Latest news with #HaloInfinite
Metro
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Halo remake may be single-player only as insider talks of 'a lot of tension'
New reports point to multiple Halo projects in development and a tense atmosphere, hampered by Microsoft management. The future of Halo, once an important franchise synonymous with the Xbox brand, has looked awfully murky ever since the launch and subsequent underperformance of 2021's Halo Infinite. As such, there appears to be a concerted effort to get the series back on track, with 343 Industries being rechristened as Halo Studios last year and announcing some important changes that will help define the next era of Halo games. Although nothing concrete is confirmed, multiple Halo projects are in the works, with a remake of the original Halo being a recurring rumour, but the behind the scenes situation is allegedly far less rosy than fans would've hoped. To assuage the lack of any official news, Halo insider Rebs Gaming (who previously reported on the cancelled plans for Halo Infinite) shared new claims about Halo Studios' future projects. First and foremost is the aforementioned Halo: Combat Evolved remake, which some believe Xbox boss Phil Spencer teased for next year when he mentioned 'the return of a classic that's been with us since the beginning' at the Xbox summer showcase. 2026 would be the perfect time for a Halo 1 re-release of some kind, since that year marks the 25th anniversary of both the Halo series and the Xbox brand as a whole. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Rebs Gaming claims that this is precisely the case, according to his own sources. He also says that the game could launch on PlayStation 5, which seems likely when other Xbox exclusives like Gears Of War are seeing releases on Sony's console. Curiously, Rebs Gaming's sources say they've not heard anything about the remake featuring multiplayer, suggesting it'll only contain the original campaign mode. This seems bizarre when multiplayer is one of Halo's most popular features, especially as the main campaign is only around 10 hours long. It's not uncommon for remasters and remakes to leave out the multiplayer mode though, even for something where it's a key component of the original, such as Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Other games, from Mass Effect to The Last Of Us have also omitted their multiplayer in later releases, although the upcoming Gears Of War: Reloaded will retain its. Aside from that, Rebs Gaming says an 'indirect sequel' to Halo Infinite, which he dubs Halo 7, is in the works, as well as a dedicated multiplayer game called Project Ekur. Apparently, Project Ekur is being built from the bones of the previously rumoured battle royale spin-off, Project Tatanka, though development is being handled by Certain Affinity, which has served as a support studio for the Halo series' multiplayer since Halo 2. While this might all sound quite exciting, especially since at least one of these projects is likely to be unveiled at the Halo World Championships this October, a separate report paints a rather bleaker picture of Halo Studios. In the wake of the latest round of Xbox layoffs, an anonymous developer at Halo Studios spoke with Endgadget, revealing that five of their co-workers had been let go and expressing rightful indignation over the email Phil Spencer sent out, boasting that the Xbox business was highly profitable – despite thousands of job losses. 'I'm personally super p****d that Phil's email to us bragged about how this was the most profitable year ever for Xbox in the same breath as pulling the lever. I wasn't sure what part of that I was supposed to be proud about,' said the developer. They also insisted that Microsoft is 'trying their damndest to replace as many jobs as they can with AI agents,' which is perfectly believable with how much Microsoft as a whole is investing in AI technology. However, these layoffs weren't a tipping point. Things have apparently been tense within Halo Studios for a long while, with one unidentified project said to have recently been in a state of crisis. 'I don't think anybody is really happy about the quality of the product right now,' the developer added. 'There's been a lot of tension and pep talks trying to rally folks to ship.' All this makes sense when you remember how tumultuous things were at Halo Studios in 2023. At the beginning of the year, the Halo Infinite campaign team was gutted as part of previous layoffs, with former employees blaming upper management for 'incompetent leadership.' Both franchise director Frank O'Connor and head of creative Joseph Staten also opted to leave Microsoft, continuing a worrying trend of high profile Halo exits. There was even chatter of Halo Studios no longer being allowed to make new games and being reduced to overseeing third party studios. While that hasn't happened, the studio was reportedly downsized in 2024, with the new plan being to outsource development to contracted studios. This is something Endgadget's report has corroborated. Although there's no mention of Halo Studios only working in a supervisory role, there has been a shift since 2023 towards contracting other studios to help speed up production on Halo projects. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Over 6,000 people have lost their jobs at Xbox in less than two years MORE: Xbox is being set up to fail by Microsoft bosses, claims insider MORE: Xbox Game Pass has been 'damaging the industry for a decade' says Arkane founder
Metro
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Halo team promises ‘official scoop' on series' future later this year
