In the world of gaming, we’re constantly introduced to new worlds, characters, and stories. But when the ??game is over, we usually have to say good?bye to that world and get back to reality. 

However, some beloved game franchises move past the screen and provide fans with wri??tten entries that add more detail to the canon universes. If you’re looking for a new book to curl up with, then here’s 10 video game novelizations that I strongly recommend. 

Assassin’s Creed novel series

There are many, many Assassin’s Creed novels and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend each of them, because of how accurately they follow the story of the games, giving you a w?hole new insight into the characters, surroundings??, and hidden plot points. 

I will always favour the three novels that accompany the Ezio trilogy, because those were my first real deep dive into the world of?? gaming and had me trul??y hooked, bordering on obsessed. However, whichever Assassin’s Creed book you pick up, you’re going to be in for a wild ride of well written, true-to-the-source-material fun. 

BioShock: Rapture

Written by John Shirley and released in 2011, BioShock: Rapture follows multiple iconic BioShock characters in ??their adventures through the early days of Rap??ture, describing how it all came to be, and how it came to end. 

There’s something that never fails to grab my attention in the BioShock universe, whether it’s the post-apocalyptic themes, the desperation of humanity to live in peace, or? the terrifying events that happened deep beneath the surface of the ocean. This book features all of them, and John Shirley captures the spirit of Rapture perfectly. ??;

Alan Wake

Written by Rick Burroughs and first published in 2010, the Alan Wake novel follows the story of the first game with additional sub-plots and side stories. While faithful to the sou?rce material, it is not considered canon within the player?base, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth reading. 

If you love the dark, horror-laden world of Alan Wake, you’ll rea?lly enjoy the novelization. You’re likely to appreciate the added details about Robert Nightingale, or the slightly different ending, and there are even additional manu??script pages between the chapters. 

Halo: The Fall of Reach

There are a lot of Halo novels, but The Fall of Reach is widely accepted as the best of the bunch. Writ?ten by Eric Nylund and first published in 2001, it acts as a prelude to Halo: Combat Evolved and explains the origins of SPARTAN-II supersoldiers. 

Master Chief takes center stage, of course, while Catherine Halsey, Jacob Keyes, and Franklin Mendez also appear heavily. Cortana features, althou?gh not in the role of Master Chiefs companion. Instead, she’s Dr. Halsey’s aide in the events leading up to the Spartansâ€?mission. 

Alien: Isolation

Alien: Isolation is a novelization of the game with the same name, written by Keith R. A. DeCandido, who previously wrote other novels set in the Alien uni??verse. While it is true to the source material, the novelization dives deeper into both Amanda and Ellen’s backgrounds, giving a whole new dimension to the characters. 

You’re definitely not going to feel as scared reading the book as you were while playing the mic-listening game, but it’s worth the sacrifice to l??ear??n more about the characters who have become so iconic. 

Final Fantasy XV: The Dawn of the Future

The Dawn of the Future is the novelization of a cancelled DLC collection for Final Fantasy XV, so if you wanted to know more about Noctis, Lunafreya, and other characters from XV, then I would highly recommend reading th?e novel by Jun Eishima. 

The novel focuses on the events of Episode Ardyn, and Ardyn Izunia’s choice to?? reject h?is role in Astral Bahamut’s plans, but it goes further than that. It also follows on from the choice, adding far more to the story than the game ever did. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character. 

The Infernal City

Written by Greg Keyes, this novel is based on and set within the universe of The Elder Scrolls games. It’s set four decades after the events of Oblivion, when the floatin??g city of ??Umbriel descends upon the coast of the Black Marsh. 

This novel is filled with twists, turns, and hardship for the protagonists, and even some slavery for our main characters Annaig and Mere-Glim. It’s definitely worth reading for any fan of The Elder Scrolls games, and a good introduction for anyone who prefers reading to gaming.&n??bsp;

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Conspiracy

The Umbrella Consiracy is the first in a series of Resident Evil novels written by S.D. Perry. It’s a novelization of the very first Resident Evil ga?me, an??d tells the story of the goings on in Raccoon City. 

As with anything associated with Resident Evil, there’s a lot of horror elements within the books and, at times, they can be hard to read. But if you love the game, then you’ll love the books, and all of the added detail that the written version brings to the Resident Evil universe.

Fable: The Balverine Order

The Balverine Order was written by Peter David and released in 2010. When first published, it included a one-use code that unlocked a unique weapon in Fable 3. The events depicted in the book are split between the present and the past, with the Storyteller weaving tales about things that once happened in ??Albion. 

The story in the present is centered? around the adventures of James and Thomas, friends? of the last Hero of Albion who now sits on the throne. They’re on a mission to hunt down the dreadful Balverine, in a world where science and industry are taking over from magic and myth. 

L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories

If you’d rather read a collection of shorter stories than dive into one long novel, then the L.A. Noire Collected Stories mig??ht be for you. It contains eight stories, written by d?ifferent authors. Each story expands upon a story that was touched upon in the game, adding more details and a new level of understanding. 

1940s Hollywood is an undoubtedly glamorous and in?triguing setting, but it’s well known that terrible things happened at the time, and this collection of crime thriller stories will have you hooked from the very beginning.

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The Halo series is as well known for its epic campaign missions as it is for its awesome selection of multiplayer maps. For well over two decades, both Bungie and 343 Industrie?s have crafted unforgettable campaign experiences, which are (mostly) centered around the story of the Master Chief.

We know Halo levels are great, but which ones are the cream of the crop? I've whittled them down to the 10 best Halo campaign missions of all time - I reckon there are some surprising choices you won't expect ?here.

10. Midnight

• Game: Halo 4

It should come as no surprise to learn that Halo 4's Midnight is the only 343 Industries mission on this list. The mission begins with a Star Wars-esque trench run unlike anything the series has seen before, almost resembling Star Fox in its gameplay approach.

It then moves to an intense, non-stop combat sequence as Halo 4 hurtles towards its conclusion. Combined with Neil Davidge's ?thundering track, "Arrival," this sequence arguably does a better job of making you feel like an unstoppable Spartan than anything else in the series. It's 343's best work in the series' campaigns, topped off with an emotional climax involving Cortana.

9. Mombasa Streets

• Game: Halo 3: ODST

It's a little cheeky to call Halo 3: ODST's M??ombasa Streets a mission. It's more of a hub for you to wander and get lost in the streets of New Mombasa, solving the mystery of the rookie's missing squadmates.

Mombasa Streets oozes atmosphere at every turn, more so than any level in the Halo series. Marty O'Donnell's piercing saxophone soundtrack creates an overwhelming feeling of loneliness, while the dark of the night makes it feel as though danger awaits around every corner (and it does). There's even an ??AI embedded into the city's technology, which directs you away from danger by lighting up street signs.

8. Assault on the Control Room

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

By far Halo: Combat Evolved's longest mission, Assault on the Control Room is proof that variet??y is the spice of life. This level allows you to use every single vehicle in the game, including the Scorpion for the first and only time. Every weapon, too, except for the shotgun.

It's this variety that makes Assault on the Control Room stand out among other Halo missions. Like it or not, you're forced to take part in every different combat style here - vehicular, long-ranged, a?nd close-quarters. It finds a delicate balance p??erfectly.

7. Halo

• Game: Halo 3

Halo 3's fin?al mission, Halo, earns its spot here based on the thrilling Warthog finale alone. As the game (and Bungie's entire trilogy) comes to an end, you must commandeer a Warthog through an epic run of obstacles.

Moving through the level, the entire Halo installation is collapsing around you. Explosions, falling floors - go too slow, and you're doomed. It's a perfect throwback to Halo: Combat Evolved's own Warthog run in The Maw, but bet??ter in every way.

6. Coastal Highway

• Game: Halo 3: ODST

Bungie really nails a final mission, huh? Halo 3: ODST's Coastal Highway largely takes place on the titu??lar highway. Throughout, you protect the slow-moving Elephant from defending Covenant forces, while the chaos of the Battle of Earth erupts around you, perfectly capturing the sense of impending doom.

It culminates in one final standoff at the entrance of the Uplift Nature Reserve. You and your squad face waves of incoming Covenant forces, like an intense game of Firefight. It's one final stand while awaiting rescue, capping off a near-perfect Halo mission.

5. Halo

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

It's another level called Halo. In another Halo game. It makes sense, I promise. Halo set the standard for what the series' level design looks like at its best, with a vast open mission that sees you rescuing marines from various structures across the map. It's a great mix of Warthog gameplay and close-quarters combat, introducing you to various Halo: Combat Evolved mechanics early.

If the previous mission, The Pillar of Autumn, set the expectation that Halo: Combat Evolved was going to be yet another corridor shooter (as was prevalent in early 2000s FPS games), then Halo shattered it immediately. It represents a near-series best for Halo campaign missions right at the very beginning.

4. The Silent Cartographer

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

The Silent Cartographer opens with a blast. An iconic beach scene that, I promise, felt more impressive then than it doe??s now. For many players, The Silent Cartographer's opening was the moment they realized they were playing something truly special.

The rest of the level rule??s, too, offer great variety between short outdoor vehicle sections and well-designed interior combat encounters. But the opening assault on the beach as you storm out of the Warthog is the centerpiece here.

3. Metropolis

• Game: Halo 2

Metropolis is the only Halo 2 mission on this list, but it's number 3 for a reason. It's a short level, but one so action-packed you can't ignore it. You start Metropolis on a bridge with a Scorpion, blasting your way across it with ease. Is it challenging? No. But it's awesome, and isn't that what really matters?

After the bridge section, you find yourself in the inner city, the Metropolis, if ??you will. Most players make their way through the city in the provided Gauss Warthog, emphasizing Metropolis' vehicle-heavy gameplay. Then you board a Scarab! It's the definition ??of "short and sweet."

2. The Ark

• Game: Halo 3

The Ark is Halo 3 at its best. Starting out with a sniping sequence, it then moves from one chaotic vehicle setpiece to an??other. Not to mention the epic Scarab fight??, which, by the end of this colossal mission, feels more like a reward than a challenge.

The highlight of The Ark is the landing of the enormous Forward Unto Dawn frigate, which descends upon you while blowing away everything in its path. ??As it casts its massive shadow over you, it's im??mediately clear you're witnessing one of the coolest video game moments ever. If you know, you know.

1. The Covenant

• Game: Halo 3

That the two mission run of The Ark and The Covenant make up the top two spots on this list is a miracle. The latter half of Halo 3's campaign is re?markable, and The Covenant is where it all peaks.

From Warthog gameplay, Hornet combat, and a great mix of tight hallway gunplay and open battlefields to fight on, The Covenant has it all. It all culminates in that fight against two Scarabs simultaneously, resulting in the best setpiece the series has ever produced. Forget the Halo ??series -?? The Covenant is one of the best FPS missions ever made.

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A top shooter needs great shooting mechanics, and either fun movement or tact??ical ones. Still, you can make a game that excels at all three and it will be no more dangerous than a lion inside an aquarium if it doesn't feature proper maps.

When someone talks about a specific FPS you like, chances are most of your memories will come from one or just a few han?dful of maps that stood above all others. Read on to pay you?r respects.

Dust 2 (Counter-Strike)

If society collapses and video game archeologists of the future end up trying to put the pieces together, they might come to the realization that serious competitive online gaming started here. In truth, De_Dust 2 isn't really the first competitive Esports map of all time, nor the first really popular one. Still, it sure is the best map in the original Counter-Strike 1.6, and it remains a banger even over 20 years later. Dust 2's service to CS helped make the tactical shooting and Call Of Duty online scenes the juggernaut th?at they are today.

Not bad for a map made for fun without followi??????????????????????????ng any str??ict rules of map-making - because those didn't exist yet.

Facing Worlds (Unreal Tournament)

Did you ever tell the youths of today you used to have some of the most fun a human body can survive on a CTF map composed of just two towers flying in space united by an impractical bridge? Good, because they'd laugh their asses off while likely doing what you can only assume is a Fortnite dance. Still, you know damn well that few things beat being a ?sniper on top of that tower, easily getting over 25 headshots per match, or, should things get too dire, just get the Redeemer to ??nuke all pesky passersby.

Facing Worlds isn't a very competitive map because it's too easy to prevent anyone from ever crossing the bridge, but taking turns between being the cool sniper and the fool who tries to make it across remains one of the most fun things you can no longer try today because Epic completely abandoned UT.

Ps: In case you're wondering, yes, I'm using a picture of the newest iteration of Facing Worlds as a psyop to make you want UT back even more.

Nuketown (Call Of Duty series)

The universe has an interesting way of balancing things. Not long after Indiana Jones And The Crystal Skull gave us one of the dumbest scenes in movie his??tory where Indy survives a nuclear blast by finding shelter inside a fake fridge on a nuclear testing site, gamers get one of the most fun maps of all time.

