SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " halo " 225 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Halo: Campaign Evolved, Beast of Reincarnation, and More
Suit up Spartans, it’s time to jump into Halo: Campaign Evolved (plus a whole bunch of other games). We’ve got more coming into Premium, some Day One with XBOX Game Pass games, and more. Let’s get to it!
Xbox Champions Exclusives As It Explains Confusing Reversal
Why is Halo coming to PS5 but Gears of War: E-Day isn't?
So, Are You Getting The Premium Upgrade For Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Launch is just a few days away!
Inside the Art of Campaign Evolved
To learn more about the art of Halo: Campaign Evolved, we sat down with Halo Studios Art Director Chris Matthews and Donnie Taylor, Halo: Campaign Evolved Art Director, to talk shop!
Halo: Campaign Evolved’s New Missions Have Me Obsessing Over the Series’ Ambitious, Troubled Expanded Universe All Over Again
Halo: Campaign Evolved's new Operation METEORITE missions could be a gateway to the series' ambitious expanded universe.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Skulls confirmed for LASO Xbox achievement
Halo Studios has now confirmed exactly which of the 42 Skulls in Halo: Campaign Evovled are needed to unlock the game's LASO achievement.
"I was verbally blasted by Pierre." Xbox and Halo Studios' Pierre Hintze has reportedly 'repeatedly' been referred to HR. Is he the right person to lead Halo?
Xbox has a new CEO, Asha Sharma, and one of her stated goals is to boost the Halo franchise. Is Pierre Hintze the right person for the job?
Pierre Hintze Berated Halo Teams and Dismissed Work-Life Concerns, Sources Claim, as Xbox Leadership Stayed Silent
Sources allege Halo Studios head Pierre Hintze berated teams and dismissed work-life concerns, and HR failed to address complaints.
Halo Studios Head Accused Of Abuse And Mismanagement
Halo Studios head Pierre Hintze is accused of verbally abusing employees and rampant mismanagement, having been reported to HR numerous times.
Worried about status bar clutter with Android Halo? Google may let you clean it up
Google is working on new Android status bar settings to let users hide the upcoming Android Halo icon and the mute indicator.
The Reality Of Xbox’s Plans For ‘Fallout,’ ‘Elder Scrolls,’ ‘Halo’ And More
Xbox will get a new Fallout game earlier than expected, but for this and other series, the reality of the future remains somewhat stark.
"Red monsters" in space: why these ancient galaxies shatter scientists’ beliefs - Futura-Sciences
The Puzzle of Early Galactic Giants In the standard picture of galaxy formation, large halos of dark matter form first. Their gravity pulls in ordinary matter, mostly gas, which can then cool, collapse, and form stars. But this process is not supposed to be perfectly efficient. Star formation is usually...
YouTuber turns $4000 AMD Ryzen AI Halo into the SteamOS gaming system
ETA Prime installed SteamOS on a 128GB Ryzen AI Max+ 395 workstation. It beat Valve’s Steam Machine by up to 50%, but the tested system costs $3,999.
Microsoft is reportedly considering making more of its first-party games exclusive to Xbox
Microsoft is reportedly planning to lean even harder on locking certain games to Xbox as exclusives.
Former Xbox Lead Wanted A Real Money Auction House In Halo 4
According to Dan Callan, former Xbox lead Don Mattrick wanted a real-money auction house added to Halo 4
AMD Ryzen AI Halo First Look: Giant Local AI Power in a Pint-Sized Box
I’ve received one of AMD’s first official AI developer boxes for testing, and it’s an impressive piece of AI hardware with a super-simple setup.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma wants the company to "entertain more than a billion people" every day: here's why that's a deeply unrealistic thing to say
The company will have to do so with four less studios under its belt.
Ryzen AI Developer Platform: AMD's Own Linux Distribution Built Atop Debian
With the AMD Ryzen AI Halo developer platform there is the option of ordering this Ryzen AI Max+ mini PC with either Microsoft Windows 11 or 'Linux OS'.
AMD Ryzen AI Halo Is An Excellent & Powerful Mini PC With Fully Open-Source Software Review
Earlier this year AMD announced the Ryzen AI Halo as their in-house mini PC offering built around their leading Ryzen AI Max+ 'Strix Halo' platform.
