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Stalker 2 Previews Extremely Positive; Clear Game of The Year Contender

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  • Stalker 2’s recent hands-on previews are extremely positive, indicating a successful launch. 
  • One of the previews even called the game a clear Game of the Year contender. 
  • It also delivers a solid narrative experience, and there seems to be a lot of freedom during missions. 

Stalker 2 has been delayed multiple times, but that didn’t destroy its hype. In fact, this game was voted gamers‘ most anticipated game this year in a major poll. The previous previews were very positive, but despite that, the game was delayed

However, it is better for a game to be delayed, as a rushed release doesn’t benefit anyone, and we have learned that best from Cyberpunk 2077’s release. That said, the delays for the upcoming FPS survival horror were worth it, as the recent hands-on previews are extremely positive

Why it matters: Stalker 2 has already been delayed multiple times, but fans didn’t lose hope in this game, and it seems like they were right not to. 

Stalker 2 Hands-on Previews
Stalker 2 Hands-on Previews Are Way More Positive Than Expected

Many media outlets had the courtesy of having hands-on experience with this game and have nothing but good things to say about it. Shinobi602 has compiled their thoughts and posted them on Twitter

The game seems to have left an impression that the Ukrainian Developer has created something special. 

Came away feeling like I’d played a clear game of year the contender.

-Preview

With just the hands-on impression, a media outlet called it a clear Game of the Year contender, which indicates the game is really good. It is also pretty high on Steam’s most wish-listed games, so fans are pretty excited about this one. 

The previews also highlighted the refreshing challenge of managing resources like ammunition and food to survive in this title. The game design also seems quite flexible, meaning you can skip various objectives during a mission. 

Stalker 2 seems to have given players much freedom, which is what gamers love. Another unique thing was that NPCs can end the quest without rewarding you if you decide to loot the dead body of their friend. 

The enemy AI seems to be quite smart, too. Also, a preview highlighted that Stalker 2 goes ‘unexpectedly hard’ on the narrative delivery. The developers seem to have created a masterpiece that will be one of this year’s talks. 

What do you think about the extremely positive previews? Are you excited to play this game? Let us know in the comments section below to join the discussion at the Tech4Gamers’ official forums

Star Wars Outlaws Nominated For Two Golden Joystick Awards

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  • Star Wars Outlaws was disappointing both for the fans and Ubisoft.
  • However, despite that, the game has been nominated for two Golden Joystick Awards.
  • It has been nominated in two categories: Best Lead Performance and Best Audio Design. 

Star Wars Outlaws received a very poor reception from the fans and a low score from the critics. On launch, the social media platforms were full of negative comments about the game.

As per the fans, the combat was too janky, and the stealth was laughable. However, despite that, the game has been nominated for two Golden Joystick Awards, which is shocking.

Why it matters: There were many great games released this year, so this latest release from Ubisoft being nominated might not sit right with the fandom. 

Star Wars Outlaws Nomination
Star Wars Outlaws Has Been Nominated For Best Audio Design At Golden Joystick Awards

The Golden Joystick Awards is being hosted by Gamesradar+, and just recently, Star Wars Outlaws was nominated for two awards. The game has been nominated in the Best Lead Performance and Best Audio Design categories. 

The first nomination is thanks to Humberly González. She has been nominated for her role as the voice of scoundrel Kay. So, this is based on the performance of the González, which seems fair, but given the whole controversy, it might not sit well with the fandom. 

The second nomination might raise some eyebrows. The game nominated for Best Audio Design seems a little too much, given that Black Myth: Wukong wasn’t even nominated for console or PC Game of the Year. 

Humberly González seems very excited about her nomination, as it is a very special moment for her. Ubisoft must have also been delighted by these nominations, as the game has received a really poor reception

The gaming giant previously revealed that Star Wars Outlaws sales were disappointing and that the developers are fixing the game to perfection. To increase sales, it will also be released on Steam next month. 

The voting will be closed on 1st November, so go and vote for your favorite games now. Also, Ultimate Game of Year nominations have yet to be made, and we hope the deserving games are nominated. 