Amid rumours of a PS5 remake of the first Halo, a major announcement is set to be made in just a few months time. Last year, 343 Industries announced big changes were in store for the studio and the Halo series. For starters, the developer underwent a rebranding and is now called Halo Studios, dispelling rumours it was being kicked off the series. It also confirmed that more than one new Halo video game is currently in development, though there's still no official word on what any of them are. However, the team did show test footage of how future games will look in Unreal Engine 5, as the developer finally replaces the aging Slipspace Engine used in Halo Infinite. Anyone who hoped for a big reveal at last month's Xbox showcase was no doubt disappointed by the complete lack of Halo news, but that seems to be because it's being saved for the Halo World Championship esports event later this year. In a new blog post about the event, Halo Studios references how it used last year's event to detail the aforementioned behind-the-scenes changes and its plans for multiple games. As such, it intends to share the 'official scoop on what Halo Studios has been working on', so as to convince more people to attend the event live in Seattle, Washington, which is scheduled to run on the weekend of October 24. The blog acknowledges the 'fair amount of speculation about when and where more details might emerge about any of the multiple projects Halo Studios is actively working on,' but stops short of discussing any specific rumours. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. While we wouldn't be surprised if Halo Studios is teasing something more innocuous, the obvious assumption (and the one we're sure many fans will make) is that it's planning to properly show off one of the new Halo projects. No official details on any future Halo games have been shared yet, but a common rumour is that a new remake of the very first game, Halo: Combat Evolved, is in the works. Such a project could also see the series make its debut on PlayStation 5, thanks to Microsoft's new approach to releasing its exclusives on other platforms. Another of Halo Studios' possible projects is a new mainline game to follow on from Halo Infinite. Earlier this year, a March report detailed the long-term plans for Halo Infinite's post-launch period and how those plans were ultimately scrapped. It's possible some of those ideas are being reworked for a sequel, but Halo Studios could also have opted to start from scratch. Either way, the goal of supporting Halo Infinite for 10 years isn't happening, at least not to the degree the studio and Microsoft originally had in mind. More Trending While Halo Infinite is a solid game, its post-launch suffered from long delays, abandoned content, and behind the scenes mismanagement. The multiplayer was never abandoned though, and has still seen updates and manages to regularly attract a few thousand players on Steam. However, it's evident that Halo is no longer as significant to the Xbox brand as it was during the heyday of the original trilogy, which was handled by the now Sony owned Bungie. Nevertheless, the changes within Halo Studios suggest there's a concerted effort to revitalise the series, especially with it being described as the 'next chapter.' And while some diehard Xbox enthusiasts will balk at the idea of Halo on PlayStation (or Switch 2), it would certainly help reach a new audience, especially if the series really does go back to basics with a new version of the first game. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Halo on PS5 now more likely thanks to Unreal Engine 5 claim multiple sources MORE: Halo and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth coming to Switch 2 claims insider MORE: Xbox to be hit by fourth wave of layoffs in 18 months says report
National Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
Ben Mauro's Sci-Fi Epic 'HUXLEY' Launches Globally with Hardcover & Softcover Editions; New Trailer and Prequel 'The Oracle' Announced for October Release
Article content SEATTLE — Renowned concept artist and storyteller Ben Mauro, known for his work on major franchises such as Halo Infinite, Call of Duty, and Elysium, proudly announces the worldwide release of his acclaimed sci-fi graphic novel series, HUXLEY. The series is now available in hardcover and softcover editions through major retailers, including Amazon and bookstores globally. Article content Renowned concept artist and storyteller Ben Mauro, known for his work on major franchises such as Halo Infinite, Call of Duty, and Elysium, proudly announces the worldwide release of his acclaimed sci-fi graphic novel series, HUXLEY. Article content Set in the post-apocalyptic world of FURY-7, HUXLEY follows the journey of Max, a seasoned Ronin warrior, and his companions as they navigate a landscape dominated by ancient machines and rogue AI empires. The narrative combines cinematic world-building with mythic storytelling, appealing to fans of Dune, Ghost in the Shell, and Warhammer 40K. Article content In conjunction with the book launch, a new trailer has been released for the upcoming prequel, HUXLEY: The Oracle, offering a glimpse into the origins of the saga. The prequel, set to release in October 2025, delves deeper into the lore of the HUXLEY universe, exploring the rise of the Oracles—the enigmatic machine rulers of the wasteland—and the early days of the AI wars. Article content HUXLEY Oracle Trailer HUXLEY Hardcover HUXLEY Softcover Ben Mauro's vision for HUXLEY extends beyond the pages of the graphic novel, encompassing a transmedia approach that includes games, animation, and collectibles. The franchise has garnered significant attention, with its cinematic teaser amassing over 3.6 million views on YouTube and a growing global fanbase. Article content ' HUXLEY is the universe I've always dreamed of creating,' says Mauro. 'It's a homage to the inspirations of my youth, reimagined for a new generation.' Article content HUXLEY Article content is available now via Amazon and major retailers. For more information, updates, and to watch the new trailer, visit Article content . Article content About HUXLEY Article content is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi universe set in the far future, where ancient machines, rogue AIs, and forgotten empires shape the fate of humanity. Spanning graphic novels, cinematic trailers, and future game and animation projects, Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact: Article content Article content