Nuketown is simple, really, just a bunch of suburban houses populated only by creepy ??nuclear test dolls. Still, having a shootout with your friends in a cozy pl??ace that's clearly there only to be destroyed feels right every goddamn time.

Rust (Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2)

"1v1 Rust?" Is one of the oldest memes spawning out of the Call Of Duty series, and for good reason. Modern Warfare 2 introduced one of the smallest maps in the history of online shooters, just a small patch of sand with a rusty tow?er in the middle.

Simple, sure, but also the best place to have an up close and personal duel with your friend or foe. Snipers? Submachine guns? Pistols? Knives? Anything goes on Rust, and ev??erything works.

Blood Gulch (Halo: Combat Evolved)

Similarly to Facing Worlds from UT, Blood Gulch has a very simple setup of two enemy bases united by a long patch of land. But, instead of a bridge, players would get a wide corridor they could traverse on foot or by vehicle. You could take on Blood Gulch however you wanted, and it would always result in fun. If there's one multiplayer map that would immediately sell anyone on everything Halo could do, it was Blood Gulch.

They used to say, "blood gulch is the map so nice, they remade it twice." That was a long time ago, as Blood Gulch has since been remade for pretty much every Halo game, and ??it remains just as simple and addictive b??ack in the day

Q3DM17 aka The Longest Yeard (Quake 3)

You'd think that's probably a bad choice of a name to something you want to make popular, but, once you play it, you'll understand Q3DM17's experience will more than sell itself. First things first, Q3DM17's setting of a sci-fi arena floating in space looks just amazing �even if you're to experience its earliest version nowadays via Quake Live. Also, it allows for a lot of freedom. This is a map you can enjoy safely or by risking some tricky and dangerous jumps that might ta??ke you to a posit??ion you can more easily frag your enemies from.

On top of being an all time top-tier arena map, Q3DM17 remains ??likely the best Instagib map ever made.

Construct (Garry’s Mod)

Not all great multiplayer FPS maps need to be all about putting players in places where it'd be cool to have a shootout straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster. They can also be about creating, and Garry's Mod's Construct is one of the best places to both come up with the wackiest ideas, contraptions, and even other maps. Construct provides an incredibly chill and iconic area to let your mind fly free, an?d there's no wonder it served as the primordial mud from whe?nce a lot of awesome gameplay ideas came out of.

Erangel (PUBG: Battlegrounds)

As far as gameplay variety goes, there's just no beating PUBG's first map. Er??angel played a big role in making the BR genre the beast it has been since, well, the release of Erangel, a role I believe many don't realize.

I myself had to wait until the release of PUBG's much inferior seco??nd map, Miramar, to realize how much of a miracle Erangel was. The team came up with such a wide area that never feels boring or repetitive, and where every sub set piece can still provide the perfect set for completely unique shootouts even so long after the game's release.

Deck 17 (Unreal Tournament)

A lot of verticality and grey tones don't usually do much for me in shooters, but I'll open an exception for Unreal Tournament's Deck 17. It features a beautiful balcony where snipers get a great view to the open area where the madmen have at it, wide and long corridors, and bridges without rails that will lead you to a nasty de??ath in a vat of green goo. That's the best of the late '90s and e?arly '00s combined right there.

Deck 17 can be chaotic, but it'??ll never make you feel too bad as you know damn well you can always go for the nuke that will calm thi??ngs down.

Wake Island (Battlefield series)

Battlefield's greatest streng?th is the incr?edible size and scope of the battles it allowed players to partake in even as far back as the early 00's. Still, sometimes it can be a bit much, and you might want to kick back and relax in a smaller and cozier war effort.

What makes Wake Island the definitive Battlefield map is its ability to feature both the series' amazing scope, but to also make it feel smaller, more streamlined, by allowing players to conquer the whole island by starting at one end of this organic corridor of a map and finishing at the other. If you don't care about that, however, that's also fine, as Wake Island also excels at being played as if it were any other Battlefield map.

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The Halo franchise has spa??wned some of the most iconic multiplayer maps ever made. Since it debuted in 2001, the series has seen players face off in Spartan on-Spartan action across legendary battlegrounds that have cemented themselves in gaming fo?lklore.

With so many to choose from, how do you find the 10 best Halo maps ever? We're going to try.

10. Valhalla

• Game: Halo 3

Valhalla felt like a natural evolution of Blood Gulch. Two bases facing off, separated only by a river. The wealth of vehicle options makes Valhalla a perfect Capture The Flag map, and the hilly terrain only adds to the tension as you escape the?? base with the enemy flag.

It returned in all three of 343 Industries' Halo games as ??Ragnarok, Viking,?? and Vallaheim, respectively. After all these years, it plays better than ever.

9. Narrows

• Game: Halo 3

Narrows is symmetry perfected. The two small bases on each side are accessed quickly by the man cannons that fling you across the map. There's a large bridge through the middle, featuring an upper and lower level. There's even a vertical curve to the bridge, which makes? for some interesting combat engagements.

Narrows mat??ches are extremely fast-paced, thanks to the existence of the man cannons. You'll not get a moment to rest until the game ??is finished!

8. Zanzibar

• Game: Halo 2

At times, it feels like Zanzibar is underrated by Halo fans. One team spawns in a power station, while the othe??r starts on the beach. The two must fight for control of the giant spinning wheel in the middl??e of the map, giving Zanzibar an extremely dynamic feeling.

Its full commitment to its asymmetric design is admirable. This makes it perfect for 1 Flag Capture The Flag and Single Bomb matches, creating awesome "attack vs. defense" scenarios. Zanzibar's Halo 3 remake, Last Resort, is great too.

7. Battle Creek

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

Battle Creek is a total brawl. This semi-symmetrical map takes place in a small canyon, featuring two identical bases. In 4v4 Slayer matches, you're never far from the ac??tion, even if you spend most of your time on the respawn screen.

Taking your Xbox to a LAN party and playing split-screen Battle Creek is what classic Halo is all about. The map returned in Halo 2 as Beaver Creek, which is also one of the best Halo maps ever. The differences between ?th??e two are minimal.

6. Midship

• Game: Halo 2

Midship's Covenant setting gives it a unique aesthetic among the best Halo maps. It looks great, but it plays even better. It's a small arena setting with a ton of verticality, making it ideal for Oddball and free-for-all ??Slayer matches.

Midship produces a unique brand of chaos that other Halo maps struggle to re??plicate. You won't find campers here - there'??s nowhere to hide!

5. The Pit

• Game: Halo 3

Halo 3's The Pit is a symmetrical map set in a UNSC training facility. It was an instant fan favorite on release in 2007, and has remained a staple of Halo's competitive scene ever since. The Pit has v?erticality, long sight lines, and close-quarters opportunities. There's something?? for every playstyle here, hence its longevity.

The biggest compliment to The Pit is that it has been remade in every single one of 343 Industries' Halo titles. Pitfall in Halo 4, Simulation in Halo 5: Guardians, and Empyrean in Halo Infinite. Still, you're never beating the original.

4. Forge World

• Game: Halo: Reach

Halo 3 had Foundry and Sandbox as its primary Forge maps. Halo: Reach went one better with Forge World, an e??normous blank canvas for players to bring their wildest ideas to life. The map has several different regions, each of which can be built upon to create some??thing entirely new. It's magnificent.

Bungie certainly had confidence in Forge World; many of Halo: Reach's base multiplayer ??maps were built in it. For better or worse, this started a series trend of Forge maps becoming m?atchmaking staples.

3. Guardian

• Game: Halo 3

It's difficult to describe why Guardian works so well. It's asymmetric, feels smaller than it is, and doesn't play well with most objective game modes. Yet, it's undeniably one of the best Halo maps ever made. Why is that?

The map is separated by a few different areas, where combat encounters are well-isolated. It rarely feels like you're being attack?ed by multiple angles with little you can do about it, and you're always fighti??ng for control over a different area of the map. From a design perspective, Guardian is near-perfect.

2. Lockout

• Game: Halo 2

If you like verticality in your Halo maps, Lockout has three levels on what is otherwise a very small arena. Lockout features one central platform, from which the rest of the map spans out from. No matter where you spawn, Lockout?? does a great job of luring you back to that middle focal point, whether you come from the upper sniper tower, or from the Gravity Lift room.

With so many areas to worry about, you're always taking a new combat engagement from ??interesting angles, and Lockout ?offers plenty of environmental cover for skilled players to use to their advantage. For this reason, Lockout is the best Slayer map ever made.

1. Blood Gulch

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

Blood Gulch is quintessential Halo. Two bases, one vast, open canyon. Plenty of vehicles on both sides. Snipers galore. Off to the races you go, Spartans. This is Capture The Flag at its very best, and there's a reason Blood Gulch has returned in so many Halo games since.

Part of the beauty of Blood Gulch is its simplicity. Bungie didn't overcomplicate anything, stripping the Halo multiplayer experience back to its core to create something magical. You can still play Big Team Battle matches on Blood Gulch in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and it still feels as epic as ever.

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343 Industries is no more (sort of). Prior to the grand final of the Halo World Championship 2024 eSports tournament, the developer c??onfirmed that ?it has rebranded to Halo Studios, turning a new page for the legendary franchise.

It also revealed that Halo Studios will move to Unreal Engin?e 5 for all future projects, of which several are in development. This marks a move away from its proprietary game engine, the Slipspace Engine, making it easier for new developers to come in and hit the ground running.

Halo is making the jump to Unreal Engine 5

Halo Studios revealed the news with an impressive UE5 video showcase titled Project Foundry, hitting all the classic Halo notes: Master Chief, Elites, Energy Swords, an??d ev??en the Flood.

Nothing was officially confirmed, but given what was shown, it looked suspiciously like the Halo: Combat Evolved remaster that was rumored back in June. Are they teasing it right in front of our eyes? Only time will tell. Regardless, it looks stunning, with mind-blowing environments that look closer to Blur Studios' Halo 2: Anniversary cutscenes than ??any real-time gameplay seen bef??ore in the series.

As 343 Industries, the studio has developed three mainline Halo games since being founded in 2007: 4, 5: Guardians, and Infinite. Each title had positives and negatives, although it's generally agreed that the series hasn't quite reached the dizzying heights of its Bungie days. Can this rebrand and move to Unreal Engine 5 help secure a brighter future for Halo? I sure hope so.

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File this under "news no one expected." 343 Industries has confirmed that Halo Infinite is getti?ng a third-person mode, and i??t's coming sooner than you think, with a release date penned in for November.

Halo historians will know that Combat Evolved was a third-person shooter at one point in its development. Now, well over two decades later, that idea is set to become a reality in Halo Infinite.

Halo Infinite third-person mode confirmed

343 Industries confirmed the addition of third-person mode to Halo Infinite in a video on Twitter. It's an announcement that wouldn't feel out of place on April Fools' Day. Halo? Third-person?! I assure y?ou, it's real, and frankly, it looks like a lot of fun.

The clips from the gameplay were marked as a work i??n progress, but a couple of interesting tidbits can be garnered from what has been shown so far.

One moment shows the ??player transitioning from first to thi??rd-person, indicating that you're not locked into one view for the entire match. It remains to be seen if the new third-person view is only available in specific modes. PvE combat was also shown, confirming Firefight will be getting the third-person treatment. Count me in.

Interestingly, the footage features one moment involving the player struggling to see while entering a Shroud Screen. This shows the drawback of adding third-person to a game not initially designed for it, so it'll be in??teresting t??o see how 343 Industries handles things like this in the full release.

Even if third-person mode doesn't become the de-facto way to play Halo Infinite going forward, I'd be lyi??ng if I said I wasn't intrigued to try it out. It's currently set for a November release, with no specific date nailed down at the moment.

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When a creative's imagination is the limit, there's no shortage of attractive characters?? in gaming. And when you spend hours, sometimes even dozens or hundreds of them, staring at a protagonist, villain, or trusted companion, it never hurts for them to be easy on the eyes.

Sometimes, I find myself a bit head-over-heels for a few of? them, reminiscing about the handsome men I've met on a few of my journeys. While I'm not sure I could fully commit to a relationship with a troubling few of these guys—regrettably, I can't fix him—I’d definitely take them out for a nice dinner date. 

10 Video game guys I'd take to dinner, and (maybe) a movie

10. James Sunderland from Silent Hill 2

Whether it be just dinner or grabbing coffee, any kind of commitment to James is probably a bad idea, given his track record with Mary in Silent Hill 2. He may have seen it as ??a mercy killing, or purely out of selfishness to seek a life free from burden, but either way, it's not? exactly something I'd be willing to look past.

It's just that I think James could really use the pick-me-up a nice dinner date would give him aft??er the whole being stuck in a haunting mind hell ordeal, you know? Plus, he’s quite easy on the eyes, and dependable if I’m being attacked by the horrific creatures of the eerie town of Silent Hill. So, I’ll take him on a date, but just one.

9. Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII

Look at that flowing, gorgeous hair. The cool black jacket, the s??word, the wings? Obviously, I?? would say yes to a date with Sephiroth if he asked me, just based on aura alone. You can’t ignore him.

However, this is the only character on this list I probably wouldn’t even enjoy the date with. He’s so consumed by his hatred that I don’t think he could put it aside for even one meal at a cozy bistro in the city. But, seeing as heâ€??™s just so pretty, he had to ?be here.

8. Johnny Gat from Saint’s Row

Johnny Gat is a murderous gang banger to the extreme. But, he’s a handsome murderous gang banger. And he’s pretty fun to chill out with when he’s just hanging out at?? the crib with his fellow Saints. 

Sadly, Johnny also lost his girl Aisha to the Ronin in Saint’s Row 2, so I’m not so sure he could protect me from those same rival ga??ngs. That’s why a relationship with him would never?? work out; it's just not practical. Surely, they won’t target me if we go on just one date, right?

7. Solid Snake from Metal Gear

We love a man who can get things done, and nobody does it as well as Snake. This is the man who makes the impossible, possible after all. Give Snake a mission, and you can bet it’ll be completed, whether it’s a highly classified operation or loading the?? dishwasher.

Unfortunately, the rapid aging business puts a huge damper on th?ings. Does he still deserve love? Yes. Could I provide it, knowing his lifespan is dramatically shorter than mine thanks to all the espionage? Probably not. So a few nice dates we both enjoy, but move on from, will work.

6. Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2

You could just tell me I’m going on a date with a real cowboy, and I’d be there. But Arthur Morgan? He’s not only a cowboy but? a true Wild West heartthrob. We could hunt for dinner ourselves, then enjoy it under the stars by a roaring campfire.

However, there’s one major issue with Arthur: spoiler alert, he’s dead. I'm not really looking to go?? back in time, either, especially a time so far back I'm lacking modern comforts. And seeing as how the game takes place in 1899, it'?s just a non-starter. Time may keep us apart, but I can dream about the lovely dinner I’d enjoy with this cowboy.

5. Master Chief from Halo

The suit stays on. I don’t need to know what he looks like underneath it. It doesn’t matter. This man almost single-handedly saved all of humanity from both The Covenant and The Flood??—that alone would get me out the door and sat in an Olive Garden booth.

Master Chief also has one of the smoothest voices in the histo?ry of gaming, and you just know an intimate conversation with him would be music to the ears. I don’t think marrying him would be ideal, though, since if an?yone’s committed to their job, it’s him. I’ll go on as many dates with him as I can before the UNSC calls him back yet again.

4. Wyll from Baldur’s Gate 3

I’m sick of everyone talking about Astarion and Gale all the time. Yes, they’re lovely, but you’re missing out on this hunk of a Warlock, Wyll. This folk hero is kind, brave, and will do anything to keep Baldur's Gate safe. Plus, he’s got the whole tortured, dark secret that haunts him every day going fo??r him??. All the makings of a great romantic interest.

Now, there is the whole Mizora soul-binding thing to contend with, and I understand how that will turn people away. However, I can look past it. Not forever, but a??t least for a few roma??ntic steak dinners before we part ways.

3. Link from Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

He’s the Hero of Hyrule and nearly every gamer girl’s first crush, so, obviously, I would take Link out to dinner. Even better, he can just cook dinner for us since he’s got the skills to make things like meat pies in a single cooking pot. There’s a reason nearly everyone in Hy?rule is thirsting over him during the Era of the Wild.

There is one issue with Link though, and it’s that he’s very committed to someone already. He is so committed to Princess Zelda that he will, and has, died for her. I’m not? willing to get between their relationship, and I don’t think I could. But I’m sure Link can spare me a few dates just to make my thirteen-year-old self happy.

2. Waluigi from Super Mario Bros

I don’t need to explain th?is one. If you kn??ow, you know.

1. Leon Kennedy from Resident Evil

How could you look at this man and not want to take him on a date? He’s beautiful. He fights zombies. He’s? got some of the most luscious hair in all of gaming. Of course, Leon Kennedy is number one on this list because he’s clearly the best option.

Much ??like Link, though, Leon seems to already be involved?? with Ada. Their relationship is far more complicated than Link and Zelda’s, but it’s pretty clear he’s not going to let her go. I hope they can both be happy together, but only after I get my dinner date with Leon first.

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Of course, the Halo franchise has its slew of novels to read in the sci-fi genre, but if you're looking for something outside of the universe, pick up one of these. Halo rests in that action-?packed, intergalactic, military subgenre of science fiction that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat at each page-turn of the book.

Science fiction books like Halo

Halo is categorized as military action science fiction. The sto??ries are of superhuman feats, humanity's struggle against invading forces, the political opera behind it all, and, of course, breakneck action. These books have a bit of everything, some bei?ng war politics, others being ludicrous battles on far-flung worlds. Either way, they all have some wild, action-packed rides.

Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein

You can't get closer to the Halo franchise than Starship Troopers by Heinlein. This book, which inspired the film, is Heinlein's debut in serious science fiction, and it makes a few poignant points. It criticizes the militaristic world he was surrounded by and the glorification of war. Only people who serve in the military can ever be raised to full citizen status as an intergalactic war rages ??around the ear??th. Many comparisons between race and the aliens humanity fights against have been drawn.

Earth is at war with bugs from another planet. The fight rages between the two worlds, and it is a bloody one. The story follows a man who decides to join the military against his parents' wi??shes. As the war rages on, the battles become more violent and devastating. The story follows the man's tale and his journey through the ranks in this hard-fought fight for survival.

Battle Royale - Koushun Takami

This is not a military science fiction novel like the others on the list, but it still has all the action Halo ?fans look for. In a future fascist Japan, high school students are pulled from their classrooms and forced to fight to the death. According to the government, this is to help study war tactics and help form the fighters of tomorrow. However, it just serves to instill paranoia and fear in the population, who could be called up or have their children recruited at any moment.

The story is now seen everywhere in video games and even in other books, such as The Hunger Games. However, this is one of the earlier examples of the idea. It is a coming-of-age book and a high-octane action sci-fi, full of brutal fights and the struggle to survive. Be warned: This is not a book for the faint-hearted.

Stinger - Robert McCammon

Inferno, Texas, is alre??ady a terrible town. It i??s impoverished, violent, racist, and tearing itself apart from the inside. However, it is about to get significantly worse. When two alien spacecraft crash just outside the city, their homes are about to become the hunting ground of an alien with phenomenal strength. It is up to the citizens of Inferno to band together to try to fend off this unstoppable force of murder.

Stinger is set over a single 24-hour period and is nonstop from beginning to end. The first craft that lands is the prey of the second. This hunting alien is bent on destroying the first and won't let anything stand in its way. This sci-fi action novel is full of the fast-paced violence Halo fans seek.

Altered Carbon - Richard K. Morgan

Body modifications, disembodied souls, and action-packed scenes are familiar to Halo and Morgan's Altered Carbon. Although Altered Carbon is, at its core, a detective novel, the fast-paced action within will surely scratch any Halo fan's need for a sci-fi.?? Takeshi Kovacs must puzzle out just w?ho it is that murdered his last body and that of his client.

Morgan isn't afraid to fill his pages with excellent, cyberpunk action. Each new chapter is a thrill ride, packed with crazy new technology and nail-biting scenes. The book has been turned into a multi-seaso?n TV show, which has received high praise. If you're looki??ng for something that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is a great book to pick up.

Deathworld - Harry Harrison

Only a man named Harry Harrison could write a book like Deathworld and its subsequent two novels. The Deathworld book has a fantastic premise: A man, tipped off by some clients, gambles a vast amount of money in a government-run casino. He wins absurd amounts and has to escape the planetary government. He chooses to run to Pyrrus, which is ?rumored to be the most deadly planet colonized by humans.

The rest of the book is one man's fight for survival against the many horrors that live on this planet he unwisely decided to extradite to. The book is very much of its time, written back in 1960, but it is still a fantastic action sci-fi for all Halo fans. The narrative follows the protagonists in his fight for survival as he tries to work o?ut the mysteries of a planet bent on killing everything that lands on it.

The Pupper Masters - Robert A. Heinlein

Halo fans will be no strangers to the idea of the Flood and slug-like aliens dedicated to world domination. In The Pupper Masters, written i??n 1951, a flying saucer crashes on Earth. Within the saucer are slugs that can attach themselves to the backs of human hosts, taking over their brains and coercing others to join them.

The book is a true example of the golden age of science fiction. The country pulls together to try to fight ??off the invading, mind-control slugs. This action-packed book is a thrill ride as humanity fights to survive. All kinds of methods are used to fight the invading species, including forced nudity, all-out military attack, and, eventually, biological warfare.

The Forever War - Joe Haldeman

The Halo franchise is more than just the action and intergalactic battles that it first appears. It also talks about the mental strain of being a super soldier, forced to live far beyond that of his comrades, watching everyone die around him. Master Chief is a tortured hero, left only with Cortana to rely on; even she is eventually lost. In The Forever War, along with the huge inte??rgalactic battle, comes the question of sanity and the mental pressure of space travel.

The Forever War takes a look at how much the human mind can cope when traveling vast distances across both space and time. As soldiers are sent between warring planets, huge amounts of time pass. The planet they leave to fight a tour of duty is not the same one they return to. Decades pass between battles, and the soldiers who fight it start to question just what it is all in aid of. This is a great action sci-fi book for the more philosophical Halo fan among us.

Armor - John Steakley

Armor has many of the trappings of the Halo franchise. Humanity fights against three-meter-tall aliens, referred to as Ants. To level the playing field, humans now wear armored exoskeletons. These grant almost superhuman strength, yet the fight is still bloody and highly costly on both sides. Armor follows two stories, one of a small colony being invaded by pirates and the other of Felix, an armored super soldier who?? refuses to die no matter how bad the odds are.

This is the perfect action sci-fi novel for any Halo fan looking for something familiar to the game's setting. Huge a??lien bugs fight against armored super soldiers in a war that seems overly bloody and with no clear winner. The book is packed with high-octane action and some gripping scenes.

Enders Game - Orson Scott Card

Enders Game is one for the fans of space politics and intergalactic war. Funnily enough, like a number of the other books in this list, humanity is threatened by an alien race ca??lled the 'Buggers'. However, using a tr??aining simulation, youth are trained up and selected to fight for humanity. During this training, one young man stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Enders Game unravels into an enormous space opera that spans generations. The?? book has some fantast??ic action scenes and amazing science-fiction technologies. Although the plot gets politically intergalactic, there are still many gritty and exciting battles to be had as Ender fights for what he ultimately believes is right.

Columbus Day - Craig Alanson

Columbus Day is an apt name for the date Earth was invaded by an alien force far outgunning and outnumbering its residents. In one fell swoop, aliens destroyed much of Earth's core infrastructure, leaving Earth's residents even more helpless than they were before. Being drastically on the back foot against an invading force sets this book up to be the action sci-fi perfect for fans of the Halo franchise.

After the initial attack, another alien force arrives, fighting off the first one and recruiting humanity into an intergalactic war that has been raging. However, after being recruited into the war against the invading aliens, things are not all they seem. In this military space science fiction novel, the?re is political intrigue, philosophy, and plenty of action.

If you love books that could easily become games, there are plenty out there to choose from.

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By the time I finish writing this article, another book will undoubtedly be added to the ever-expanding series of the Halo universe. There are some fantastic and some not-so-fantastic entries in the list, but if you're looking to fully grasp the lore of the series, you should take a read. Here is the order in which I think you should read the Halo books for the most rounded experience.

So many Halo books

The world of Halo opens itself to a lot of expansion, looking at the prelude, the histories of both races, the flood, and the list goes on. Because of this, there are a lot of books expanding ??on the universe. It's understandably overwhelming, so start with his definitive list of Halo literature reading order and go from there.

I believe that the Halo books should be read in release order. The chronology jumps backward and forwards, but not in a confusing or disjointed way. The books reference one another as they are published, fleshing out the Halo universe fully. Trying to read them in chrono?logical order becomes very complex very quickly and can often miss details.

Every Halo book, in order of release

• Halo: The Fall of Reach (October 30, 2001)
• Halo: The Flood (April 1, 2003)
• Halo: First Strike (December 2, 2003)
• Halo: Ghosts of Onyx (October 31, 2006)
• Halo: Contact Harvest (October 30, 2007)
• Halo: The Cole Protocol (November 25, 2008)
• Halo: Evolutions (November 24, 2009)
• Halo: Cryptum (January 4, 2011)
• Halo: Glasslands (October 25, 2011)
• Halo: Primordium (January 3, 2012)
• Halo: The Thursday War (October 2, 2012)
• Halo: Silentium (March 19, 2013)
• Halo: Mortal Dictata (January 21, 2014)
• Halo: Broken Circle (November 4, 2014)
• Halo: New Blood (March 2, 2015)
• Halo: Hunters in the Dark (June 16, 2015)
• Halo: Saint’s Testimony (July 27, 2015)
• Halo: Last Light (September 15, 2015)
• Halo: Shadow of Intent (December 7, 2015)
• Halo: Fractures (September 20, 2016)
• Halo: Smoke and Shadow (November 28, 2016)
• Halo: Envoy (April 25, 2017)
• Halo: Retribution (August 29, 2017)
• Halo: Legacy of Onyx (November 15, 2017)
• Halo: Bad Blood (June 26, 2018)
• Halo: Silent Storm (September 4, 2018)
• Halo: Battle Born (January 1, 2019)
• Halo: Renegades (February 19, 2019)
• Halo: Oblivion (September 24, 2019)
• Halo: Meridian Divide (October 1, 2019)
• Halo: Shadows of Reach (September 22, 2020)
• Halo: Point of Light (March 2, 2021)
• Halo: Divine Wind (October 19, 2021)
• Halo: The Rubicon Protocol (August 9, 2022)
• Halo: Epitaph (February 27, 2024)

This is a monstrous list, but there are a few you could skip if you have recently played the games. To shorten this list a little, it is possible to overlook Halo: The Flood as it just covers the plot of Halo 1. If you have recently played through the game or want to get the same information but from the convenience of gaming, skip this read in the Halo order and just play the game instead.

What are the Halo books all about

If you're a fan of the video game franchise, you'll already be ??aware of a lot of the lore that goes into the games. Old histories and battles spanning eons flesh out the action-packed scenes that develop as you follow the story of Master Chief and beyond.

Many histories and events can be picked up from simply playing the game and listening to various clips around the games. Characters cleverly provide exposition through dialogue and situations. However, thi??s has left me and many other writers ??and readers wanting something more.

The Halo book series sets the universe in order while you read them. They dig much deeper into the world, history, politics, and battles of the fra??nchise, giving the fans the content they want. Histo??ry and expansion around the games are built throughout the narratives.

Are the Halo books canon?

The ever-changing team behind the Halo franchise states that "the Official" Halo canon can only b??e created by developers of the Halo franchise." This means that for a book to be considered in the official reading order of the Halo can?on, it needs to be officially sanctioned by the team. This helps stop any inconsistencies, although there are a few.

Of course, like any huge gaming franchise, there are many excellent fanfiction additions to the reading list. However, if you really want to start digging into those, it is best t??o finish off the games and official book series first. This will give you the context and knowledge to spot something wildly off track or sticks to the source mate??rial. You don't want to accidentally reference something off-canon without knowing it; that would be embarrassing.

There are many amazing video game tie-in books out there, r??anging from Assassins Creed to the Souls games. Halo, although maybe one of the most extensive, isn't the only good one out there.

The post What order to read all the Halo books appeared first on Destructoid.

Halo Infinite's sandbox lives and dies by its weapons. If the gunplay isn't solid and the weapons don't feel fun, then little else matters. It's something that the series has nailed over the years, and luckily, Infinite is no different.

In Halo Infinite, multiple old favorites return. You can find classic weapons like the Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer, helping the game feel familiar to long-time series fans. However, it also introduces several new weapons such as the Mangler and the Cindershot, which keep the sandbox fresh, even for Halo veterans.

Halo Infinite Weapons Tier List

Halo Infinite has 23 weapons in total across its campaign and multiplayer. This is more than enough to give you a ton of variety, because not all of the weapons will appear on every Halo Infinite map. Frankly, this is for the best. We couldn't cope with every player on the server having power weapons all at the same - that might be a little too chaotic.

When ranking Halo Infinite's weapons into a definitive Tier List, there are a few things to consider. First of all - fun. We're asking the question, "Do these weapons feel fun to use?" After all, it's Halo, a series known for its iconic armory of weapons, so the best of Infinite's offerings will likely be the ones t??hat ?are the most fun to use.

It's important that we consider weapon efficiency, too. Sure, a weapon can feel fun, but it's hardly any use if you can'?t actually kill?? anyone with it. Pick up the weapons near the top of our Tier List to ensure you're at the top of the leaderboard in every multiplayer match.

S Tier

• BR75 (Battle Rifle)
• Energy Sword
• Gravity Hammer
• M41 SPNKR (Rocket Launcher)
• S7 Sniper Rifle
• VK78 Commando

A Tier

• M392 Bandit
• M50 Sidekick
• MA40 AR (Assault Rifle)
• Needler
• Sentinel Beam
• Shock Rifle
• Skewer

B Tier

• Cindershot
• CQS48 Bulldog
• Heatwave
• Hydra
• Plasma Pistol
• Ravager
• Stalker Rifle

C Tier

• Disruptor
• Mangler
• Pulse Carbine

The fact that so many of Halo Infinite's weapons are in the S and A tiers here is a compliment to 343 Industries' balancing. Overall, the studio did a solid job making sure the game's armory feels fun and powerful, yet rarely overpowered. This isn't to say that weapons in the B and C tiers can't be well-utilized by skilled players. Still, the average gamer will likely have a tougher time tryi??ng to dominate multiplayer lobbies while using them.

With Halo Infinite still r??eceiving updates years after its launch, even more weapons may be added in the future. The M392 Bandit is the most recen?t addition to the game, arriving in early 2023.

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Halo Infinite's campaign is arguably the best in years. Plenty would have it down as 343 Industries' best effort to date. It was the game that took the franchise's single-player in a bold new direction, embracing an open-world campaign for the first time. It was an interesting experiment, one that makes Halo Infinite one of the most unique games in the series.

In this open world set on Installation 07, players can still complete a series of traditional campaign missions. These are separated by area, so once you've finished one location, you must move to the next to unlock the?? next set of missions.

Halo Infinite Campaign Missions Tier List

Halo Infinite features a total of 16 campaign missions spread across seven different areas. Despite the big change in approach, this still very much feels like a Halo campaign. You've got Master Chief facing hordes of Covenant (now the Banished) - what more could you want? Halo Infinite's campaign missions feel like a love letter to the franchise. You have levels like The Road, which feels like a vehicle mission pulled straight from the previous games in the ser?ies. Then, there are missions like Pelican Down, which creates a sense of urgency unl??ike anything else.

Most importantly, Halo Infinite doesn't forget to make its campaign missions fun. You can hit the right notes to recreate that classic Halo feeling all you want, but if it isn't actually fun to play, then it doesn't matter. Our Tier List here considers the fun factor above all else. S Tier missions are the cream of the crop, the levels you can replay 10 times over and have a blast. Moving down, C Tier levels are the ones you finish begrudgingly during repeat playthroughs, sighing deeply as you wait for the good stuff. Luckily, Halo Infinite doesn't have too much of that kind of thing.

S Tier

• House of Reckoning
• Pelican Down
• The Road
• The Tower

A Tier

• Conservatory
• Repository
• Silent Auditorium
• The Command Spire
• Warship Gbraakon

B Tier

• Excavation Site
• Foundation
• Nexus
• Outpost Tremonius
• The Sequence

C Tier

• Recovery
• Spire

Halo Infinite Campaign Side Missions Tier List

With Halo Infinite taking a more open-world approach, 343 Industries was able t????o add side missions to the franchise's mainline games for the first time ever. Love or hate these side missions, you can't deny they were a fun change of pace from the main campaign.

All of the seven side missions in Halo Infinite involve liberating some Banished outposts, although the objectives change each time. It's got a hint of the Ubisoft formula about it, but it works well in Infinite's sandbox. The game is at ?its best when chaos reigns, and these side missions provide that in spades??.

S Tier

• Forge of Teash
• Ransom Keep

A Tier

• Annex Ridge
• Armory of Reckoning
• Redoubt of Sundering

B Tier

• Horn of Abolition

C Tier

• Riven Gate

The post Halo Infinite missions Tier List: All Campaign? missions, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Blood Gulch. Lockout. Guardian. All standout maps that you might remember from the Halo series in years gone by. The franchise has a deep history of producing iconic multiplayer battlegrounds, and Halo Infinite is no different.

37 multiplayer maps populate Halo Infinite's multiplayer offerings, and our Tier List aims to rank them on??e by one. Arena maps, Big Team Battle maps, and Forge canvases each have their own Tier List, as they're too different to compare against one another.

Halo Infinite Arena Maps Tier List

Arena maps are Halo Infinite's bread and butter. 4v4 gameplay across modes like Slayer, King of the Hill, and Capture the Flag. This is Halo's DNA, the reason players return over two decades since the franchise made its debut. Luckily, Infinite has some great arena ma?ps?? that are an absolute blast to play.

Our ranking of Halo Infinite's arena maps is largely based on how fun they are. Ultimately, that's why you play the game, right? We've also slightly considered aesthetics, too. When you think back to legendary Halo maps ?from previous titles, each one has a strong ?visual style that's easy to remember. It's a small consideration, but an important one.

S Tier

• Bazaar
• Empyrean
• Live Fire
• Recharge

A Tier

• Aquarius
• Behemoth
• Chasm
• Forest
• House of Reckoning
• Prism
• Streets

B Tier

• Catalyst
• Elevation
• Forbidden
• Illusion
• Interference
• Launch Site
• Solitude

C Tier

• Argyle
• Cliffhanger
• Corrosion
• Detachment
• Dredge

Halo Infinite Big Team Battle Maps Tier List

Halo Infinite features six maps made exclusively for the Big Team Battle game mode. These maps are made for 12v12 action, featuring vehicle-heavy gameplay. Jump in a Warthog with some friends and cause mayhem - that's what Halo is all about, and that's wha?t Big Team Battle? provides.

When ranking Halo Infinite's Big Team Battle maps, we're not just considering how fun it is to play. We'??re also considering how well they fit the game mode. After all, what good is Big Team Bat??tle if you can't cause a bit of vehicular chaos?

S Tier

• Oasis

A Tier

• Fragmentation
• Scarr

B Tier

• Deadlock
• Highpower

C Tier

• Breaker

Halo Infinite Forge Canvas Maps Tier List

Halo Infinite's Forge mode is the most powerful version of the iconic map creator to date. It's hard to believe how far it has come since the Halo 3 days. From requiring the use of glitches to make items float ba?ck in the day, to in-depth scripting in the most recen??t iteration of the game mode.

Eight Halo Infinite maps exist entirely as Forge mode canvases. While not fun by themselves, they serve as a way to create completely new maps, with each having its own unique theme. Since we can't rank by fun factor, we're going purely by aesthetics and versatilit?y here.

S Tier

• Permafrost
• Void

A Tier

• Barrage
• Ecliptic

B Tier

• Institute
• Mires

C Tier

• Arid
• Seafloor

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Halo Infinite launched to critical acclaim only to end up faltering as its post-launch content plan went further along, but that's not to say it's been a total wash. The upgraded Forge mode, for ex??ample, is pretty darn good, and it's getting better? still with the new audio update.

There's a lot of goodness packed into Halo Infinite's next big Forge Mode update, but the most notable highlight of it all is most certainly the fact that the update includes over one thousand voice lines created by the legendary Halo announcer Jeff Steitzer. Other highlights include the availability of Halo Infinite'?s campaign music in Forge Mode, as well as the overhaul of the U??I navigational markers.

Halo Forge is getting a massive audio update soon

The titular audio update (and the new Operation) are both slated to launch on July 30, as per the latest Halo Waypoint blog post, and the general theme of it is that it's supposed to add even more value, customization, and functionality to what is already an incredibly powerful custom content mode. Since Steitzer himself has been a huge part of the core Halo multiplayer experience from day one, having over a thousand of his lines ready to go at a moment's notice is going to be a huge deal for the Forge's audio r?oster, and should allow talented content creators to leverage them in previously impossible ways.

"Implementing [Jeff Steitzer's lines] these into your modes and experiences will add just that extra layer of authenticity, immersing you further into custom experiences that will feel like they’re dev-made—or perhaps you just want to have fun with these lines being at your disposal and go for maximum silliness," says the blog post. Some examples include the wacky out-of-place entries, like "Extra crispy!" and ?"Unfrigginbelieveable!," which are really neat.

The new audio is really just the tip o?f the iceberg, though, as the July 30th update is all about empowering content creators in every way that matters: from new visual armor effects to custom mini-game variants, Forge Mode is bound to be a way more customizable playground than it's ever been before after the update is out. Steitzer's lines are just there to spice things up as we go, reall??y.

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The further away from planet Earth a sci-fi story takes place, the more sci-fi it feels for many. Though there are many great sci-fi tales taking place rig?ht here on our already pretty dystopian planet, it's hard to beat the allure of the final frontier.

Let's look at the best sci-fi books that take place ou??tside of Earth,?? shall we?

10. Halo: The Fall of Reach (Eric Nylund)

If video game narratives tend to pale in comparison to those seen in literature, then the narratives seen in literary adaptations of video games tend to pale in comparison to both. Still, there are exceptions. The best one, as far as I know, is Halo: The Fall of Reach. It tells a compelling enough tale to entice people who were previously only into Halo becaus?e of all the gunplay, and it does it in Legendary difficulty mode because it's ??a prequel.

Many fans of the games consider that The Fall of Reach is vastly superior to Halo: Reach, the critically acclaimed Halo game that ostensibly tells the same story.

9. The Martian (Andy Weir)

In his first novel, Andy Weir proves that you can do great sci-fi by resorting to way more science than fiction. The Martian transplants the classic story of the sailor who falls off the ship and i??s accidentally left for dead to the space setting.

As expected, surviving Mars proves even harder than surviving a deserted island. It's incredibly satisfying to see Mark Watney putting his knowledge into practice in an attempt to last as long?? as possible ?on the surface of such a callous planet.

8. The Martian Chronicles (Ray Bradbury)

Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles is one of the first known publications to? seriously engage with the concept of colonizing Mars. As the title suggests, it's more of a collection of tales about the challenges and adversities of conquering a new planet.

The Martian Chronicles remains a prescient piece of writing even three-thirds of a century later. Yes, please note that this was all written in the '50s, long before we even got to space. So, if The Martian Chronicles remain?s good in our times, imagine how mind-blowing it would've been to read it back when it came out.

7. Old Man's War (John Scalzi)

If you're looking for a contemporary sci-fi author capable of going toe to toe with the masters of (relatively) old, then John ?Scalzi might be your guy.

One of the wildest aspects of war is that it tends to boil down to sending a bunch of youths to some foreign land because a bunch of old guys wanted them to go. Old Man's War asks, "What if it was old people doing the fighting?" and "what if they were fighting for a purpose that directly benefitted them, like the right to an awesome retirement?" Scalzi had me at old people? fighting, but then he added that said wars were in space and against a bunch of aliens, at which point I was almost ready to enlist for him.

6. Ancillary Justice (Ann Leckie)

Ancillary Justice is a space opera like no other. Instead of telling you the tale of one hero who goes against an Empire, it t?ells the story of a great Imperial warlord whose brain used to control the hivemind of an entire army ??but who saw an act of treason reducing their reach to that of one single body.

Want an original revenge tale that will make you even more scared abou??t Humankind's desire for galaxy-wide domination than you already are? Then this is the one for y??ou.

5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (Douglas Adams)

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy is the first of what author Douglas Adams describes as a trilogy of five books. That's even more wrong than you think, as it's?? actually comprised of six books.

If you're into that kind of humor, then you should accompany Arthur Dent as he makes use of the titular Hitchhiker's Guide, a sort of electron?ic McGuffin that helps? him navigate the galaxy. He'll need it, too, because planet Earth has just been destroyed to make way for a new space highway.

This is the q??uintessential space sci-fi comedy. It's a bit of an acquired taste, but if it's already your thing �or you happen to acquire that taste �you're bound to have a lot of fun with it.

4. Consider Phlebas (Iain M. Banks)

Tired of overly serious and dour sci-fi tales where people only venture out to space because planet Earth can no longer sustain the human race due to human-caused troubles? Then Consider Phlebas �or pretty much any other book from Iain M. Banks' The Culture series �a great pick.

Do you like Utopias? What about ring worlds, like Halo, but without the evil aliens and the awful human Military Industrial Complex? Consider Phlebas invites you to enjoy a post-scarcity, post-war galaxy. More or less away from any grand threat, there's space to in a bunch of wacky and hilarious concepts rarely seen in other sci-fi works. Phlebas is a great palate cleanser for hard sci-fi and a fantastic r?eading on its own.

3. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Arthur C. Clarke)

Movie adaptations of popular novels tend to suffer criticism for not being able to feature every detail in the book �down to things that have no reason to be ?in the movie. The beauty of 2001: A Space Odyss??ey is that this pointless debate doesn't need to occur.

Neither the book nor the movie are trying to outdo the other. Both works were made at the same time as they were meant to serve as companions to one another. Now, given that the 2001 film is seen as one of the greatest and most? visionary sci-fi works ever due to �among other things �how it called us fools for blindly ?trusting AI, you do the math and wonder just how good its literary sibling might be.

2. The Sirens Of Titan (Kurt Vonnegut)

Kurt Vonnegut explores the idea of absurdly wealthy men who owe everything to nepotism but attribute it to divine favor and puts it to the test by finally sending them to space in The Sirens Of Titan.

Will Malachi Constant see that things are not as he thought them to be and learn a valuable lesson? Will he become even more insufferable? This glorious sci-fi comedy is complex to the point that effectively spoiling it would be no easy task. Still, I recommend you go into the hilarious The Sirens Of Titan knowing as little as possible.

1. Solaris (Stanislaw Lem)

While most sci-fi loves to focus on stories about greatly detailed space wars, Stanislaw Lem was wondering what actual contact with an alien entity would look and feel like. Will the two vastly different entities be able to communicate right away? Will each even be aware of the presence of the other? Can they influence each other even with no real mutual understanding? Solaris asks these questions and many more, then only answers some of them while telling a deep story about love and about ??what it means to be hum?an.

If you're still on the fence, know that Solaris is the work that inspired Silent Hill 2, one of the great?est narratives in video game history.

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Amid a wave of other titles losing Xbox exclusivity, reports suggest that Microsoft is working on a Halo: Combat Evolved remaster and is consider?ing it f??or rival platforms.

The Verge's Tom Warren reported, "One game that is being considered for release on PS5 is Halo. Sources tell me Microsoft is working on some form of Halo: Combat Evolved remaster?? that is? also being considered for rival consoles."

A Halo-to-PS5 announcement at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase on June 9 would steal the show, but that dream might not become a reality. "I don't expect Microsoft to announce this during the showcase ??as it is early days for the remaster," Warren claimed.

Halo: Combat Evolved was first launched on Xbox in 2001 and served as the first title in what would become one of the most iconic franchises in history. The title would be a great entry point for new fans of the series on PlayStation and continues a trend of titles los??ing exclusivity.

In February, Microsoft announced that Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves would be leaping from Xbox ??to other platforms. Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, saw this as a chance to create more revenue for the titles and open the door for future iterations and sequels. However, Microsoft's new vision of creating more opportunities has also come at a cost.

In January, Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees from Activision Blizzard and Xbox. Then, in May, Xbox Games Studios shut down Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games and merged a fourth studio. PlayStation players should be excited that they might finally get to experience Halo and everything the iconic FPS franchise has to offer on their boxes. Yet at the same time, Microsoft's recent string of decisions has raised eyebrows and scared some long-time Xbox players about the fu??ture of their platform moving forward.

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Many video game c??haracters are present in our minds every day, due to our beloved memo??ries of playing their games or their iconic personalities. From Vault Boy's memorable smile to Mario's bright overalls, here are the most iconic video game characters, ranked.

10. Vault Boy

This could be recency bias, but Vault Boy is much more iconic than he used to be, partially thanks to the Amazon Fallout TV show. This?? figure is seen in the fictional propaganda from the United States government, before the universe's nuclear fallout occurred. He adorns all the tutorials for players in the game and has a smile that you can't forget.

He's on shirts, mugs, and there are many toys based on the character, including an odd rubber duck figure. Overall, his design works so well because he perfectly enca??psulates the cheesy? advertising we'd expect from the mid-20th century to an almost creepy extent.

9. Crash Bandicoot

WOAH! Crash Bandicoot is the first Pla??yStation mascot who truly took a stand to N??intendo's might. Calling out Nintendo outside their HQ with a speakerphone in an infamous ad campaign, this marsupial is an iconic character from the '90s.

The difficult, yet well-crafted level design in his PS1 trilogy of games made him stand out even more. His tongue-in-cheek attitude was more appealing to older fans who have moved on from Nintendo, and while he's less in the limelight nowadays, Crash Bandicoot's remake N'Sane Trilogy sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

8. Cloud Strife

He's dreamy. He's strong. But most of all, Final Fantasy 7's Cloud is iconic to many, especially those who grew up during the original PlayStation era. With his impressive Buster Sword, he is a mighty hero facing a devastating villain known as Sephiroth. He may be tough and quiet in the beginning, but as the story unveils itself, he becomes a relatable hero as he learns to open up more. The spiky yellow hair and green eyes also make him stand out among the rest, especially with his updated appearance in Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

7. Link

The Hero of Time is an iconic character w?ithin the gaming landscape. His green tunic, Hylian Shield, and of course the Master Sword are all distinct visual signifiers in their own right.

Link acts as our view into the world of The Legend of Zelda. And yes, he might not speak a single word, but Nintendo captures his ?personality through his yells and physical communication. The blonde hero solves tough puzzles with cool items, gadgets, masks, and more, and triumphs over ev??il in the end.

6. Lara Croft

While many scoff at BAFTA's list of most iconic video game characters for having Lara Croft in first place, she is still an important figure in the industry's history. She's arguably the most popular female protagonist in video games. The Tomb Raider games were critically acclaimed and sold millions. She was featured in many advertisements for Pepsi, Lucozade, and other brands; I vividly remember seeing them as a kid. She even had her own movies starring the popular Angelina Jolie, in a time video game adaptations weren't commo?n.

Lara Croft proved to many that a strong female protagonist can lead a successful video game franchise. It has sold over 95 million copies ??since her debut in the '90s. She and her dual pistols are iconic.

5. Pac-Man

Before there was Mario or Sonic, Pac-Man ruled through conquering arcades. His high-score-focused game took over the world. "Pac-Man sold 400,000 gaming cabinets to arcades around the world and made $3.5 billion in lifetime sales by 1990," according to Statista.

In a world before consoles, that's a huge number. While his presence isn't as well-known nowadays, you can still buy plenty of merchandise from stores like a Lego version of the cabinet, watch his Disney TV show, and of course, play the exciting World's Largest Pac-Man in modern arcades today. He even got a cameo spot as a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character.

4. Master Chief

Locked and loaded, Master Chief took over the gaming zeitgeist when Halo: Combat Evolved was released in 2001. This armored hero has been Xbox's figurehead for over two decades, leading one of the most popular sci-fi storylines in gaming. The green suit and visor is iconic, as millions of play?ers stepped into his boots for the campaign and took part in online multiplayer. He is a figurehead for the Xbox era of gaming, as we shifted more towards multi??player.

The Super Bowl Halo 3 trailer still stands as some of the best marketing a game has received with impressive visuals, and Master Chief right in the center of the action. He??'s a badass.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog

Going "faster, faster, faster" has always been riveting in the Sonic the Hedgehog games. Sonic's depicted as the "cool" mascot next to Nintendo's cheerful I??talian plumber. He spins on the floor, can dash through the air at breakneck speeds, and runs around the Green Hill Zone with no problem. He even wags his tail at the title screen and taps his foot if you leave the game idle.

Most of his games, especially the original tetralogy, have memorable stages, music, and boss battles that remain in our memories. He's even a popular movie character, making over $700 million at the box office with two films. A third Sonic film is on the way, with Keanu Reeves voicing Shadow. Sonic is likely to spindash on our consoles and mobile systems f?or many ??more decades to come.

2. Pikachu

The most adorable creature ever created, Pikachu, takes the second spot. Characterized heavily by the anime in popular culture, this Pokémon is b?eloved for its bright red cheeks, lightning (or heart)-shaped tail, and cute voice by the talented Ikue Ōtani. You just want to reach out to this el??ectrical mouse and pet its fur, hence why so much merchandise like plush has been released.

This particular creature is so popular that it has five of its own games: Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Let's Go: Pikachu, Detective Pikachu, Detective Pikachu Returns, and the infamous Hey You, Pikachu! The last game has you speak to the Pokémon through a microphone and interact ??with it on the Nintendo 64.

The electric mouse even starred in a movie, Detective Pikachu, with Ryan Reynolds lending his voice to the Pokémon. According to The Numbers, the film's box offic?e growth?? is over $425 million. It certainly caught us all.

1. Mario

Wahoo! Mario is the most iconic video game character, without a doubt. He helped bring back a love for video games after the crash in the '80s with thrilling platforming and ingenious marketing. He took the world by storm with one stellar game after another. When a new mainline Mario game is announced, ??it's a huge deal to the gaming community.

Nintendo was "p?laying with power," as the Italian plumber warmed everyone's hearts with his plucky attitude and smile. He has remained a cultural icon, from his style to his voice, performed by Charles Martinet. Th??e whimsical tone and funny Italian accent Martinet provided added so much to the role.

When Chris Pratt was announced as the voice of Mario for The Super Mario Bros. movie, almost everyone scoffed at the idea. However, the Illumination film was beloved by a wide audience around the world, breaking over $1.35 billion at the box office, according to The Numbers. Mario is simply iconic.

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The console wars were still raging when I was in high school, and while I was on team GameCube, a good friend of mine was on team Xbox. Maybe not firmly team Xbox, as he wasn’t as close-mi??nded as I was. He loved the short-lived Dreamcast and even managed to introduce me to some PS2 titles that stuck with me. However, his enthusiasm for Microsoft’s first foray into the console market has left me with a lasting affection towards the massive brick of hardware.

With just short of 1000 games, it had a larger library than Nintendo’s GameCube, but a much smaller one than the PS2. It sold an estimated 24 million, which gave it a small lead over the Gamecube’s estimated 22 mi?llion. Most importantly, it solidified Microsoft as a big player in the console market that endures to this day.

Today, I mostly know it as the era’s console with the best third-party ports. If a game was released on the three?? major consoles of the generation, you can bet that the best version was on Xbox. However, while that’s a terrific strength to have, the console’s beefy hardware attracted a large number of exclusive titles. Selecting from such a large pool was no easy task, and for all those that I name below, I’ve left out some other great titles.

13. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2X (2001)

Around 2000 was the height of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series�popularity. Activision was capitalizing on Neversoft’s golden goose, so the tendrils were being spread in all directions to every platform. 2001 was the same year that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was being released�on the PS2 and GameCube (and PS1) but the Xbox wouldn’t get it until the next year. Perhaps to keep early Xbox adopters hungry, they released the exclusive Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2X.

2X was a compilation of the first two games in the series with updated graphics. While you can tell it’s built on the bones of the PS1 classics, it managed to look pretty good. Better yet, it had all the levels of the first two games and allowed you to use the added arsenal of moves introduced in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in the first game. On top o??f that, there were additional levels.

The existence of 2X made 2012’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD all the more disappointing since that game didn’t have all the levels, nor did it have the music. 2020’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is a much better effort but still lacked 2X’s five exclusive levels. This means that 2X still stands out all these decades later.

12. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002)

I love The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind so much that the only reason it isn’t higher on the?? list is because ??the PC version is so much better. Nonetheless, fitting the game on the OG Xbox was a big task, and Bethesda did a great job.

Morrowind was where the lore of The Elder Scrolls series really got its depth. A lot of things that were introd??uced in previous games were defined in greater detail here. So much so, that later games in the series ha?ve continued to coast by on what was written here without adding all that much of their own.

It also has the best, most unconventional story in the series. You play as a nameless prisoner who was hand-selected by the Emperor to fit the description of a historical figure in Morrowind’s history. However, by following the prophecy, it becomes likely that you actually are that person, the resurrected Nerevar. It’s an alien and unconven??tional game that has you gaining loyalty from political groups?? and other factions as you try and defeat an existential threat to the world.

11. Out Run 2006: Coast 2 Coast (2006)

I love Sega’s 1986 classic Out Run so damned much. Seeing it move from its pseudo 3D raster driven graphics to polygonal 3D filled me with doubt. How could you possibly live up to the original wit??hout just turning it into another generic racing game?

As it turns out, you do it by not changing much at all. 2003’s Out Run 2 basically just used 3D graphics to depict the same basic gameplay as its 2D predecessor. You drive non-stop across a branching map, trying to reach the finish line before you can be defeated by the timer. Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast is an expanded version of that game, including a new map, new modes, and new everything else. It’s a terrific version of an already great ??game and one of the best driving titles on the system.

10. Godzilla: Save the Earth (2004)

Okay, I know a lot of people aren’t going to agree with me here, but I was a huge fan of Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee on GameCube. However, it was really easy to burn through every scrap of content in that game during a short rental period. Godzilla: Save the Earth is th??e sequel?? to that, only it brings with it more content, more kaiju, and more fun.

Yes, I’ll admit that it’s a dumb game about giant monsters throwing skyscrapers at each other, but just saying that out loud reminds me of how awesome that is. Godzilla has had it pretty rough when it comes to video games, but Pipeworks Studios did the license proud. It’s clear that their titles were Godzilla fans trying ?to make their dream game, and I happen to sh?are in that dream.

9. Jet Set Radio Future (2002)

The biggest win for Microsoft’s Xbox was probably the failure of Sega’s Dreamcast. While Sega went multiplatform after pulling out of the console market, they seemed to favor the Xbox, perhaps feeling soured from their rivalries with Nintendo and Sony. If the Dreamcast’s lifespan was cut short, its library lived on through the Xbox. Games like Crazy Taxi, Panzer Dragoon, and Shenmue all found their way to Microsoft’s console.

2002’s Jet Set Radio Future is a good example of this, being a sequel to 2000’s Jet Grind Radio. Well, technically, it’s not a sequel, instead existing in its own timeline. It could be called a do-over, as it carries over a similar plot, the same characters, and the same fast and addicting gameplay. The biggest difference is that Jet Set Radio Future has a ??more?? open structure and drops the time limit of the original.

It didn’t s??ell well, unfortunately, which might be why we haven’t received a sequel to this day. It hasn’t even been ported, meaning the only way to really play it today is on the original console. Playing it now gives a real “they don’t make ‘em like this anymore�vibe.

8. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell is a series about a grumbly man who sasses his way through terrorists. Or around terrorists, I guess. It’s a stealth game. Although the series was multi-platform, the PS2 and Gamecube always wound up with oddly stripped-down versions. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is th?e best the series ever got while potentially ??????????????????????????being the worst on the less powerful consoles.

While Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory largely stuck to the classic formula in single-player, it threw in a terrific co-op mode and an asymmetrical competitive mode when asymmetrical multi-player?? was still an extreme rarity. Both of these mult?i-player splinters were terrific, while the main campaign is the height of the series.

After things transitioned to the next generation, Splinter Cell kind of lost its way. Things became progressively more and more ridiculous, and for some people, that’s probably the way they prefer it. For me, on the other hand, I like my stealth shadowy and my narra??tives forgettable.

7. Breakdown (2004)

Breakdown feels like a celebration of the first-person perspective. It’s clear that the developers of Namco wanted to take the immersive and much-beloved camera angle and push it to its limits. You never left the protagonist’s eyeballs. When a friend of mine first told me about it in high school, he excitedly described the protagonist eating a hamburger, and while that sounds? ridiculous, it really is awesome.

Japanese first-person shooters are a bit of a rarity, even today. Breakdown feels like the perfect embodiment of what you get when you combine the genre with the inventiveness of Japanese games in the early-�0s.?? There’s a lot of jank, and the story is very bizarre, but its approach makes it stand out despite those issues. While first-person shooters were becoming progressively more interchangeable, its immersion-first approach keeps it feeling fresh.

6. Psychonauts (2005)

Psychonauts has far outlived the console it launched on, to the point where it’s difficult to remember that the Xbox was its primary platform. It did launch on PS2 and PC, but those almost seem like afterthoughts. Regardless, Psychonauts was something of a financial disappointment at a time when new IPs were struggling to be recognized. Despite that, word-of-mouth from its avid fanbase granted it a cult following. Over 15 years later, we’d finally get Psychonauts 2.

?The original is still worth playing however. Featuring surprisingly deep characters, an excellent soundtrack, and solid platforming. It’s packed with great and memorable moments that will drill into your grey matter and live there.

5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)

Personally, I played Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on PC, but it came out a few months earlier on Xbox. Since I missed out on a lot of CRPGs of the era, KotOR was a pretty enlightening experience for me. The companion system was engrossing, and the dark/light-side alignment was a??n interesting twist that made the experience very personal. Then, of course, there was HK-47, a robot so twisted and evil that I feel rather jealous.

It was followed up by Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords by Obsidian Entertainment, which had higher highs and lower lows. The absolute nadir of these lows was the fact that it was clearly unfinished. So while there’s lots of fun to be had through most of the game, and some of the twists that it pulls are extremely meaningful, the whole thing starts to vibrate harder and harder until the end, to the point where it essentially shakes itself apart. So for those reasons, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is here instead.

4. Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)

This is here mostly due to peer pressure. I’m not in love with the Halo games in general. Every year or so I’ll boot one up to play through, and reconfirm my apathy toward the series. However! I recognize its impact. I was around when it dropped, and it was the biggest, latest thing. It was such a huge success that it became one of the most oft?en imitated formulas, and for a good reason. Its combat was truly revolutionary, tying in a small degree of strategy as you identified priority targets and took them out with a r?ange of weapons.

My lack of enthusiasm for Halo today might be because the game?'s best features and story beats have been replicated to the point of becoming stale. That's not really the game's fault, though, and back in the day, it was a mainstay multiplayer title for my group of high school friends. We even got eight players together on two connected Xboxes for a few nights. ??Good times.

3. Ninja Gaiden Black (2005)

2004’s Ninja Gaiden is a title that I feel was significantly over-hyped at the time of release while simultaneously holding the opinion that it’s a fantastic game. An Xbox exclusive at the time, Tecmo and Microsoft pushed hard with marketing, and a lot of people around me ate it up. It was the Demon’s Souls of the time; it was so difficult that completing it m?eant you were just so skillful? and cool.

It was so built up as this transcendental experience that nothing could realisticall??y live up to the hype. And it didn’t. But I still love it.

It was followed up a year later with Ninja Gaiden Black, which compiled in the two DLC packs that were released for the original title, added missions, and rejiggered other parts of it. It was sort of a definitive edition, and that was only solidified when Ninja Gaiden Sigma was released on the PS3 and was considered to be a prettier version of the game, but otherwise flaccid in comparison. Even today, Ninja Gaiden Black is considered by many to be the best ??version of the stella??r title. I can't disagree.

2. Steel Battalion (2002)

“It’s not the game that matters, it’s the controller,�is something I don’t think anyone has ever said. However, in the case of Steel Battalion, that would probably be accurate. Steel Battalion is designed around a controller with 44 inputs. This includes three pedals, two joysticks, a dial, some toggles, and a whole lot of bu?ttons.

There is a game involved here, but I’m not sure how one is supposed to play it with such an assertively arousing controller. Steel Battalion itself is constructed around hardwa?re outside and in. A lot of effort has gone into making its mechs feel like steel coffins with an almost retro-futuristic, cyberpunk feel. There's enough depth to all the systems to necessitate a good read-through of ??its extensive manual.

However �and this is one thing you need to know going in �it is absolutely brutal. There’s an eject button on the controller, and it’s more than just for show. If your mech starts giving out on you, you’ll need to press that button to preserve your life. Going down with your tin can means Steel Battalion is going to erase your progress and force you to start over. Even if you do manage to eject, you’ll need to pay for that military hardware you let go up in flames, and if you don’t have the cash to cover it, Steel Battalion will blatantly tell you how much you suck and delete your save. Considering that it can be quite a feat?? to topple even the fourth level, that eject button will get a workout. At least you'll get your money's worth out of that controller.

1. Burnout 3: Takedown (2004)

If there’s one game that made me particularly jealous of Xbox gamers in the day, and one that I’m begging for a port or remaster of today, it’s Burnout 3: Takedown. I was a huge fan of the wreck-'em-up racers Burnout and Burnout 2 on GameCube. Then EA would get their green-stained hands on Criterion, and suddenly the GameCube got kicked to the curb. PS2 got it, but my little lunchbox was ignored. That sucks, because Burnout 3: Takedown is easily the best in the series.

It took everything that was good about the first two games (the crashes) and made them better. Suddenly, bumping and grinding felt more impactful, and the game was more? chaotic. You were not only rewarded for skill??ful driving, but aggressive combat. Somehow, Criterion was able to harness the chaos and create mechanical systems that enhance it. A world tour framework brought all the various modes together in one career. It is, to this day, one of my favorite racing games.

Burnout 3 would be followed up with Burnout Revenge on the platform. However, I feel like the “traffic checking�mechanic (allowing you to knock cars traveling in the same direction out of the way) cheapened the thrills of dodging through traffic. Burnout 3, on the other hand, is racing perfection.

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We see you, Halo. Season 2 of Paramount Plus' video game adaptation received its official trailer today and looks, dare I say, promising.

Earlier in December, Halo season 2 got a small teaser, which uses some of the shots in the trailer. Alongside the reveal was its release date, February 8th, and a YouTube release of the first season.

According to the YouTube description, in Halo season 2, "Master Chie?f John-117 leads his team of elite Spartans against the alien threat known as the Covenant. As humanity’s best hope for winning the war, John-117 discovers his deep connection to a mysterious alien struc?ture that holds the key to humankind’s salvation, or its destruction �the Halo."

Hello Halo, it's good to see you again

The trailer shows a lot of action, which was a hit with original audiences. Personally, it does look more like an adaptation of the games than the first season, which I briefly watched. I did spy someone using dual pistols, a famous game mechanic introduced in Halo 2. Of course, we do see En?ergy Swords, a boat-ton of them, in one shot. There are some promising shots in the trailer, which gets me kind of excited to see this new season.

Despite Halo receiving mixed reviews, the viewership was record-breaking for Paramount Plus, easily prompting a season two renewal. Controversially, the show’s first episode had Master Chief take his helmet off (and he takes off more than just that). He still looks to have his helmet off this time, but it's not as bothersome as ?before, personally.

Halo stars Pablo Schreiber (Narcos) as Master Chief/John-117 and Jen Taylor (Halo: Combat Evolved) as Cortana, whom we got to speak to before the first season's release. The supporting cast boasts the likes of Charlie Murphy (Happy Valley), Natascha McElhone (The Truman Show), and Bokeem Woodbine (Spider-Man: Homecoming), just to name a few. So, if you have time to kill, you can watch all the episodes free of charge via this playlist and finish the fight before February 8.

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Ready to return to the world of Halo? The second season of Paramount Plus' live-action adaptat?ion just released a first look at CCXP alongside a February 8 release date.

The news comes a day or two after the streaming service launched its flagship show's first season on YouTube. Unfortunately, the date was l??eaked via the descriptions for a bit, so it wasn't much of a sur?prise. However, we got our first teaser for the new season and it looks to be a ride for sure.

I Can See Your Halo, Halo

In the minute-and-a-half-??long trailer, we see a bunch of wide shots and some action, and the epic scale does feel a bit more on par with viewer expectations. It's just a first look, so we can expect a better picture when a full trailer comes around. For now, what we got looks, dare I say, more promising than the first.

Despite Halo receiving mixed reviews, the viewership was record-breaking for Paramount Plus, easily prompting a season two renewal. Well, that could be attributed to its looseness in the adaptation department. I mean, the show's first episode had Master Chief take his helmet off (and if you didn't last through that, he takes off more than just that). Personally, I hope the ??team takes into consideration the feedback from viewers and cr??????????????????????????afts a series worthy of its fanbase.

Halo stars Pablo Schreiber (Narcos) as Master Chief/John-117 and Jen Taylor (Halo: Combat Evolved) as Cortana, whom we got to speak to last year. The supporting cast boasts the likes of Charlie Murphy (Happy Valley), Natascha McElhone (The Truman Show), and Bokeem Woodbine (Spider-Man: Homecoming), just to name a few. So, if you have time to kill, you can watch all the episodes free of charge via this playlist and finish the fight before February 8.

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For those who enjoyed Paramount Plus' Halo series, you??'re in luck. You can watch all eight episodes of its first season for free on YouTube. Furthermore, the date for the next?? season might have leaked a bit early.

Yeah, you read that correctly. A supposed flagship title for the streaming service, the 2022 series based on Xbox's golden goose is now up on YouTube. There wasn't any official announcement as to why Halo is available.

However, in the description of the episodes, Paramount might have ??let the release date for Season 2 slip: February 8. The date was removed, but eagle-eyed vie?wers like myself found it before it was scrubbed.

Released last year, Halo is a military-action series that loosely adapts the games. I say that since the show, in its first episode, did the unthinkable: they made Master Chief take off his helmet. No?? other media entry has show?n John-117's face, so seeing who's underneath was shocking, to say the least.

It took the world by surprise, leading to record numbers for the service for the first episode. Though, a later episode had all of Master Chief's armor taken off for... adult purposes. While it was hit or miss with critics and fans, the show did well enough to be greenlit for a second season. And, as pre??viously mentioned, fans won't have to wait that long for its release.

Release the Chief

The timing for the date slip seems a bit convenient given The Game Awards being next week. The ceremony, while focused on games, has had its fair share of adaptation reveals and news. In years past, trailers and clips for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie came out. Heck, even the first trailer for the show was revealed at the event.

So it wouldn't be surprising to see Halo Season 2 get its trailer debut next Thursday. The show is expected to appear at this weekend?'s CCXP convention in Brazil, so we may get something there. However, the date won't be as big a surprise as they hoped. Still, if the show got a second season, it's clear the team has something special left to show.

The franchise has seen better days, to be frank. Halo Infinite wasn't as big as the team hoped, as delays and multiplayer troubles lessened the game's popularity and impact. It would be cool to see a resurgence of the series and video game adaptations have been great recently if their rival PlayStation's The Last of Us is anything to go by.

Halo stars Pablo Schreiber (Narcos) as Master Chief/John-117 and Jen Taylor (Halo: Combat Evolved) as Cortana, who we got to speak to last year. The supporting cast boasts the likes of Charlie Murphy (Happy Valley), Natascha McElhone (The Truman Show), and Bokeem Woodbine (Spider-Man: Homecoming), just to name a few. So, if you have time to kill, you can watch all the episodes free of charge via this playlist and finish the fight before February 8.

The post Halo Season 1 is free to stream on You??Tube ?right now appeared first on Destructoid.

343 just published a blog on the new flavor of the fan-favorite mode

I've experienced many joys throughout my life, but playing Halo in high school and making my own LAN cable is a top 10 moment. When Infection (humans vs. zombies) was introduced to the series, it came close. Now it's coming back in Halo Infinite, and the development team over at 343 Industries has given us a lot of info to chew on while we wait for its return.

What is Infection mode in Halo?

Introduced in Halo 2 and carried on throughout the series (well, until the launch of Infinite), Infection is a two-team?? mode that pits humans?? against a team of zombies. This quick summation from 343 does a great job of explaining why it was such a hit:

"Everyone starts on one side, as a survivor. Everyone but the single Alpha Infected, that is. If you get killed by the Alpha Infected, you switch sides and become an Infected. It boils down to this: can the survivors survive until the end of the round, as they get whittled down by the Infected? It leads to some awesome, last man standing ‘Get to the chopper�style moments.�/p>

It came out near the start of the zombie resurgence in the 2000s, and was a massive hit for the community. Its popularity never truly waned, and it remained a staple of Halo for over a decade.

How and why did it return?

343 notes that a lot of people on the development team "cut their teeth" on the mode as part of the community, and grew up to become Halo developers, so they knew what it meant to Halo fans as a whole. Beca?use of that, some membe?rs of the team made it a priority to

Curiously, there's a narrative? aspect at play with this new iteration of? Infection:

"In this iteration of Infection there’s a narrative reason why the Spartans are turning on ea??ch other. The Season 3 story left off with the Banished AI Iratus infiltrating the Spartan training simulation and exerting his will to take control. This will be re??flected in the appearance of Infected players, as well as new VO reflecting the altered reality."

Ha! I'm getting Mega Man X series Maverick flashbacks here. I really like the idea of leaning heavily into the return of Inf??ection from a lore standpoint, rather than dumping it on playlists and calling it a day. Mechanically things will be a bit different, as weapons spawn "on the bodies of dead Spartans around the map," which adds another layer to the moment-to-moment gameplay as you attempt to scavenge your fallen allies.

There will also be nine remixed maps that add little touches to the Infection theme, which include barricades and "new sections" (one example was adding new tunnels to Behemoth).

When does Infection come out for Halo Infinite?

Infection will release at the start of Season 4 on June 20.

Season 4 will also introdu??ce more maps, extra equipment, and a career rank system.

The post Here’s how Infection is returning in Halo Infinite appeared first on Destructoid.

No indication's been given on what's next for the former Halo head

Former Halo Infinite head of creative Joseph Staten is leaving Microsoft. The Halo series veteran is headed for a new adventure, both he an??d the company have confirmed.

The news broke via IGN, which reported that the former head of creative would be leaving Microsoft. A Microsoft spokesperson told IGN: "We’r??e grateful for Joseph’s contributions to the Halo franchise and Xbox as a whole. We wish him all the best in his new adventure??."

Staten took to social media to comment on the report. "Hey folks, I am indeed leaving Microsoft," Staten writes. "I'll have more info to share soon, but for now, I'd just like to thank all my [Xbox] colleagues for all their understanding and support as?? I embark on a new adventure."

//twitter.com/j?oestaten/status/1644501906126176257

Staten has worked on a considerable chunk of the Halo series. He worked as cinematic director for the first three Halo games, and also worked as lead writer for Destiny at Bungie.

He eventually returned to Microsoft as a senior creative director, eventually taking on a role with 343 Industries. Reports indicated that he had returned to the Xbox publishing side earlier this year, around the same time as major layoffs happened at Microsoft.

I don't know why you say goodbye, I say Halo

Staten's departure is a notable one for Microsoft, especially following other reports around 343 Industries. The future of the franchise can hopefully start to look up at some point, but right now, Halo's in a weird spot.

The rest of Xbox, meanwhile, is gearing up for the summer. A dual showcase, spotlighting both Xbox Games Studios and a Direct specifically for Starfield, is scheduled for June 11. It will be interesting to see? what Xbox has planned for the months ahead.

The post Halo veteran Joseph Staten is leaving Microsoft appeared first on Destructoid.

Halo head of live performance says the team is going to be more consistent

A big new update for Halo Infinite is out today as Season 3: Echoes Within is now live. The latest Season for Halo has maps??, a new mode, a new weapon and pie??ce of equipment, and of course, a new seasonal pass.

First off for Season 3: Echoes Within in Halo Infinite is the new map drop. Two new arena maps, Chasm and Cliffhanger, have been added to the pool. Cliffhanger has a cross-map man cannon, letting you live your most daring lives as a multiplayer Spartan, while Chasm is a smaller space with lots of Forerunner archi??tecture.

Over on the Big Team Battle front is a third new map, dubbed Oasis. In an interview on the Xbox Wire, Halo Infinite head of live performance Sean Baron draws a comparison to Halo 3's Standoff. It's a big map with lanes for vehicle combat, but also indoor?? space.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3K-SCCkWBQ

That escalated quickly

Halo Infinite also gets its version of the classic "gun game" mode, dubbed Escalation Slayer. Everyone starts with the SPNKR a??nd ends with the Oddball, but in-between, there ar??e 11 total levels of weapons to work through. Whichever team gets the Oddball kill wins. Additionally, the secondary and equipment options change up every time.

On the equipment side, Spartans can use the Shroud Screen, a new piece of equipment that's like a space-age smoke bomb. And then there's the M392 Bandit Rifle, a new semi-automatic kinetic weapon. Baron says the team wanted to create something akin to Halo 5's Magnum, in terms of timing and damage.

A new Battle Pass and two new Armor Cores are live as well, so there's more content to complete. It does seem like those sticking with Halo Infinite should find s??om??e new goals to chase here, including two free narrative events.

//twitter.com/Halo/status/1633196212907302914

Consistency

The update cadence for Halo Infinite has been somewhat staggered, as 343 Industries has responded to both shifts in development priorities and personnel shake-ups. With that in mind, the Xbox Wire ??interview with Baron closes on a note looking forward, specific??ally in regards to what he calls "seasonality," or consistency.

"To me, seasonality is really about consistency �we need to be consistent in everything," Baron said. "I feel ver?y confident with where we’ve gone with Season 3, and I have very strong confidence that we’re going to be able to keep improving that consistency, and avoid, completely, the long seasons of the past. We’re going to be more consistent. We’re going to continue to evolve the game in close partnership with our players. We’re focused on shipping Season 3 and then, as Chief said, we’re ‘[r]eady to get back to work.'"

With recent reports of Halo Infinite development shifting gears again, I'm interested to see what this consistency looks like. Despite the rocky road, I still boot Infinite up every once in a b??lue? moon for some BTB or SWAT, and those multiplayer nights have me hopeful 343 can turn the conversation around.

The post Halo Infinit??e Season 3 is live now, with?? new maps and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Halo studio reportedly heavily affected by Microsoft layoffs

Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries looks set to stay working on the Halo franchise. But a new report details some big internal shifts at the company, including layoffs and a change in engine. All the while, the studio seems to not be actively working on any new story content for Infinite itself.

Bloomberg reports that 343 Industries will continue to work on Halo. This is in line with a statement from studio head Pierre Hintze, which said 343 will develop Halo now and in the future.