Halo: Campaign Evolved’s boxed version will come with physical discs so that players can ‘have tangible items to add to your collection’
The news comes after two major blows to physical game collectors…
Halon Entertainment completes management buyout
The company, which works across film, television, games, immersive entertainment and advertising, said the move follows a joint decision by Halon and NEP Group that independence would allow the business to focus entirely on its clients, employees and long-term growth.
AYANEO NEXT 2 Strix Halo handheld starts global shipping in late July, top SKU hits $5,299
AYANEO is preparing global NEXT 2 shipments for late July after months of delays. The top Ryzen AI Max+ 395 configuration now reaches $5,299 as memory and storage costs continue to affect availability.
After Sony Kills PS5 Discs and GTA 6 is Just a Code in a Box, Xbox Is Using Halo: Campaign Evolved's Physical Disc as a Selling Point
Microsoft is using the fact that Halo: Campaign Evolved will offer a physical game disc in its box as a selling point.
Two major Xbox Game Studios teams reportedly safe from closure discussions
While several Xbox Game Studios teams are expected to see layoffs or close during the 'Xbox Reset,' two key studios have reportedly avoided closure talks.
Halogen Ventures founder Jesse Draper shares her daily routine
Jesse Draper, founder of Halogen Ventures, shares her Santa Monica routine, managing investments and family while advocating for female entrepreneurs.
BBC and Sidemen to host World Cup watchalong
BBC Sport and YouTube collective the Sidemen team up for a World Cup watchalong on Thursday.
Angels Haunted by Trades in Loss to Orioles
Two past trade deals came back to haunt the Los Angeles Angels during the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. The Angels lost 6-1 to the Orioles, with two of the Halos’ former players shining during the game. In the first inning, former Angels outfielder Taylor Ward hit a leadoff home run to […] The post Angels Haunted by Trades in Loss to Orioles appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Fans Hate The Look Of The Halo: CE Ring In The Remake
A new level of detail has killed the mystique
Halo: Campaign Evolved Main Menu Video Sparks Fan Debate Over Ring Detail
Over the weekend, Halo Studios released a 6-hour video of the Halo: Campaign Evolved main menu, which, as you’d expect, contains the iconic Halo music from the original game. But what you might not have expected is the debate the remake’s new Halo ring has sparked, and some fans calling it too detailed.
Xbox Forces PS5 Players To Jump Through Hoops To Play ‘Halo: Campaign Evolved’
PlayStation and Xbox players are getting a look at just how many hoops they or their friends have to jump through in order to play Halo: Campaign Evolved together.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Has Some Weird Xbox Account Requirements For Local Co-Op
Not a big issue on Xbox Series X|S, but it potentially is on PS5
Halo: Campaign Evolved PS5 players will require an Xbox account and gamertag to play – as well as PS Plus to play split-screen co-op
Players will require an Xbox account and an Xbox gamertag to Halo: Campaign Evolved on PS5.
Halo PS5 Backtracks PS Plus Co-Op Demands, Says They Were a Mistake
PSN account needed for both players
Halo Studios Unveils Six Hours Of Footage From Campaign Evolved's Main Menu
It's a beauty!