What do you think about the game’s two nominations at the Golden Joystick Awards? Do you think it deserves to be nominated in these categories? Let us know in the comments section or join the discussion at Tech4Gamers’ official forums

IO Interactive CEO Says New James Bond Game Development Going ‘Amazingly Well’

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  • IO Interactive has given new updates on the upcoming Project 007 game, saying the development is going extremely well.
  • The game will feature a younger James Bond with a new origin story unrelated to any films.
  • Project 007 will be the first part of a potential trilogy.

IO Interactive’s much-anticipated Project 007 aims to offer a new twist on the classic James Bond franchise. Fans of Bond and the studio known for the Hitman series are in for a delight.

Recently, IO Interactive’s CEO, Hakan Abrak, hinted the game’s development is going well, calling it “a young Bond for gamers.” The CEO also hinted that it could lead to a trilogy.

Why it matters: IO Interactive appears ready to create an exciting James Bond experience that reimagines the character for a new generation of gamers.

Project 007
Spy-action fans highly await Project 007.

Unlike earlier Bond games closely linked to the movies, Project 007 will carve out its own path. IO Interactive confirmed during an interview with IGN that they plan to present a younger, more relatable Bond with a brand-new origin story unrelated to any film.

Project 007 isn’t a gamification of a movie. It’s the beginning of a story, for a big trilogy in the future.

-Hakan Abrak, CEO Io Interactive

Abrak weighed in that Project 007 isn’t a movie adaptation but a character created especially for gamers. The development team has used its experience from the Hitman series to ensure that the game delivers the thrill of espionage.

While it shares some elements with Hitman, Project 007 will focus more on storytelling, showcasing Bond’s journey as an agent. IO Interactive has big plans for Project 007. The game is seen as the first part of a possible trilogy, depending on how well the first game does.

Abrak compared it to the Hitman trilogy and believes they can expand Bond’s story into a bigger universe.

Moreover, the CEO emphasized the importance of collaborating with Eon Productions, who manage the Bond legacy, to keep the game authentic while creating its unique place in the 007 universe.

What’s more interesting is that Project 007 is reportedly going to be a first-person experience, according to a recent job listing. This means the game will offer a much more immersive experience compared to the third-person perspective in the Hitman series.

Are you excited to play a reimagined, younger version of James Bond in the upcoming Project 007 game? Join the discussion on Tech4Gamers’ official forum.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Retail Pre-Orders Are Reportedly Really Poor

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  • Dragon Age: The Veilguard seems to be suffering from poor pre-orders. 
  • An insider has revealed that the game has three times lower retail pre-orders than those of Star Wars Outlaws. 
  • There are just two weeks left before the game’s release, and it isn’t even among the top 20 Steam best sellers. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard had a lot of anticipation behind it. Its prequel was a solid hit, and fans have been waiting for a decade to enjoy a new entry in the series. That was the main reason for all the hype and anticipation. 

However, after every reveal, the hype died. Now, there are just two weeks before the launch, and it is still not doing well on the Steam best-seller chart. A new report has revealed that the retail pre-orders are really poor, as they are three times lower than Star Wars Outlaws

Why it matters: Despite the high anticipation, the game is suffering from poor pre-orders. Fans are not buying this game because they think it has gone ‘woke.’ 

Dragon Age The Veilguard Poor Pre Orders
Dragon Age The Veilguard Retail Pre-Orders Are Reportedly Really Poor

Stuttering Craig, the owner of the Side Scrollers Podcast, has recently revealed on Twitter that Dragon Age: The Veilguard has only sold 1957 copies as preorders. He got this information from a retail insider.

Between both the “gold” and standard editions, in their 800+ stores, they have just under 2000 pre-orders between PS5 & Xbox: PS5: 1552 Xbox : 405 Total: 1957.

-Stuttering Craig

While it is not official, it seems like Stuttering Craig is right about the figure. That is because an outlet, That Park Place, also revealed that the game has three times fewer retail pre-orders than Star Wars Outlaws and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. 

The media outlet seems to have received this information from a retail insider who manages over 900 stores. The insider revealed that Star Wars Outlaws had sold 6469 retail copies as pre-orders. Among them, 5,341 copies were sold for PS5, and 1398 were sold for Xbox. 

