company.
Marathon dev effortlessly bodies haters who say Bungie's not the studio that made Halo anymore—rattles off 40 Halo OGs who still work there and says he can list more if you want
Bungie UI designer Elliott Gray responded to claims that the studio is no longer the creator of Halo by listing 40 original developers who still work there. Gray stated this is just a partial list of employees who worked on Halo titles and remain at the company. Former Destiny vice president Mark Noseworthy also commented, emphasizing the importance of cultural and technological legacies within a studio.
Sci-Fi gaming author, William C. Dietz has passed away
William C. Dietz, an 80-year-old author known for writing novels based on popular gaming franchises, has passed away. His family confirmed his death on Sunday, March 15. Dietz authored books for series including Halo, StarCraft, Mass Effect, Resistance, and Star Wars.
Marathon designer shuts down claims that nobody who worked on Halo was involved in Bungie's latest FPS: "Damn i'll have to tell this to Chris Butcher, and Jason Jones, and Tom Gioconda, and..."
A Bungie UI designer has refuted claims that no one involved in the development of Halo is still at the studio and working on their new game, Marathon. The designer listed numerous individuals who worked on Halo and are still employed by Bungie, suggesting the 'from the makers of Halo' descriptor is appropriate. Former Destiny VP Mark Noseworthy added that cultural and technology legacies are passed down within studios.
Pope Leo Urges Media To Show The Real Horrors Of War And Not Video Game Propaganda
Pope Leo has urged media outlets to portray the true horrors of war rather than using video game propaganda. He criticized the use of video game footage in war reporting, citing examples from the White House that spliced real-world conflict with game clips. The Pope emphasized that information during wartime must avoid becoming propaganda, especially when it trivializes the suffering of victims.
GAME’s death signals video game retail’s end, and bids farewell to one of the happiest times of my life
The closure of the final three GAME stores in the UK marks the effective end of physical video game retail in the country. The author reflects on their time working at a Gamestation store in the mid-2000s, highlighting the community and camaraderie that has been lost with the shift to digital sales and online gaming.
Phil Spencer Was Good for Xbox, but His Legacy Is Complicated - IGN
Phil Spencer is retiring after 38 years with Microsoft, concluding a 12-year tenure as Head of Xbox. His legacy is viewed as complicated, with shareholders seeing massive stock growth while some hardcore gamers point to increased subscription prices, fewer exclusives, and studio closures. Despite these criticisms, the article argues Spencer was a net positive, crediting him with saving Xbox during the Xbox One era, championing features like backwards compatibility and cross-play, and building a strong portfolio of studios and games.
Microsoft quietly retires 'This is an Xbox' marketing campaign
Microsoft has seemingly retired its 'This is an Xbox' marketing campaign, removing related blog posts from Xbox Wire. This shift occurs shortly after leadership changes and as Xbox continues its multiplatform strategy, releasing titles like Forza and Halo on competing consoles. The company remains committed to its next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix, which will also support PC titles.
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.
