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Over 6 million user-created maps are coming to 'Halo: MCC'
Microsoft and 343 Industries said they'd transfer Forge maps and game modes to Halo: The Master Chief Collection with the help of players, and it's clear many gamers were willing to step up. The two have revealed that over 6.6 million user-created maps for Halo 3, Halo: Reach and Halo 4 will be playable in MCC when ready. There's a good chance a favorite map from your Xbox 360 days will be available in remastered form.
'Halo' TV series has its Cortana ahead of early 2021 premiere
While Showtime took forever to start filling in details for its Halo TV series, it's clearly eager to make up for lost time. The broadcaster has announced that Natascha McElhone (of Ronin and Californication fame) will portray both the legendary Cortana AI as well as Dr. Catherine Halsey, the creator of Spartan supersoldiers like Master Chief. The producers have filled out considerably more of the cast beyond these prominent roles, too.
Microsoft starts public tests for 'Halo: Reach' on PC
Halo: Reach is now playable on PC... for a handful of very early adopters. Microsoft and 343 Industries have shared a slew of Master Chief Collection update news, including word that it has started a public test of Reach on Windows PCs that lasts through July 1st. Don't get your hopes up for joining in this round, though. There are less than 1,000 Halo Insiders involved, and they're playing just one campaign mission. The developers plan to invite more people "over time," though, so you can consider this the start of a much larger test experience.
The 'Halo' TV series has found its Master Chief
The years-in-the-making Halo TV series finally appears to be taking shape. Showtime has chosen American Gods' Pablo Schrieber to play the series' version of Master Chief. It's not certain if he'll ever remove the iconic helmet, but Showtime has promised to tell "deeply drawn personal stories" -- it's hard to imagine the Chief hiding his face forever.
Microsoft's latest preview program lets you test 'Halo' PC releases
There was already a preview program for the Master Chief Collection when 343 Industries was fixing the Xbox One version, but it's giving the concept another shot now that the PC ports are on the way. It's launching a Halo Insider Program that will give you a chance at playing pre-release versions of all Halo games and services, whether they're for console or PC, in return for feedback. You're not guaranteed to get into every test, but it may your best shot at playing a future Halo game in advance.
Russia's free, PC multiplayer Halo game has been cancelled
Remember that Halo game you heard about that wasn't launching in North America? Well, now it's not launching anywhere. Halo Online was originally intended to be a free, multiplayer game designed exclusively for the Russian market. Despite launching a closed beta in its target market, the project's staff has announced that Halo Online is no more. The game has been cancelled.
'Halo 5: Guardians' is getting Warzone Firefight this July
With the Halo Wars 2 beta freshly ended, Halo fans are likely looking for something solid to sink their teeth into. Halo 5: Guardians developer 343 Industries has come forward with exactly that: The big Warzone Firefight update, which launches on July 29th. Get ready to dust off those Needlers.
I won't be playing 'Halo 5: Guardians' and here's why
In the early 2000s, four-player, split-screen Halo was a revelation for my then-girlfriend Jenn (who would later become my wife), her two sisters and me. It was amazing, frantic, swear-filled fun. Controllers were thrown; tempers flared. But that's all sadly in the past. Last week, Halo's current custodian, 343 Industries, revealed that it's abandoning local split-screen multiplayer and native LAN support for this fall's Halo 5: Guardians. We knew from earlier reports that local campaign co-op was out of the question, at least at launch, but the Ars Technica report confirms we won't see any split-screen multiplayer modes or native LAN support. Allow me to repeat: No local multiplayer. None. In a Halo game. For me, and likely many other longtime Halo fans, the news is a bitter pill to swallow.
'Halo Online' is a free PC game launching only in Russia
Halo is making a triumphant, if border-blocked, return to PC with Halo Online, a free multiplayer-only game set to launch in Russia this spring. The Russian launch is a closed beta, as Microsoft figures out the best way "to welcome new fans to the Halo universe," according to a post on Halo Waypoint. Halo Online is built on a modified version of the Halo 3 engine, and it should run smoothly on lower-end PCs, Microsoft says. Halo Online comes from Halo: The Master Chief Collection collaborator Saber Interactive and software developer Innova Systems, who have partnered with Halo 4 and 5 studio 343 Industries and, of course, Microsoft.