Business Wire
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Ben Mauro's Sci-Fi Epic 'HUXLEY' Launches Globally with Hardcover & Softcover Editions; New Trailer and Prequel 'The Oracle' Announced for October Release
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renowned concept artist and storyteller Ben Mauro, known for his work on major franchises such as Halo Infinite, Call of Duty, and Elysium, proudly announces the worldwide release of his acclaimed sci-fi graphic novel series, HUXLEY. The series is now available in hardcover and softcover editions through major retailers, including Amazon and bookstores globally. Renowned concept artist and storyteller Ben Mauro, known for his work on major franchises such as Halo Infinite, Call of Duty, and Elysium, proudly announces the worldwide release of his acclaimed sci-fi graphic novel series, HUXLEY. Share Set in the post-apocalyptic world of FURY-7, HUXLEY follows the journey of Max, a seasoned Ronin warrior, and his companions as they navigate a landscape dominated by ancient machines and rogue AI empires. The narrative combines cinematic world-building with mythic storytelling, appealing to fans of Dune, Ghost in the Shell, and Warhammer 40K. In conjunction with the book launch, a new trailer has been released for the upcoming prequel, HUXLEY: The Oracle, offering a glimpse into the origins of the saga. The prequel, set to release in October 2025, delves deeper into the lore of the HUXLEY universe, exploring the rise of the Oracles—the enigmatic machine rulers of the wasteland—and the early days of the AI wars. HUXLEY Oracle Trailer HUXLEY Hardcover HUXLEY Softcover Ben Mauro's vision for HUXLEY extends beyond the pages of the graphic novel, encompassing a transmedia approach that includes games, animation, and collectibles. The franchise has garnered significant attention, with its cinematic teaser amassing over 3.6 million views on YouTube and a growing global fanbase. ' HUXLEY is the universe I've always dreamed of creating,' says Mauro. 'It's a homage to the inspirations of my youth, reimagined for a new generation.' HUXLEY is available now via Amazon and major retailers. For more information, updates, and to watch the new trailer, visit About HUXLEY HUXLEY is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi universe set in the far future, where ancient machines, rogue AIs, and forgotten empires shape the fate of humanity. Spanning graphic novels, cinematic trailers, and future game and animation projects, HUXLEY blends mythic storytelling with AAA-level worldbuilding. With a rapidly growing global fanbase, it offers a rich transmedia experience designed for readers, gamers, and collectors alike.
Globe and Mail
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Xiaorui Zhong: Sculpting Worlds with Precision and Passion
Xiaorui Zhong is a 3D Artist whose works contribute to many well-known game franchises including Halo Infinite and Forza Motorsport. Her portfolio includes personal projects that demonstrate her extraordinary technic within the realm of 3D modeling and her relentless pursuit of creative expression. Her work has been exhibited in Times Square, Red Dot Miami, and The Game Developers Conference, as well as major publications in the art world such as Artist Talk Magazine and Circle Foundation for the Arts. Given her acclaim in the industry, Zhong has been selected as a judge for notable art competitions such as Vivid Cube and served as an expert panelist for the renowned Lightbox Expo. Hello World_ Among Zhong's many accomplishments, the personal project Hello World_ stands out as a testament to her artistic evolution to her craft. Created in late 2022, this intricate sci-fi mechanical hand pays homage to the late Mike Nash —a luminary in the field of hard surface art. Zhong completed Hello World_ in just seven days. The primary tool used to craft this piece is Zbrush —a software she mastered during her undergraduate school and has since integrated into her workflow. The piece explores biomechanical design with a natural flow, symbolizing her passion for innovation and her commitment to honoring Nash's legacy. Through Zbrush, Zhong achieves the intricate details that define her work. She combines this with other tools including Maya and Substance Painter for texturing and materials, ensuring a seamless transition from concept to final rendering. This approach allows her to bring her visions to life while maintaining a high degree of flexibility. Looking forward, Zhong is taking on leadership roles in game development and visual effects and continuing to participate in internationally renowned projects. Through her work, Zhong continues to expand the possibilities of 3D art, combining technical precision with imaginative storytelling. Whether commercial or personal, Through her work, Zhong continues to expand the possibilities of 3D art reflecting her innovation. Zhong is poised to leave her mark on the world of 3D art. Media Contact Company Name: BluBlu LLC Contact Person: Hanx Email: Send Email Country: United States Website:
