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Xbox News: Halo Returning To PC, Minecraft For Game Pass, And All The Other Reveals
Microsoft held its latest Inside Xbox video broadcast today, and it was packed with news. In the space of just an hour, Microsoft made a series of big-time announcements, including Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming PC and adding Halo: Reach, the next big Xbox Game Pass game, a new Xbox One controller design/color, and more.
We’ve rounded up all the big news in once place here to give you a quick look at all the big news announced during the Inside Xbox briefing. While the broadcast had a lot of big news, it didn’t confirm the rumoured disc-free Xbox One or the rumoured launch of Xbox Game Pass for PC. Looks like we’ll have to wait to learn more about those topics.
With that out of the way, here is a rundown of all the big news from Microsoft’s Inside Xbox stream:
Halo: The Master Chief Collection For PC
Confirming earlier rumours and reports, Microsoft officially confirmed that Halo: The Master Chief Collection is coming to PC. It’ll launch later this year on Steam and the Microsoft Store, and the release structure is anything but traditional. Microsoft is releasing each title within the package individually for download and purchase, beginning with Halo: Reach. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed pricing yet, but the entire package on Xbox One sells for $30, so somewhere in that are seems likely for PC. For more, check out these stories:
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection Is Coming To PC, Each Game To Be Sold Separately Within The Package
Bringing Halo: MCC To PC Is A “Monumental Undertaking,” So Microsoft Is Getting Help
Halo: Reach Coming To Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Responding to fans’ requests, Microsoft announced that Bungie’s 2010 game Halo: Reach, will join The Master Chief Collection at some point down the road. It’ll be available on Xbox One and the newly announced PC edition. This includes the campaign and multiplayer elements, including Forge and Theatre, along with the fan-favourite Firefight mode. On Xbox One, the multiplayer (including Forge and Theatre) is free, while Microsoft will charge for the campaign and Firefight mode–pricing has yet to be divulged. Xbox Game Pass members, however, will seemingly get the entire package at no extra cost. It’s less clear how it’ll all work on PC, but campaign, multiplayer, and Firefight are coming. Take a look at the story linked below to find out everything we know so far.
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection Adding Halo: Reach, Including Firefight Mode
- How Halo: Reach Will Be Added To Halo: MCC And What It Costs
A New Xbox One Controller
The Phantom White Special Edition controller was announced during the Inside Xbox briefing. The $70 USD controller goes on sale in April worldwide. Its described as blending “luxury and sci-fi,” whatever that means. You can see it close up in the story linked below.
Minecraft For Xbox Game Pass
One of the biggest games on Earth, Minecraft, is coming to the Xbox Game Pass library on April 4. That’s big news in its own right, as it expands the already-massive sandbox game’s reach further still. It also becomes just the latest family-friendly title in the catalog.
A New Look At Project xCloud
One of the other big reveals during the Inside Xbox stream was a new look at Microsoft’s ambitious game-streaming technology, Project xCloud. The game lets you stream titles directly to a device connected to the internet, which allows you to play high-end games on a low-spec device because the heavy lifting is happening in the cloud. Forza Horizon 4 was shown running on an Android-based phone connected wirelessly to an Xbox One controller. Microsoft also confirmed that public trials for xCloud–or whatever official name Microsoft decides to give the platform–will begin later this year.
- Xbox Shows Project xCloud In Action, Playing Forza Horizon 4 On A Phone
- Cloud Gaming Is The Next Big Thing; Here’s All You Need To Know
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-news-halo-returning-to-pc-minecraft-for-game-/1100-6465544/
Former EA, Assassin’s Creed Boss Joins Google Ahead Of Big Gaming Reveal
Video game industry veteran Jade Raymond, who produced the original Assassin’s Creed before joining EA where she worked on Star Wars, has landed a new job at Google.
Raymond announced on Twitter today that she’s working at Google as a vice president. That’s all she had to say on the matter, so it’s unclear exactly what she’s doing at Google.
Google operates a gaming business with its Project Stream technology that is set to be formally unveiled next during the Game Developers Conference. Raymond would be at least Google’s second high-profile gaming hire, following former PlayStation and Xbox boss Phil Harrison who joined Google as a VP in January 2018.
I’m excited to finally be able to share that I have joined Google as VP!
— Jade Raymond (@ibjade) March 12, 2019
In her most recent position at EA, Raymond served as senior vice president group general manager of Motive Studios. In that role, Raymond was responsible for leading a new business unit and studio team centered on making new IP and action games. She was also responsible for leading the strategy around EA’s new Star Wars games. She left EA in October 2018.
Many video game industry higher-ups congratulated Raymond on her move to Google. Xbox boss Shannon Loftis said Google is lucky to have Raymond, while Capybara Games boss Nathan Vella enthuses, “Congrats, this is rad.”
As for Google’s GDC event, the company plans to unveil its “vision for the future of gaming”–and it could be related to streaming. In 2018, Google partnered with Ubisoft last year to test its Project Stream technology that made Assassin’s Creed Odyssey playable straight through a Google Chrome browser.
For more on cloud gaming, check out GameSpot’s primer that explains what cloud gaming is all about and how it could shake up the industry.
In other news, recent rumors have circulated regarding Google’s so-called “Project Yeti,” which is said to be its own take on the home console. It would focus on streaming, and may even have its own exclusive games, but the price and details are unknown.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-ea-assassins-creed-boss-joins-google-ahead-/1100-6465543/
Bringing Halo: MCC To PC Is A “Monumental Undertaking,” So Microsoft Is Getting Help
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is coming to PC, and Microsoft is getting help from a pair of external studios to bring the collection to Steam and the Microsoft Store. In a blog post, developer 343 Industries said bringing Halo: MCC to PC is a “monumental undertaking,” and to get help, it’s hired Ruffian Games and Splash Damage.
Another factor at play here is that the “bulk” of 343 developers are now working on Halo Infinite, so the team is turning to outside studios to spread the development load.
“Bringing all these classic games together and integrating the huge matrix of features and experiences PC gamers and Halo fans deserve and expect is a monumental undertaking,” 343 said. “It’s no secret that the bulk of the team of 343 Industries is hard at work realizing the future of the franchise with Halo Infinite so the same amazing Publishing Team who diligently brought all the recent improvements and updates to MCC over the last year has invited a few friends to help us achieve victory. The experienced and passionate folks at Splash Damage and Ruffian are partnering with us to help make this dream a reality.”
Splash Damage CEO Richard Jolly said in a statement that it is a “tremendous honor” to work on Halo. He noted that Splash Damage has been making multiplayer games for nearly two decades; some of its recent projects include the multiplayer elements of Batman: Arkham Origins and Microsoft’s own Gears of War 4.
As for Ruffian Games, the studio made Crackdown 3‘s Wrecking Zone multiplayer mode, so it, too, already had an established relationship with Microsoft. “We love Halo and are mindblown to help bring this franchise back to PC,” reads a statement from Ruffian Games. “343 has assembled an amazing team who’re working hard to build the Halo PC experience fans deserve. It’s a privilege to be along for the ride.”
Halo: MCC is coming to PC in a unique way. Microsoft is releasing each game individually, as a separate download and purchase, beginning with Halo: Reach and continuing chronologically through Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo 4. Halo 1 and 2 are the new, remastered Anniversary editions.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bringing-halo-mcc-to-pc-is-a-monumental-undertakin/1100-6465542/