World Cup 2026: Tino Livramento suffers hamstring injury and replaced by Trevoh Chalobah in England squad
Religion and Politics in the Negev: The Rise of Ra’am in Bedouin Society
Right: Chairman of the Ra'am Party, MK Mansour Abbas, left: Mosque in the settlement of Segev Shalom (Shakib a-Salam) in the Negev (Photos via: Wikimedia Commons and
Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan steps down
The head of Xbox Game Studios Craig Duncan has stepped down after more than 18 months in the role. Duncan replaced former Studios boss Alan Hartman in November 2024, and oversaw Halo Studios, The Coalition, Flight Sim, Turn 10, Playground Games, Rare, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, The Initiative, Double Fine, InXile, Undead Labs, World’s Edge and XGS Publishing. He departs the organization this week. His studios will report to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty until a replacement is found. Duncan has been part of the Xbox organization since 2011 and is best known for running highly regarded UK developer Rare for nearly 14 years. He oversaw the developer’s Kinect and Sea of Thieves eras. Prior to that, he held various senior roles at Codemasters, Midway and Sumo Digital, and worked cross titles such as Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, Wheelman and Colin McRae. He's also VP of the charity SpecialEffect. Subscribe Meanwhile, Xbox Game Studios chief of staff Louise O’Connor will also be leaving the company. O’Connor joined Rare in 1999 beginning as an animator on cult favourite N64 game Conker’s Bad Fur Day. She’s worked in numerous art and production roles at the UK studio, and even won an AIAS award for voicing the character Leafos in Viva Piñata. She left Rare following the cancellation of Everwild in 2025, before becoming chief of staff in September that year. In an email to staff, Duncan wrote: “When I stepped into the role of leading XGS 20 months ago, my purpose was to serve our studios, our teams, and the people making our games. Together, we set out to deliver high-quality games, strengthen the cultural fabric across our studios, and help shape the future of the business. I’m proud to say we delivered many flawless launches that drove business success for the company.” On O’Connor, he added: “Louise has been a thoughtful, creative, and trusted partner who has consistently championed the craft and supported our studios with clarity and care. I’m grateful for everything she’s brought to XGS, and I’m sure she’ll be successful in whatever comes next for her.”
Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan steps down
The head of Xbox Game Studios Craig Duncan has stepped down after more than 18 months in the role. Duncan replaced former Studios boss Alan Hartman in November 2024, and oversaw Halo Studios, The Coalition, Flight Sim, Turn 10, Playground Games, Rare, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, The Initiative, Double Fine, InXile, Undead Labs, World’s Edge and XGS Publishing. He departs the organization this week. His studios will report to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty until a replacement is found. Duncan has been part of the Xbox organization since 2011 and is best known for running highly regarded UK developer Rare for nearly 14 years. He oversaw the developer’s Kinect and Sea of Thieves eras. Prior to that, he held various senior roles at Codemasters, Midway and Sumo Digital, and worked cross titles such as Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, Wheelman and Colin McRae. He's also VP of the charity SpecialEffect. Subscribe Meanwhile, Xbox Game Studios chief of staff Louise O’Connor will also be leaving the company. O’Connor joined Rare in 1999 beginning as an animator on cult favourite N64 game Conker’s Bad Fur Day. She’s worked in numerous art and production roles at the UK studio, and even won an AIAS award for voicing the character Leafos in Viva Piñata. She left Rare following the cancellation of Everwild in 2025, before becoming chief of staff in September that year. In an email to staff, Duncan wrote: “When I stepped into the role of leading XGS 20 months ago, my purpose was to serve our studios, our teams, and the people making our games. Together, we set out to deliver high-quality games, strengthen the cultural fabric across our studios, and help shape the future of the business. I’m proud to say we delivered many flawless launches that drove business success for the company.” On O’Connor, he added: “Louise has been a thoughtful, creative, and trusted partner who has consistently championed the craft and supported our studios with clarity and care. I’m grateful for everything she’s brought to XGS, and I’m sure she’ll be successful in whatever comes next for her.”
Following Gears of War: E-Day's declaration of Xbox exclusivity, Halo: Campaign Evolved is already climbing PlayStation pre-order charts
Halo: Campaign Evolved's shocking commitment to a multiplatform strategy could pay off big time, as PS5 pre-orders are ramping up.
Report: Microsoft weighing up spinning off Xbox
Company management has reportedly approved a plan by new CEO Asha Sharma to increase spending on Halo, Fallout and The Elder Scrolls to speed up development, to
Halo PS5 Poised to Sell Extremely Well, Topping PS Store Charts Around the World
Belief in Master Chief
AMD Tackles NVIDIA’s $4679 DGX Spark AI PC With Its $3999 Ryzen AI Halo: Now Available With 128 GB Memory For Blazing Fast LLMs
AMD has officially launched its Ryzen AI Halo AI PC, which offers super-fast token throughput at a $3999 price point.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Comparison Shows Difference Between Xbox Series X And Ally X
Based on early pre-release footage, of course
Halo: Campaign Evolved Stumbles on Unreal Engine 5, as RTX 5090 Barely Cracks 100 FPS at 1440p Ultra
Halo Campaign Evolved UE5 remake struggles to hit high FPS on RTX 5090 at 1440p, proving optimization worries valid.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Is a Fascinating Preview of the Series' Unreal Engine Future
Testing two iconic levels on PC and Xbox Series X.
I went into Halo: Campaign Evolved thinking it didn't need to exist, but after playing two levels I want full remakes of the original trilogy and Reach
Alright, fine. Halo: Campaign Evolved is good, actually, and all my doubts about the remake of the remake have been quashed. For now.
Here's What's In The 'Premium Upgrade' Editions For Fable, Gears & Halo On Xbox
Early access being one of the major perks
Gears of War: E-Day Could Be the First UE5 Game to Fulfil the Engine's Promise
Plus: Halo: Campaign Evolved and the X25 special edition console from the Xbox Showcase.
Halo: Campaign Evolved - Creating New Cosmetics for Master Chief That Honor the Halo Legacy
Take a look at the new weapon and armor cosmetics for Master Chief coming to Halo: Campaign Evolved as part of the Premium Edition or Collector’s Edition.
Xbox exclusives are back and more complicated than ever
The next Gears of War is an Xbox exclusive, but Halo isn’t. What’s going on?
Halo: Campaign Evolved Gets July 2026 Release Date For Xbox, PC & PS5
Master Chief returns next month
Halo: Campaign Evolved Launches July 28, Pre-Orders Available Now
Halo: Campaign Evolved launches July 28, 2026, with early access beginning July 23. Find out more, and pre-order today.
Dodgers on Deck: Friday, June 5 vs. Angels
The Dodgers are back home ever so briefly, with a single-series homestand this weekend against the Angels at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Back in Anaheim from May 15-17, the Dodgers had their way with the Angels in a three-game sweep, outscoring the Halos 31-3. The Angels come to Los Angeles having lost 29 of […]
HaloMD faces lawsuit alleging No Surprises Act middleman used ‘sham letter,’ misleading data
Highmark Health is the fourth insurer to sue HaloMD, seeking to overturn arbitration wins.
Weather Chat | The science behind rainbows, halos & sundogs
Have you ever wondered how a rainbow forms or what that ring around the sun or the moon means?
Destiny fans petition for Destiny 3, with heartfelt messages
A petition for Destiny 3 has garnered over 48,000 signatures in a very short time, with many explaining why the game means so much to them. "The desire
Xbox Game Studios Now Has An Official Shop, Featuring Merch For Major First-Party Games
Forza, Halo, Sea of Thieves and much more!
e.l.f. Beauty plans price cuts to court price-sensitive shoppers
After the company cut the price of e.l.f.'s Halo Glow skin tint from $18 to $14, sales picked up nearly 40%.
AMD Launches the Ryzen AI Max 400 Series Processors: "Strix Halo" Gets a Memory Upgrade
In addition to the Ryzen AI Halo, AMD today debuted the Ryzen AI Max 400 series of processors for AI development platforms. This is a refresh to the Ryzen AI Max 300 series "Strix Halo" processor. The chip combines up to 16 full-size "Zen 5" CPU cores with a large SoC die that has a powerful iGPU wi...
AMD Announces Ryzen AI Halo, the Compact DGX Spark and Mac Mini Rival
AMD today released Ryzen AI Halo, a compact AI development computer designed by AMD to serve as a nearly full-stack machine for AI development, inferencing, and generative AI content creation. Ryzen AI Halo is designed to strike a unique balance of price, performance, and capabilities that rival App...
AMD says its $4K Ryzen AI Halo workstation practically pays for itself
AMD says its $4K Ryzen AI Halo workstation practically pays for itself
AMD confirms Ryzen AI MAX 400 "Gorgon Halo" will support up to 192GB memory and 160GB VRAM
AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 confirmed AMD confirms Ryzen AI Max 400 “Gorgon Halo” supports up to 192GB memory and 160GB VRAM AMD has confirmed that its
Google teases mysterious ‘Android Halo’ at I/O, coming ‘later this year’
At Google IO, we were given a tease of an upcoming "Android Halo" feature that, at least on first glance, isn't clear how or what it will do.