Halo: MCC patch tweaks matchmaking (again), up now
The latest patch for Halo: The Master Chief Collection is live now and focuses on matchmaking, UI, stability and other features, outlined by 343 Industries in summary form after the break. For matchmaking specifically, the patch promises to improve search success rates, reduce instances of the "Awaiting Privileges" error, more correctly determine player counts in each playlist, fix an issue where players appeared to be searching in the incorrect "find game" screen, and add a countdown sound effect to the voting timer. The update should improve the network performance of Halo 2: Anniversary, lower the music volume in multiplayer menus and fix stability issues across multiple games in both campaign and multiplayer. The Master Chief Collection has suffered from matchmaking issues since launch, prompting 343 Industries to dole out compensation in the form of a free month of Xbox Live for early adopters, plus a free 1080p, 60fps Halo 3: ODST campaign due in the spring, and a fresh nameplate and avatar. [Image: Microsoft Studios]
Early Halo: MCC buyers receive free month of Xbox Live Gold
Halo: The Master Chief Collection has provided a troubled walk down memory lane, but at least fans are being rewarded for their patience and support. Messages detailing a free month of Xbox Live Gold showed up in the inboxes of Spartans yesterday, referring to the gift as "appreciation for your continued support of Halo: The Master Chief Collection." The notice adds that players don't need to do anything further to redeem their free month of Gold. Bonnie Ross, head of development at 343 Industries, explained in an apology last month that a free month of Gold would be gifted to The Master Chief Collection players in an effort to "make this right." Additional thank-yous are coming in the form of a free, 1080p, 60 fps Halo 3: ODST campaign, due to arrive sometime this spring, and an exclusive nameplate and avatar. Anyone who purchased The Master Chief Collection between its November 11 launch date and December 19, 2014 is eligible to receive these gifts, though a reworked version of the Relic map from Halo 2 will also eventually be offered to all players via a free update. [Image: Joystiq]
Halo 5 beta adding Strongholds mode, Rocket Launcher
The Halo 5: Guardians beta is drawing to a close, Spartans. Just one week remains before the doors seal shut on January 18, but developer 343 Industries and publisher Microsoft are going to make sure this shindig goes out with a bang - literally. See, week three of the beta is not only adding a new, Forge-created map called "Pegasus" and a new mode called "Strongholds," but it's also re-introducing the classic power weapon, the Rocket Launcher. For those scouting here for tactical reconnaissance, here's what the United Nations Space Command has planned for you: Pegasus, the winning map of a fan vote, has long sight lines perfect for snipers and long-range weapon users. However, the perches where these marksman must take post have plenty of flanking routes, and are also vulnerable to well-aimed grenade throws. Strongholds mode features three control zones spread across a map; possess at least two and you'll be able to score points. First team to 100 wins. But let's be honest, the real reason to come a-running back to the Halo 5 beta is that sweet, sweet Rocket Launcher. Oh. Yeah. [Image: Microsoft]
Next update for Halo: Master Chief Collection due next week
Thanks to the recent holidays we've gone a whole two weeks since the last patch for the chronically malfunctioning Halo: The Master Chief Collection, but don't worry, developer 343 Games has another update in the works. "As we had mentioned before the holidays, the team continues to work on upcoming Halo: The Master Chief Collection updates to improve the existing experience and add new content," reads a new Halo Waypoint update. "We've continued this work through the holidays, and have multiple content updates in the works. Our next content update, which will address UI and a variety of other areas, is currently on track for delivery next week." 343 makes no mention of what this next update will fix, but if the last four patches are any indicator, this will be another attempt at improving the game's problematic online matchmaking system. 343 does note, however, that the update will bring with it new content, specifically new Achievements for multiplayer and the recently-added Spartan Ops mode. [Image: Microsoft]
Halo 5 beta gets new maps, game type in week 2
In a brief Halo Waypoint update, developer 343 Industries revealed its plans for the second week of the ongoing Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta test, which should be updated today. The highlight of the second week's additions is a new game type dubbed Breakout, which we wrote about a few months ago. "The first team to take five rounds wins the match. You'll be able to play on two maps: Crossfire, and its variant, Trench." 343 also points out that two new maps, Regret and Eden, have been added to the Slayer playlist. "Regret is a remix of Truth, and Eden is a remix of Empire, both of which were included in week 1," 343 states, before pointing out that by popular demand, players will be able to use the new Hydra MLRS weapon during matches on Regret. The Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta test is currently open to all owners of the Xbox One-exclusive Halo: The Master Chief Collection. [Image: Microsoft]
Halo 5 kicks off multiplayer beta today
Halo 5: Guardians launched its multiplayer beta program today, Microsoft announced. The beta phase was originally planned to arrive a few days ago, but is now scheduled to run through January 18. The program was announced during the publisher's E3 2014 press conference in June and is open to those that purchased Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Additionally, Microsoft unveiled the bonuses goodies coming to those that pre-order one of the various editions of Halo 5 starting today. The $60 standard version of the game includes an exclusive poster, whereas the $100 Limited Edition includes the poster and adds "exclusive items" in a steel book case as well as bonus digital content for the game. Halo 5's Limited Collector's Edition features everything in the other two versions and adds in commemorative statue signed by 343 Industries. Halo 5 is slated to launch in fall 2015. Those missing out on the beta program can watch our archived stream of the game from earlier this month. [Image: Microsoft]
Halo 4's Spartan Ops comes to Master Chief Collection
Halo: The Master Chief Collection received another update this week, improving the game's matchmaking and other functions. The update also added Spartan Ops to Halo 4 in the collection, 343 Industries' cooperative multiplayer mode. Teams of up to four players barrel through missions in the episodic mode, which was purposely not included in the collection's initial 20 GB patch; the developer planned to issue Spartan Ops in December so that it could make "technical enhancements" to the mode. Spartan Ops features 10 episodes, all of which are now available in The Master Chief Collection. The update includes a number of other fixes for the collection, such as hit detection for online multiplayer in Halo: CE and also giving a loss to players that disconnect from matches before a round ends. The patch should also improve roster update times as well as statistic and achievement tracking. It's the latest in a line of updates for the game, which launched with severe online multiplayer issues, among other problems. 343 Industries head Bonnie Ross apologized to players for the collection's issues in late November, recently offering free goodies to affected players, including the Halo 3: ODST campaign. [Image: Microsoft]
343 announces free ODST campaign as apology for Halo: MCC woes
When Halo: The Master Chief Collection launched in November with a largely non-functional online multiplayer component, people were upset. Bonnie Ross, head of developer 343 Industries, personally apologized for the issues, promising to "make this right" with fans of old Tall, Green and Handsome. Yesterday, Ross elaborated on just what she meant: free stuff, including an updated version of Halo 3: ODST running on Xbox One. Anyone who played Halo: The Master Chief Collection online between launch (November 11, 2014) and December 19, 2014 is eligible to receive one month of complimentary Xbox Live Gold, an exclusive in-game nameplate and avatar, and a free download of the Halo 3: ODST campaign running at 1080p and 60 frames per second. Lastly, everyone who plays The Master Chief Collection will be able to enjoy an updated version of the Halo 2 map, "Relic," when it launches as a free content update for the game. The nameplate and avatar will be added to The Master Chief Collection sometime later this month, while a reworked Relic and the ODST campaign will arrive sometime in spring of 2015. "Both [Relic and Halo 3: ODST] were not part of our original development plans, but as a result of community feedback, and to do something special for our fans, both are now in development," an FAQ page for the recently-announced content reads.
Master Chief Collection reloads, adds Combat Evolved playlist
Sure Halo: The Master Chief Collection has already seen its share of stability patches and performance updates, but any fans of the original Halo: Combat Evolved should be pleased by the newest update released by developer 343 Industries, which introduces a playlist dedicated to maps from Halo: CE. Prior to The Master Chief Collection's launch, 343 specified that the Halo: CE playlist would be held until they were able to "provide the best experience possible." The developer now touts that many of the game's needed tweakings and improvements were added via the most recent patch, and so players can queue up to take one another down, old-school style. The playlist features 2v2 battles, which is due to player feedback, according to 343. [Image: Microsoft Studios]
Halo: Master Chief Collection patch aims at stability, matchmaking
Halo: The Master Chief Collection received another patch this week aimed at fixing the game collection's matchmaking, parties, roster and other issues. The latest update is expected to improve the "reliability" of matchmaking and also guarantee that split-screen, local multiplayer friends are always on the same team in Halo 2. Microsoft said that players should have fewer problems when joining or managing their parties as well. The Master Chief Collection's update should improve stability across the game's menus, campaign playlists, matchmaking and custom games. Full patch notes are available on 343 Industries' blog. The four-game Halo collection launched in November for Xbox One and was met with a number of issues, primarily in the game's online components. It led to an apology from 343 Industries head Bonnie Ross, who said the developer did not deliver "the experience [players] deserve," and that the developer would "make this right" with its fans. 343 Industries also received criticism for a promotion earlier this month that gave Xbox Live Rewards members that purchased the collection $15 in marketplace credit. The developer says another update is in the works to fix a "Legacy" control option issue in Halo 2 and Halo 4, and will offer further content updates to improve the collection. [Image: Microsoft]
343 issues yet another patch to fix Halo: MCC matchmaking
Only four days after its last update, developer 343 Industries has issued another patch for Halo: The Master Chief Collection aimed at fixing the matchmaking problems that have plagued the shooter compilation since its November 11 debut. "This particular content update focuses on matchmaking, parties, custom games, achievements, stability, and more," reads a notice on Halo Waypoint. "While this update contains a variety of improvements, we continue to work on additional content updates that will be rolled out to address further issues." Though this is another patch that won't fix the matchmaking problems outright, changes include improved multiplayer team balance, more efficient match search options and a wide range of stability fixes throughout the game. As usual, this update is available to owners of Halo: The Master Chief Collection at no charge. You can find a full rundown of everything this patch changes at Halo Waypoint. [Image: Microsoft]