Ubisoft recently confirmed that Star Wars Outlaws sales were softer than expected, so we are only wondering what will happen with the upcoming title in the Dragon Age series. That said, the title is available on Steam, the fans’ favourite platform, so it might see more sales. 

So far, the situation seems grim for the game. What do you think about the game’s poor pre-orders? Are you excited for the release? Let us know in the comments section below, or join the discussion on Tech4Gamers’ official forums

Denuvo Says Its Technology Doesn’t Affect Games Performance

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  • In a recent FAQ on Discord, Irdeto said Denuvo does not affect the performance of games in any way.
  • The company has provided detailed reasoning behind all the major games that are thought to have been affected by Denuvo.
  • Many Twitter and Discord users have not bought these replies and have argued against including Denuvo in games.

Denuvo is one of the most controversial yet effective anti-cheat software used by video game developers. The DRM is notorious for affecting the performance of games, but Irdeto—the company behind the software—does not agree at all with the prevalent rumors. Thus, it has officially addressed these claims in a recent FAQ that no one saw coming.

Irdeto has created an official Discord server for Denuvo, addressing all the major concerns gamers have raised over the years. It claims that Denuvo does not affect game performance, using examples of various games to explain what actually degraded their gameplay.

Why it matters: Irdeto saying that Denuvo was not to be blamed for the impact on the performance in games paints a controversial picture. The company does not think its software affects us negatively, while gamers argue otherwise.

Denuvo
Denuvo claims that its DRM did not affect the performance of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

As spotted by the hawk-eyed Twitter user @Pirat_Nation, Denuvo claimed that the performance of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor only improved after the devs tweaked the game over updates, not because the Denuvo protection was removed later on.

It also addressed many other games, including Resident Evil Village, Tekken 7, and Persona 5, explaining what caused optimization issues in them. Denuvo says it was certainly not the DRM that degraded their performance.

Denuvo has provided reasons for many AAA games whose performance was thought to be ruined by the anti-cheat DRM | Image Source: Twitter
Denuvo has provided reasons for many AAA games whose performance was said to be ruined by the DRM. 

Many gamers have not bought these rationales by Denuvo at all and have argued against using this software because of performance issues.

What are your thoughts about the usage of this DRM in games? Let us know in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.

Paradox Abandons A Whole Genre After Its Xbox-Exclusive Game Flops

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  • Paradox abandoned the turn-based tactics genre after its Xbox-exclusive entry flopped last year.
  • The Lamplighters League did not meet expectations, and even the pre-order sales were pretty low.
  • The developers said the title was commercially dead on arrival and was not the game people wanted.

Paradox Interactive is mostly known for its grand strategy games, with some pretty prominent franchises in the industry. Nevertheless, the company has also occasionally dipped its toes into other genres. Its last attempt with the Xbox-exclusive The Lamplighters League, however, completely flopped last year. 

Its niche turn-based tactics genre might be to blame, but Paradox has recently claimed that it is dropping the whole genre after the massive flop. The Lamplighters League did not sell well on Xbox consoles or PC, which has made Paradox see no point in releasing another similar title.

Why it matters: Paradox ditching the turn-based tactics genre confirms that The Lamplighters League flopped hard on Xbox last year. The XCOM-styled title failed to meet expectations, so much so that the developers are completely giving up on the genre.

The Lamplighters League is an XCOM-styled tactical game that flopped hard on Xbox after release.
The Lamplighters League is an XCOM-styled tactical game that flopped hard on Xbox after release.

In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Paradox Interactive CEO Mattias Lilja elaborated that there is no reason to compete with a giant like XCOM, a successful turn-based tactics franchise. The truth is that XCOM is quite a rarity and dominates its niche genre, making competition extremely hard.

When we released The Lamplighters League, it quickly became very obvious to us that this was not the game that people wanted, and we were not going to be able to save it.

As a result, the developers declared The Lamplighters League to be “commercially dead on arrival” because the game’s pre-order sales on Xbox were disappointing for the studio overall.

While The Lamplighters League might have flopped because of low sales, many argue that its Xbox exclusivity was the main culprit behind the failure. But what do you think caused the title to lose so badly? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join us for a discussion in our official Tech4Gamers forum.

Phantom Blade Zero Dev Believes Cultural Differences Don’t Harm Games

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  • The team behind Phantom Blade Zero does not find cultural differences harmful to games.
  • It believes obscure themes can be part of the appeal when the core gameplay is good.
  • The developer’s beliefs have been solidified after Black Myth: Wukong’s success.

Phantom Blade Zero is the next big release from China that has everyone’s attention. Following the explosive success of Black Myth: Wukong, audiences are excited to see the region’s talents shining through yet another exciting AAA production.

Like Black Myth: Wukong, Chinese culture and themes are ingrained into Phantom Blade Zero’s narrative. While some may consider this detrimental to the title’s appeal in the West, developer S-Game begs to differ.

Why it matters: Most modern studios today aim for more inclusive and diverse stories, so S-Game’s approach makes it part of the small minority breaking away from the norm.

Producer Liang Qiwei recently discussed the implications of exploring the more obscure side of kung-fu-punk themes in S-Game’s latest production. According to the Producer, this will only add to the experience.

When asked why the team refused to go for a more approachable subject, he pointed to Black Myth: Wukong. The Producer stated that Black Myth: Wukong was hardly held back due to its reliance on classic Chinese literature.

This release has only given the team additional confidence over its decision. Liang Qiwei also argues that quality is the most important element, so Phantom Blade Zero can thrive regardless of the cultural barriers if it offers quality time to the players.

If the game is interesting, its themes being foreign can be an advantage.

-Liang Qiwei

Phantom Blade Zero
Phantom Blade Zero Already Has People Excited

Much like Black Myth: Wukong, Phantom Blade Zero aims to make the obscure themes part of its appeal. The engaging gameplay is meant to hook players, and the team hopes this will encourage them to explore the kung-fu-punk story further.

While Phantom Blade Zero is still a few years out, the game is shaping up to be a huge success. First impressions are solid all around, and fans are excited to get their hands on yet another action-packed experience.

Do you agree with the Producer’s statement? Share your opinions in the comments, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Alan Wake 2 Lake House Expansion Releasing On 22 October, Reveals Leak

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  • Alan Wake 2 Lake House Expansion is seemingly releasing on 22 October 2024, as leaked by multiple retailers.
  • The release date is consistent across multiple sources and falls on the same day as the launch date of the game’s physical edition.
  • Despite several coincidences, it is best to take the leaked release date with a grain of salt until official confirmation. 

Alan Wake 2 was the big horror game of last year, and its subsequent Night Springs expansion also won the hearts of many gamers. The psychological horror mixed with a well-crafted story has made the sequel quite popular in the genre. The community has been patiently waiting for the game’s second DLC, The Lake House, and a new piece of crucial info has just leaked online. 

Several retailers based in Australia and New Zealand simultaneously leaked the Lake House DLC’s release date online. The leak aligns well with the current rumors and the launch of Alan Wake 2’s awaited physical edition.

Why it matters: The release date leak of the second Alan Wake 2 expansion suggests that we will get to play it in a matter of next week. Its consistency across multiple retailers has also made the leak much more believable.

The Alan Wake 2 Lake House Expansion release date has now been leaked by various retailers | Image Source: JB Hi-Fi
The Alan Wake 2 Lake House Expansion release date has now been leaked 

Across sites like JB Hi-Fi and EB Games, a new listing for Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition has appeared online, which contains The Night Springs Expansion, The Lake House Expansion, and the Deluxe Edition cosmetics. It is set to release on 22 October 2024, confirming that the second DLC is just around the corner.

Alan Wake 2 Lake House DLC’s launch date seemingly falls on the same day as the physical edition release, which makes it much more believable. However, take the info with a pinch of salt since plans are always prone to change before the official announcement.

What are your thoughts about the approaching expansion? Are you willing to buy it, or stick with Silent Hill 2 remake for now? Let us know in the comments below, or join us for a discussion on the official Tech4gamers forum.