But while the franchise is staying with the studio, Bloomberg's article suggests that at least 95 people at 343 Industries lost their jobs as part of the recent Microsoft layoffs. This list, according to a spreadsheet seen by the outlet?, contained names of staff veterans and contract??ors alike.

Internally, Bloomberg reports that the head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty assured 343 that, even as it works with partners and outsourcing houses, the studio will stay in charge. But shifts seem to be on the way for Halo, too, as the repo??rt suggests that 343 made the decision to pivot away from its Slipspace engine and towards Unreal Engine last year, after Hintze took over.

The engine switch will reportedly take hold with a game code named Tatanka, in development with Certain Affinity. This project apparently started as a battle royale but may evolve elsewhere, according to Bloomberg's sources. 343 is also apparently not actively working on new story co??ntent.

The future of Halo

343 Industries was already reported to be ?among those Xbox studios affected by the Microsoft layoffs, alongside Bethesda and The Coalition, but seeing an actual number puts the situatio?n in stark relief.

A switch to Unreal, as Bloomberg's report indicates, raises hopes that development will be easier on future projects. Still, with several major shifts all happening, 343 Industries sounds like it's starting back from square one. For Halo fans, hopefully, the studio rallies from it.

The post 343 Industries reportedly isn’t working on more story content for Halo Infinite appeared first on Destructoid.

A few ideas for the video game fan on your list.

I have a confession to make. I love buying gifts for people. Birthdays, Secret Santa, weddings, you name it, I look forward to the challenge! And the reason is that I us??ed to be an absolutely terrible gift giver. I once gave a grown man a box of tea bags and a USB bracelet that ended up being too small to fit around his wrist.

I'm still embarrassed by these gifts??, but I've learned my lesson. I've been on my gift??-giving game ever since. Now I'm here to help you! You're already moving in the right direction by pinpointing a favorite hobby. Here are 10 gift ideas to get you thinking about the gamer in your life.

1. Gaming Chairs

Gaming can be very hard on the back if you have the wrong ??chair. Sitting in one position for hours hurts, but gaming chairs are made with this in mind. Many of them come with lumbar support and neck pillows to get the proper spinal curve. Also, they can be adjusted to get the best angle on the screen. There are plenty of chairs to choose from, and the price range is just as varied.

Secretlab chairs are high quality and the price reflects it. They have great reviews, a few options that take height and weight into consideration, and there are opportunities for designs beyond just black or gray. You can also find chairs with great reviews for half the price though. For example, this Nokaxus gaming chair has great reviews and would be a b?ig?? improvement over a typical swivel chair.

2. Backbone

The Backbone is a great gift for the multi-tasking gamer. While it isn't a console itself, it enables your phone to become your on-the-go gaming device. The Backbone uses your p??hone's power instead of batter??ies, and it doesn't store any games. Instead, players access their cloud library on Steam, PlayStation, or Game Pass to pick up where they left off.

Because you need strong service for uninterrupted gaming, it may not be the best for the daily commute. But when you need to walk away from your console or computer, it's a great way to get back in the game. You can read Destructoid's Backbone tech review for more information on this nifty device!

3. Beyond the Console

While the person on your list may have all of the games and consoles they need, helping th??em invest in quality gaming peripherals can be a fantastic gift. Gaming peripherals are things like headsets, keyboards, and mousepads. In this case, you really do?? get what you pay for. So even if your gamer already has a mouse and keyboard, they may not have the good stuff.

The Logitech MX Master 3S mouse is ergonomically built, fast, ?precise, and easily connected to multiple devices. It also has a reputation for lasting a long time. Mouse speed and precision are really important wh??ile PC gaming, so a good mouse is well appreciated.

Similarly, the keyboard can get worn out quickly with key combos and hours and hours of use. There are a ton of choices for gaming keyboards, but it will all depend on your budget. The Razer Turret wireless keyboard and mouse combo is pretty cool with the retractable, magnetic mouse pad, but you can also try out the Razer Huntsman V2 Optical keyboard. Just read reviews and look specifically for gaming keyboards. They are usually built to be quieter and more resistant to b?eing worn out.

4. Steam Deck

On the higher end of gaming gifts, the Steam Deck is a very generous gift. The handheld console just became readily available to purchase in 2022, but the reviews have been positive. Having a Steam Deck is like having a Nintendo Switch, but bigger and with pretty much your entire Steam library on the go. There are three price tiers based on storage space, with the cheapest being $39?9 at the time of writing. It's great for gamers with hectic schedules.

5. Games (But the easy way)

If you know what games are on your friend or family member's wishlist, then buying a $60 game makes sense. But instead of taking a gamble, buy the gift of games the easy way: gift cards. Steam frequently has huge sales on games. Instead of buying a specific title that your recipient may already have, the Steam gift card can be saved to take advantage of sales, dumping a bunch of games into the cart for great prices. You can find physical cards at Best B??uy, Target, and more, but you can also purchase digital gift cards to send directly through Steam.

A Game Pass subscription is another great way to gift multiple games. Game Pass is a cloud-based subscription service for Xbox console and PC gamers. You can buy a Game Pass gift car??d from places like Best Buy, Target, and GameStop for a certain number of months. During that time, players will have unlimited access to the game catalog and even opportunities to play new games the day they are released.

6. LEGO

LEGO is not just for kids. It's more popular than ever, and there's really a lot to choose from. Video game characters, like Pikachu, are fun for any age. This Bowser LEGO set is perfect for Super Mario fans. There are even LEGO sets that aren't based on any particular characters, but just the act of gaming. This Nintendo Entertainment System Building Kit is perfect for those lifelong gamers looking to be a little nostalgic. It's hard to go wrong here because, if nothing else, it's ju??st a fun activity.

7. Christmas Sweaters

The "ugly" Christmas sweater has co??me roaring back, but it really isn't ugly anymore. Holiday sweaters have now become a way to be funny or showcase your nerdy interests at Christmas parties. So t?reat your favorite gaming nerd to a cool sweater that they can wear every December!

This Halo-themed sweater is the perfect amount of too much. It says "Happy Halo-days," and boy, do I  love a good pun. On the other hand, this Skyrim sweater from Jamestees is so?? pretty, I would probably wea?r it all winter.

8. Cookbooks

For gamers with an interest in cooking, entertainment cookbooks are a fun gift idea. The recipes are usually accompanied by stunning pictures of all the food you may or may not end up making. The dishes will usually tie into the game in some way, so some of them can be pretty funny. For example, the Fallout Cookbook will guide you through "radiation-free" deviled eggs and the "Desert Salad" from Fallout: Las Vegas.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the God of War Cookbook. This collection of recipes and game art is as serious and detailed as the game. The recipes are d?ivided by the nine realms with a bonus "in-between realm" for various spice mixtures. Even if you never end up making any of it, it's still lovely to look at.

9. Artwork and Artbooks

In the same theme of choosing aesthetic over utilitarian gifts, artwork and art books are fantastic. Try to find out what games they like the aesthetic for the most and then searching on sites like Etsy or Redbubble. These two sites in particular usually have nice wall art pieces.  For example, these Elden Ring canvas pieces on Etsy would look really nice above the couch.

In a similar vein are art books. These tomes are generally full of beautiful illustrations and behind the scenes info. They make beautiful additions to bookshelves or make a great coffee table book. You can find an art book for most popular games online and at bookstores. The Final Fantasy Ultimate Archive has multiple volumes. And The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Creating a Champio??n has hundreds of pages of designs, interviews, historical info, and even sketches from?? Takumi Wada!

10. Around the House

Subtly adding video game references to your everyday life is so satisfying. I love making adulting nerdy. When you start going down the internet rabbit hole, you will start seeing little things that are useful around the house but 100% gamer-approved. Like this Zelda key holder on Etsy carved out of wood! You can attach your keys to the rings and not only have a place to store your keys but al?so have a cute keychain when you're on the go.

Coffee mugs and bar glasses are another solid way to bring the games to daily life. It's also really easy to find video game-themed mugs and glasses. Etsy will have some of the more unique items, like this hefty Witcher medallion mug. But you can? find plenty of cheaper options online or in stores like Target.

Of course, these suggestions here are just that. Suggestions. So use them as a jumping-off point or as a quick grab guide. But whatever you end up giving, it's always the thought that counts. If you pay attention to the people you love and make a personal link between them and the gifts, odds are you will make ??them happy this holiday s??eason.

Related: The 15 best gifts for Dungeons & Dragons fans on The Mary Sue

The post 10 great gifts for every gamer this h??oliday season appeared first on Destructoid.

Browse custom games like it's the early aughts

The Halo Infinite December update is out now, and 343 Industries has added quite a bit. Alongside some shifts to cosmetics and the return of a map, Halo Infinite now also has a custom game browser.

The latest update allows players to flip through available custom games, looking for one they might want to hop into and play. The Halo Infinite browser has filters f??or different options, including the base map and mode being used.

And as the trailer advertises, there are already some solid custom game creations out?? there. They range from recreations to some pretty neat ideas like Paintball, and the browser should hopefully make them easier to find.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTjL_AMaWns

Falling back into The Pit

Some other additions arrive in the December Update, too. All armor cores and cadet coatings are now free. And Halo 3's The Pit returns as Empyrean, which is less fun as a name in my opini??on, but still looks like the same ol' Pit I've played plenty of matches on.

The custom game browser is really the major addition here though, as it really builds out the Forge component of Halo Infinite. Forge hit beta in November, and now discove?rability for those mode??s is that much easier.

I frequently get very nostalgic about the days of custom game browsing. Whether it was Halo or something like Warcraft, the server browser was a place where I discovered a ?lot of cool, fun, inventive ways ?to reimagine a game I enjoy.

Hopefully, this custom game browser gives Halo Infinite a good boost headed into the new year. With the Forge filling out and network campaign co-op finally in, Halo Infinite ma?y start to look mor?e like some fans hoped it would.

The post ??Halo ??Infinite December Update adds a custom game browser and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Network campaign co-op and campaign mission replays are among what's added

I enjoyed Halo Infinite at launch, but there was a lot that was promised that needed to eventually make it in. It seems as if this November update is going to make due on a lot of prior delays.

Here are the main sticking points of the Halo Infinite 2022 November Patch:

• Network campaign co-op (four player co-op in the campaign)
• Campaign mission replay (this seems like a launch type feature, but it's here now)
• More campaign achievements (420 additional Gamerscore)
• Forge mode (in beta form)
• Season pass progression updates (more of a focus on match XP)
• A 30-tier winter battle pass is live

Studio 343 explains that you can play the "entire Halo Infinite campaign together" with up to four players in total, so it doesn't seem like a half-measure. As for the Forge, 343 stresses that it's in beta form: "Halo Infinite Forge mode is currently in a beta sta??te, meaning that additional improvements are planned. The Forge Beta will support canvas maps and not developer-made maps (such as Live Fire, Recharge??, Fragmentation, etc.). Support for developer-made maps will be implemented in a future update."

Weirdly, 343 still hasn't figured out battle pa?ss progression yet, and will be implementing a "match XP beta" (what?) on top of the challenge system.

Here's a brief look at the changes to Halo Infinite's XP progression system:

• Arena Match Complete: 150 XP
• Big Team Battle (BTB) Match Complete: 250 XP
• Featured Match Complete: 200 XP
• Winning Team: 50 XP
• Match MVP: 50 XP
• Top 50% of Team: 50 XP
• Free-For-All placement
  • 1st: 150 XP
  • 2nd: 100 XP
  • 3rd: 50 XP
  • 4th: 50 XP
  • 5th: 50 XP

If you can believe it, progression systems in live service games that have been in op?eration for nearly a year need betas.

The post Massive? Halo Infinite update adds more achievements and much-delayed mo??des appeared first on Destructoid.

Hot Spartan Summer... Fall

Sensational rap artist Megan Thee Stallion seems to be on a one-woman mission to twerk her way to pop culture infamy �Not content with getting all the knuckle-draggers angry via her recent appearance on Marvel's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the Texan lyric spitter is now cutting a rug with, of all the people, Halo's legendary spartan warrior, Master Chief.

The bizarre but energizing confrontation took place at TwitchCo??n this past weekend, where Ms. Thee Stallion was performing an on-stage set for a rabid crowd of fans and attendees. It was a typic??al flashy and energetic appearance from the artist, but things took a turn for both the bizarre and the fantastic when Megan was joined by the Halo protagonist, who promptly bust out some fuckin' moves in full Spartan armor, moving with all the fluidity of my broke-ass knees on the dance floor.

You can check out the fun moment in the video below, courtesy of Twitch partner GamesCage.

??�The video contains flashing images and naughty ??words �/strong>