According to reports from the next issue of GamesMaster, Microsoft's newly formed Halo studio, 343 Industries, is working on a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved for Xbox 360. Reports suggest that the game will run on the Halo: Reach engine and should see a release sometime before a Halo 3 sequel is released in late 2012. The release could celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Halo franchise, which will take place in November 2011.
It seems that there was enough of a public outcry about the discontinuation of Halo Wars stat tracking, which is key in matchmaking, that 343 Industries has announced that the service will indeed continue.
Microsoft's Frank O'Connor reveals Halo's super secret forumla of success and it's that the games in the series have "something for everyone" to enjoy. Halo sports a "deep, rewarding sandbox" of vehicles, cool and exotic weapons - plus some "challenging AI." Still "a lot of folks" haven't succumbed yet.
Eric Ruth has released another classic 8-bit demake, this time for the Halo franchise. This release is free to download for all PC users and is now available on Strategy Informer.
One Minecraft user has recreated the Lockout multiplayer map of Halo, complete with Master Chief model and first person shooter action.
The domain name KinectHalo.com has been registered by Microsoft which has naturally super-fuelled rumour even more that its marriage is a sure bet. The WHOis details for the domain name has it owned by Microsoft as of June 14th 2010. Right now 343 Industries is busy on a "new high profile Halo".
343 Industries, the Halo franchise caretaker led by ex-Bungie exec Frank O'Connor, is stating that there will be no Halo spinoff games like Halo 3: ODST in the near future, but there will be something released for fans to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Halo: Combat Evolved's release in 2001.
Official Xbox Magazine UK is reporting that Microsoft community manager Larry Hryb, aka Major Nelson, is promising that a major Halo: Reach add-on is coming "very soon".
The game that launched Microsoft's console is returning ten years after its release in 2010, and will completely rerendered with new art assets in 1080p, and even have an option to play in stereoscopic 3D.
Halo: Reach is due another map pack and it's called 'Defiant' if leaked images are to be believed. It will contain three new multiplayer maps for fans. Condemned takes place aboard a human frigate, Unearthed has open spaces and Highland is a giant Covenant cruiser blasting a planet.
Larry Hryb, aka Major Nelson, has confirmed the latest Halo: Reach map pack downloadable content, called the "Defiant" map pack. This DLC had been leaked last week. The pack will include three new maps and 150 Gamerscore.
Microsoft's Halo studio 343 Industries is open to "mini-collaborations" with external teams when dealing with map packs or cameo appearances in titles. However the "core experiences" of Halo, like the upcoming HD remake of Combat Evolved, must be kept "close to home." Saber Interactive not involved?
Fans of Halo Wars will have to wait longer for a sequel, as there are no plans for a new edition of the Halo-licensed real-time strategy game, despite its high sales.
Bungie has confirmed in a weekly update that they will not be releasing any more map packs for Halo: Reach, and that their days of supporting the game are almost at an end.
Michel Bastien, Damian Isla and Rob Stokes are all Moonshot Games bigwigs but are all former Bungie staffers too, having worked on the Halo franchise. Moonshot will debut their first title called Fallen Frontier at PAX East this week. The new fledgling developer studio has offices in Seattle and Boston.
The Defiant Map Pack DLC for Halo: Reach is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The downloadable content includes three brand new multiplayer maps and 150 Achievement points for 800 Microsoft Points.
Microsoft has defended its pricing for Halo: Reach at GBP 49.99 on Xbox Live's Games on Demand service because of the "24/7 convenience" it offers. No single retailer has the "lowest pricing for every product" argue Microsoft. They're "incredibly excited" about what GoD "means for digital distribution".
Will Activision be marching in the goons and shackling Bungie developers to their desks, counting trips to the restroom as lunch breaks? Bungie responds. The studio say they've an "awesome deal" with Activision, and that they're "hands-off" with the team. It's a "great relationship" so they're "not too worried".
343 Industries franchise development director Frank O'Connor revealed in an interview that every product released in the Halo franchise is there because fans asked questions and the produced are used to answer them, designed to satisfy "specific needs" from the fanbase. In other words, the marketing team doesn't suggest products, the fans do.
Microsoft has announced that it will be holding a "Halo Fest" at PAX Prime this August. From August 26 to 28, Microsoft will be celebrating the last ten years of Halo.