Dodgers Score Season-High 15 Runs To Claim Freeway Series
Going into the Freeway Series on Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers had not won a game against the Los Angeles Angels in seven straight matchups. And the Dodgers had not won a series against the Angels since July of the 2023 season when two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was still representing the Halos. On Friday, the […] The post Dodgers Score Season-High 15 Runs To Claim Freeway Series appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Date Sweetened Foods May Create a Misleading Health Halo
Products sweetened with dates may appear healthier than table sugar, even though concentrated fructose exposure remains a concern.
Is e.l.f. (ELF) Turning Viral Brand Buzz Into a Durable Entertainment-Driven Growth Story?
In recent days, e.l.f. Cosmetics joined the International Dance League as a founding partner and official livestream presenting partner, while continuing to see strong demand for its viral Halo Glow range, including celebrity-endorsed products that are selling quickly online. Taken together, these moves deepen e.l.f.’s presence where its core audience spends time, on social platforms and emerging entertainment channels, potentially reinforcing its brand strength and product visibility. Next,...
AMD Strix Halo refresh leaks online with massive memory upgrade
A new AMD CPU called the Ryzen AI Max+ 495 Pro has just shown up on PassMark. The rumoured Gorgon Halo part has 16 CPU cores and a Radeon 8065S iGPU.
Borderlands Studio Head Responds After Fans Rip Him For "AI Slop" Selfie
"The idea of an AI even having an identity is nonsense."
AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 495 “Gorgon Halo” Leak Smokes Strix Halo by 10%, Packs 192GB Memory and Radeon 8065S
AMD's next-generation Halo flagship, the Ryzen AI MAX+ 495, has leaked out, featuring a 10% bump in performance & a new Radeon 8065 iGPU.
Scientists detect an enormous halo around the iconic Sombrero Galaxy — Space photo of the week
The 570-megapixel Dark Energy Camera in Chile has captured an extended halo and a dust-filled disk around the hat-shaped Sombrero Galaxy.
Let's predict: Will Xbox return to "exclusive" games? Will Halo etc. continue to hit PlayStation?
The big conversation right now revolves around whether or not Xbox will return to "exclusive" games. It's a big decision, much bigger than perhaps most people realize.
NOLA.com's Live from Jazz Fest: Eating oysters, Rod Stewart vs. David Byrne, weather, more
Catch a feature on Michalopoulos, who has "the distinction of painting more Jazz Fest posters than any other artist." Also an interview with an all-female Mardi Gras Indians group. Today's live show is presented by Explore Louisiana and New Orleans and Company.
‘Halo’ Is Reportedly Threatening To Make An Extraction Shooter
According to a new report, some form of a Halo extraction shooter may be in the works after a previous battle royale was cancelled.
Climate Chronicles: The science behind sun dogs and sun halos
This week’s Climate Chronicles question comes from Amber.
Brighton 3-0 Chelsea: What Rosenior and Chalobah said
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, speaking to Match of the Day: "Nowhere near the levels, not even tactical, tackles, duels, intensity, spirit, energy, passion are all lacking and that is the reason we lost." Across each team's last nine games in the Premier League, only Tottenham (2) have won fewer points than Chelsea (5 – W1 D2 L6).
Glowing ring of plankton surrounding New Zealand islands linked to deadly underwater plateau
A recent satellite photo captured a gleaming halo of phytoplankton encircling the remote Chatham Islands. The stunning sight is the result of a hidden underwater structure, which has also helped kill hundreds of cetaceans.
If someone says priests should stay out of politics ‘it’s because it’s not their politics’: Priest
President Trump is facing fierce criticism for his attacks on Pope Leo XIV and for posting a Jesus-like A.I. image of himself. Host of "The Busted Halo Show" on SiriusXM Father Dave Dwyer, CSP and Staff Writer for The Atlantic Mark Leibovich join Chris Jansing to share their reaction.
Veteran Halo Developer Accuses Studio of 'Numerous Unethical and Unlawful Acts'
The art director of Halo Infinite and a veteran developer on the franchise is accusing senior staff at Halo Studios of numerous unlawful acts.
“Threatened retaliation on first contact”: As I dig into a former Halo art director’s claims, I’m left questioning what else Microsoft didn’t want anyone to see.
New allegations from a former Halo Studios developer outline claims of misconduct and organisational issues, prompting questions around accountability and internal investigations at Microsoft.
Sex at arm’s length? Male octopuses use specialised arm to mate, scientists find
Sensory organ in male cephalopod, known as hectocotylus, able to detect female hormone progesterone, even if male cannot see partner
Rumour: Halo's PS5 Debut Launches in June, According to Fanta-Related Fan Theory
Fanta-sy?
The Biggest New Game Releases Of April 2026
Sci-fi adventures, turbo-powered wildcards, and cephalopod capers await in April.
Photo of ram’s horn squid shell
The intricate ram’s horn squid shell is only about the size of a fingernail. Compared to other cephalopod species, the shell structure has not degraded over time. As part of this study, researchers used transcriptomics which revealed genes supporting biomineralization and regeneration of the shell.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Involves ODSTs, Brutes and New Covenant Faction in Prequel Missions
However, Halo Studios is also reportedly reusing Halo Infinite's models for the Banished Covenant and UNSC Marines in the same.
Marathon has sold 1.2M copies across Steam, PS5, and Xbox
Alinea Analytics estimates show that Marathon has generated gross revenues of $55M via 1.2M copies sold on Steam, PS5, and Xbox: Looking at the split between Steam, PS5, and Xbox, Steam is clearly the main platform for Marathon, accounting for a little under 70% of the audience (800K copies sold). Meanwhile, PS5 takes about 19% (217K) and Xbox (including console, PC, and cloud) accounts for a bit over 11% or 133K. Marathon is technically a first-party Sony title, so seeing the home console struggle to break 20% of the volume is a notable data point for the ongoing platform-agnostic debate. PlayStation Studios online games will almost certainly continue being multiplatform (despite Sony reportedly pulling back on PC releases). Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe As for Marathon, the consensus among hardcore players who pushed through the awkward onboarding phase – myself included – is that it’s fantastic. The gunplay, aesthetic, and presentation are among the best in the shooter genre. A great game doesn’t always equal an immediate hit, though, as shown by our estimates. Things are looking lukewarm right now. But this might be one of those marathon-not-a-sprint situations. Had to, didn’t I? Why wasn’t Marathon a hit on the same level as Arc Raiders? One topic that came up in a lot of conversations at GDC this year was why Marathon hasn’t hit the same stratosphere as Arc Raiders. On paper, they’re both extraction shooters, and Marathon has the Bungie pedigree – the house that built the gold standard for gunplay in Halo and Destiny. Marathon’s neon-futuristic aesthetic also distinguishes itself from the gritty realism of Tarkov or the post-apocalyptic hope of ARC Raiders. But vibes can only get you so far for first impressions if the onboarding feels like a brick wall. Marathon is a sweaty PvP-focused experience with a first-time user experience and UI that I can only describe as dreadful. Players are dropped into a complex ecosystem where the UI, though visually striking, is functionally uninformative, forcing users to manually hover over nondescript, identical icons just to identify basic gear or weapon mods. This lack of clarity is compounded by punishing mechanics like a severe heat gauge for movement and a scarcity of vital resources, all without a clear tutorial or a low-stakes mode to learn the ropes. Most people – even top streamers and veteran shooter players – have no idea what’s going on in Marathon at first. Arc is on the complete other end of the spectrum. As we covered here and here, Arc Raiders offers a more collaborative, approachable loop where players often work together toward shared goals. And the objectives are instantly clear. To many players, this contrast only emphasised Marathon’s issues, especially during the testing period. Players understand the Arc Raiders loop within 30 minutes, while Marathon acts as a massive filter, chewing up newcomers and spitting them out before they can experience the depth of Bungie’s signature gunplay. What I’m getting at here is that the poor first-time user experience of Marathon’s Server Slam likely stifled launch sales, while the opposite was true for Arc. Let’s look at the pre-launch copies sold for each game during their respective Server Slams (launch-aligned) : Looking at the trajectory: Arc Raiders saw a massive 80% jump in copies sold during its three-day Server Slam (day -13 to -11). Players jumped in, realised the water was fine, and immediately opened their wallets. Marathon, meanwhile, saw a 49% increase in the four days following its Slam (Day -7 to -3). At the time of each game’s respective launch, Arc Raiders had nearly double the Steam footprint of Marathon – and word of mouth only continued to grow. Bungie could have had more time to fix the onboarding process had the beta happened earlier. But Marathon launched three days after the beta finished. These factors limited the launch sales quite a bit, I reckon. Marathon has found a niche audience, though Despite the friction-heavy start, the data suggests that those who survived Marathon’s onboarding are loving life. We’ve been tracking cross-platform DAUs, and while there’s the expected post-launch leakage, many players are sticking with it. After peaking at 478K total DAUs on its first Saturday, Marathon has settled into a respectable rhythm, holding 345K DAUs as of yesterday and averaging 380K DAUs across the weekend. Steam continues to do the heavy lifting here, consistently accounting for the lion’s share of the daily players. Players have been putting in the hours, too: On Steam, Marathon’s average playtime has climbed to 27.8 hours, significantly outpacing the console averages on PS5 (16.5h) and Xbox (17.3h). Even more telling than the averages: 22% of the Steam audience has surged past the 50-hour mark, and nearly 7% have already logged over 100 hours. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe This data suggests that once the Bungie magic clicks, it hooks players deeper than the average extraction shooter. There’s also started to be a shift in the game’s discourse. Marathon launched as one of those games that’s cool to hate. But as Marathon’s 100-hour club grows, we’re seeing conversations around its mechanical merit outweigh the negativity. Several high-profile creators, who were initially vocal critics, have spent the last week coming around on the mechanical depth of the endgame. It’s a subtle but positive signal; the hate train is losing steam, and a new narrative about the game is emerging. Bungie faithfuls unite Another interesting metric in Marathon’s first few weeks is who, exactly, is playing. Bungie leans heavily on its prestige as the “makers of Halo and Destiny,” in its marketing, and that message has clearly hit the mark. On Steam, the gravity (hammer) of Bungie’s previous work is unavoidable. A staggering 78.2% of Marathon players also played Destiny 2. The trend carries across other platforms, with 74.2% of PS5 players and 82.7% of Xbox players also having played Destiny 2. The Halo legacy lives on, it seems. More on that in a bit. While Destiny 2 went free to play, these numbers still represent a high-intent migration of a fanbase that trusts Bungie’s specific brand of kinetic gunplay and cryptic world-building. The Xbox data adds another layer of legacy. About 85.7% of Marathon players on Xbox have played Halo Infinite, while over half of the Steam audience has spent time in Halo Infinite and 36.1% in the Master Chief Collection (a paid collection of the old Bungie-made legacy games). Interestingly, we see a 55.9% overlap with ARC Raiders on Steam. Overlap is even higher there on PlayStation (60.5%) and Xbox (66.5%). And there’s also significant crossover with Helldivers 2 on all platforms, too. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe Bungie has found some of its fans with Marathon, and the challenge now is keeping this engaged in a high-stakes PvP environment when they’ve spent the last decade primarily enjoying the power fantasies of PvE. On that note… Go the full 26 miles? Or cut and run? Time for some could’ve, should’ve, would’ve. These things would have improved Marathon’s performance at launch: A more robust onboarding process, perhaps in the form of a short single-player/PvE campaign. We know Bungie fans love this stuff. A traditional arena-based mode akin to Destiny’s Crucible could have been a bridge for the cautious players who’d have been otherwise deterred by the Server Slam. It’s also a great palate cleanser after getting merked. Introducing a dedicated PvE environment would have similarly diversified the conversation and lowered the barrier for the Bungie faithful who found the pure PvP extraction loop too abrasive. PvE is safer than PvP these days. There’s an argument that a thin PvE mode would have just felt like a budget Destiny, potentially hurting the brand more. But given how dire the FTUE is, I think it would have been a net positive. Any kind of tutorialised loop that demystifies the stakes, really. While there is merit in a studio sticking firmly to a singular creative vision, and going all in on the hardcore extraction loop. Less forgiving is the technical reality is that the user interface and first-time user experience (FTUE) were not at a commercial standard for launch. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe In a landscape where player time is oversaturated and the most contested currency, a flawed FTUE is a critical failure point. But it’s not all doom and gloom, as Marathon has an incredible, unique gameplay loop, suggesting that financial success is still attainable if Bungie can pivot effectively. Bungie and PlayStation now face a difficult strategic crossroads, though – one within a challenging games market. They could: Double down on Marathon with a long-term Rainbow Six Siege- or No Man’s Sky-style recovery plan, which is something I heard Last Stand Media’s Chris Maldonado mention last week. While this could be a sunk-cost fallacy in action, it could eventually yield the audience the game’s mechanical depth deserves. Shift focus toward the inevitable Destiny 3 or another project, mitigating the escalating opportunity cost and cutting their losses, so to speak. Doing both is an expensive proposition, given the high overhead and burn rate of operating out of Bellevue, Washington. With Sony recently demonstrating a lower threshold for underperforming studios and projects, the margin for error has vanished. Whatever happens, the next six months will determine whether Marathon becomes a cornerstone of Sony’s live-service portfolio or a cautionary tale of vision exceeding accessibility. I’m hoping it’s the former, because Marathon rocks. As always, hit subscribe to get updates on Marathon and other relevant games. Subscribe Want to get your hands on our data for yourself – for free? We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply to this email, and we’ll set you up. The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
Barricade That Kept Out the Far Right in France Is Crumbling
Franck Leclere made his way through the timber-framed houses of Chalons-en-Champagne and joined a crowd of people in symbolic white shirts to demonstrate against the rise of the far right in France.
Wrexham’s Hollywood owners’ Sky Sports’ watchalong criticised by Swansea CEO
Sky offered an alternative commentary with Wrexhman owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac alongside regular presenter David Prutton.
Why people are turning to salt rooms and halotherapy to unwind
Salt rooms regenerate health skin cells and boost our breathing. Here's what to look for when finding a salt room experience.
Laurel Halo: Midnight Zone (Original Soundtrack)
Read Philip Sherburne’s review of the album.
Asus releases new 14-inch gaming laptop in the US with AMD Strix Halo
Asus has finally started selling its first AMD Strix Halo gaming laptop in the US. Equipped with a 165 Hz display, the new laptop also features a 73 Wh battery with 100 W charging via USB Type-C. Unfortunately, Asus has decided against offering a 64 GB RAM variant in the US, which would have allowed the TUF Gaming A14 FA401EA to assign up to 48 GB VRAM to its Radeon 8060S iGPU.
Investment in AI-resistant ‘Halo’ companies helps push UK and EU markets to record highs
Investors are shifting toward physical assets that are partially insulated from disruption, says Goldman Sachs
Despite likening new Xbox head's job to a "palliative care doctor", original co-creator doesn't actually think Xbox is dead
Seamus Blackley, one of the co-creators of the original Xbox, has assured the community he doesn't actually think Xbox is "dead".
Your Halo Story: Chapter 2
We asked for your Halo memories, and you shared stories of triumph, tribulation, and truly sweet sticks. This chapter of Your Halo Story features 50 fan submissions from the annals of Halo history, with many more to come!
'Ultra-accessible' entertainment district breaks ground in Olathe
Halo Ridge, a Hunt-backed accessible tourism district, is just a few miles from the Chiefs’ future headquarters and training facility.
2026 NBA All-Star Weekend Broadcasters & Commentators: What to Know
Get to know the NBA on NBC's broadcast team of commentators and analysts for 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend spanning February 13-15 on NBC and Peacock.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 Preview: Me and My Pet Rathalos
I spent half a dozen hours with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection by that point, and got a feel for what it was shaping up to be: a gorgeous RPG that combines the traditional elements of Monster Hunter with a turn-based RPG and a surprisingly compelling cast and narrative that invited me to befriend and train monsters, not just hunt them.
HP ZBook Ultra G1a review: a business-class workstation that’s got game
Strix Halo for the straightlaced (and deep-pocketed).