343 Industries has been largely quiet since the release of Halo Wars 2 earlier this year. With this year being the 10^th anniversary of Halo 3, fans have been wondering what if anything is to be done to celebrate. In a recent news update, 343 Industries has confirmed that there are plenty of summer events on the way to celebrate as well as a smattering of other tidbits.

The post is broken up into multiple sections, each of which goes over something Halo-related that is coming up. Starting with the section about the series on Xbox One X, it has been announced that a 4K update is coming to Halo 5: Guardians. Already an impressive-looking game on the base Xbox One, the post ensures that the update will be “true 4K” as opposed to upscaling.

The next big announcement is that a bunch of old titles in the series are set to be added to the Xbox One’s backward compatibility lineup. Combat Evolved Anniversary, 3, ODST, and 4 are all part of this list, allowing gamers who still own the titles on their 360s to play them on Xbox One. This also allows players to do so without having to buy The Master Chief Collection. Who wants to spend more money on games they already own, right? Halo 2 wasn’t included in the list since it is an original Xbox game, backwards compatibility isn’t yet available for original Xbox content.

Halo Wars 2 got some more coverage during this blog post. 343 Industries briefly summarized of all the game’s updates until now and the announcement of the “Awakening the Nightmare” expansion for Halo Wars 2. The post confirms that this expansion adds new campaign content from the perspective of the Banished, and brings back the fan-favorite Flood. Two new playable leaders are set to be added, as well as the new “Terminus Firefight” game mode. The expansion should be releasing later this fall for $19.99 USD.

There is a section on upcoming events that the 343 team will be attending. This includes RTX Austin 2017, HCS Summer Finals, China Joy, and Gamescom. In each section, the post goes into detail about the events and what fans can expect from the studio there. This includes early access to the Halo Wars 2 expansion, sports opportunities and prize pools, continued announcements, etc. There’s also a section afterward that goes into detail about various other Halo goodies such as new tie-in comics and books as well as figures, models, and various artworks.

Finally, there is a section on Halo 5’s future specifically. It mostly discusses matchmaking updates, but the biggest bit of information is plans for Halo 3’s anniversary. Even though they’ve already confirmed that 3 won’t be getting the Anniversary remaster treatment, they double down on it here. Instead, there’ll be a bunch of throwback multiplayer game modes, maps, etc. put into a playlist by the developers. Some of this content will be originally made by the team but it is confirmed that a lot of it comes from the community through Forge mode.

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Noah Zuckerman

I spend most of my days working towards my Writing and Rhetoric degree at the University of Central Florida, but I spend a lot of my down time keeping up to date on the best TV, movies, and video games the industry has to offer. Here I put all of that extended time to use discussing each of them in-depth.

Gaming

Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.46 introduces an exciting addition to the roster of exclusive cars available in the PS5 and PS4 racing game

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Zach Riley

Gran Turismo 7 has just received an exciting update to version 1.46 on both PS5 and PS4. This latest update introduces a unique addition to the game: the Škoda Vision Gran Turismo, a car that you won’t come across in any other game. Škoda makes its debut in the franchise with a visionary study of a single-seater, all-electric racing concept car, designed exclusively for the Polyphony Digital racer.

Once you’ve downloaded update 1.46, you’ll have the opportunity to test drive not one but two additional cars: the AFEELA Prototype 2024 and the iconic Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Sport Coupe ’70. Get ready for an exhilarating ride! Watch as they take to the track in the video above.

Additionally, the update introduces a new menu for players to tackle in the GT Café. At Collector Level 38, players have the opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of Ferrari 12-cylinder engines, gaining knowledge and expanding their collection. In World Circuits, players can look forward to exciting new events such as the Japanese Clubman Cup 550, the American FR Challenge 550, and the Vision Gran Turismo Trophy. For all the avid fans of Photo Mode, there’s an exciting opportunity to explore the captivating city of San Diego in a brand new Scape.

What are your thoughts on the latest update for Gran Turismo 7? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.

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Gaming

ReFantazio Takes a Different Approach to Romance, Setting Itself Apart from the Persona Games

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Zach Riley

Atlus’ highly anticipated RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, appears to incorporate familiar systems reminiscent of the developer’s acclaimed Persona series. The game features turn-based battles that heavily rely on exploiting enemy weaknesses. Additionally, players have the ability to summon warrior spirits during combat. However, the most significant aspect of this game, which will be discussed in this article, is the bonding system. Through this system, players can spend time with important characters and gain deeper insights into their personalities and stories.

In contrast to the Persona games, the bonding system ends at that point. Unfortunately, players will be unable to pursue romantic relationships with their beloved waifus, which may come as a disappointment to those who have developed strong feelings for Hulkenberg, the party’s charismatic red-haired elven knight.

According to Siliconera, the absence of romance came up during a recent question and answer session. Atlus emphasized the continued opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with your allies while also introducing additional narratives through substories. In addition, familiarizing yourself with the supporting characters will grant you access to new archetypes, which serve as the game’s character classes.

In the Persona games, romance is not obligatory; rather, it serves as a means to customize your playthrough. However, it is quite unexpected that Metaphor has chosen not to pursue such a venture, considering the significant amount of discussion it typically generates!

Were you anticipating any romantic elements in Metaphor? If you’re not satisfied with your pre-order, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Gaming

Shift Up unveils the intriguing details behind the physical packaging of Stellar Blade for the PS5

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

Zach Riley

It appears that many

are eagerly anticipating the launch of the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade. Shift Up, the developer, has shared a lengthy video showcasing the “secrets” found in the physical box of the game for PS5. From what we can gather, these secrets include a reversible cover/dust jacket and a download code for cosmetic items.

We must clarify that while we do appreciate the variant cover, it may be more appealing than the game’s standard art. However, it is not something we would typically classify as a “secret.”. However, what’s interesting is that Shift Up has confirmed through the comments section that this will be the case in all regions. Additionally, the visually striking action RPG will remain uncensored worldwide.

「Stellar Blade」 Physical Package Secrets⚠️#StellarBlade #PS5 #Disc pic.twitter.com/WQSzKUSDQ4

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) April 22, 2024

It’s refreshing to witness a developer going the extra mile for physical collectors, and it’s evident that the developer is determined to leave a favorable mark in the console realm. Stellar Blade is set to make its highly anticipated debut this Friday, April 26th, exclusively on the PS5.

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