The Last of Us Creator Thinks Games Like ‘Bloodborne’ Have Weak Story

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  • Neil Druckmann, creator of The Last of Us, seems to think that Souls games aren’t about stories. 
  • He thinks mood matters more in such games than stories, which many fans disagree with. 
  • The emphasis on story is quite high in games like Bloodborne, Dark Souls trilogy, and Elden Ring. 

Bloodborne is one of the most beloved PlayStation exclusives. The demand to bring games with a 60FPS patch on PS5 and PC is extremely high. However, Sony has continuously been ignoring its fans, so the fandom took it into their hands and ported the whole game to PC.

This happened because Bloodborne is that good of a game. However, the creator of The Last of Us Series thinks that such games are less about the story despite the great effort put into their stories. 

Why it matters: Soulsborne games have compelling and mind-blowing stories that are hard to decipher. However, when one understands the story, it blows their mind. 

Bloodborne
The Last of Us Creator Thinks Games Like Bloodborne Have Weak Stories

In a very old interview that has surfaced recently, given the massive demand for Bloodborne, Neil Druckmann reveals that Souls games are less about the story, which many fans might not agree to. 

To me, those games are less about story and more about mood. It’s just about this constant tension that the world gives you, which is so unique to video games.

-Neil Druckmann

Druckmann expressed his feelings by saying it was his favorite game of 2015. However, he thinks the game is less about the story, which doesn’t make sense. Games like Bloodborne have rich stories, especially for those who try to understand them completely. 

Bloodborne New Featured
It Has Been A Long Time Since Fans Have Been Demanding A Remake For This Gothic Horror Souls Game

We agree that many players play it only for fun, but a person who writes narratively driven games saying it is more about the mood than the story seems a little off. Fans’ reaction to this was shocking, with many claiming he probably didn’t understand the story.

In such games, the story isn’t revealed to you easily; you have to collect the pieces, and then they would make sense. This is why many prefer watching VaatiVidya on YouTube to understand the complex lore of such games. 

What do you think of Neil Druckmann saying Souls games focus on story is weak? Do you agree with him? Let us know in the comments section below, or join the discussion on Tech4Gamers’ official forums

Nvidia Reportedly Planning Early Release For RTX 5060 In March 2025

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  • Nvidia could launch all its RTX 50 series graphics cards back-to-back.
  • New reports point to the RTX 5060 arriving in March 2025.
  • This could be a strategic move to compete against AMD’s budget-oriented RNDA 4 series.

The rumors surrounding Nvidia’s RTX 50 series are now picking up the pace. With reports pointing to an early 2025 release, fans are excited to see what the company will bring to the table with graphics cards like the RTX 5090.

At the same time, many are hoping to see a stronger performance in the budget and mid-range segments. Fans have high expectations from the RTX 5060 in particular, and new reports suggest they won’t have to wait too long for this mid-range option.

Why it matters: The RTX 4060 arrived nearly a full year after the RTX 4090. Therefore, the xx60 tier GPU launching sooner would be a huge departure from Nvidia’s traditional release cycle.

RTX 50 Series Launch Schedule
RTX 50 Series Launch Schedule Report via Board Channels

According to new information shared on Board Channels, the RTX 5090 and 5080 offerings will lead the lineup, while the RTX 5070 will follow shortly afterwards.

However, the most interesting part concerns the RTX 5060’s release window. This graphics card is said to arrive in March, completing Nvidia’s release cycle in Q1 2025. The same report states that no Super models are planned for the RTX 50 lineup, though this is likely subject to change.

Since AMD is expected to target the mid-range segment for its RDNA 4 lineup, Nvidia’s decision to potentially launch its mid-range offerings earlier could be a smart move. For context, AMD is said to be unveiling its RDNA 4 graphics cards around the same time.

As such, both competitors would go head-to-head in Q1 2025.

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
The RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti Were Disappointing Compared To Their Predecessors

As this release window draws nearer, additional leaks regarding the RTX 50 series are expected to show up. For now, leaks have pointed to a very capable flagship offering from the gaming giant at a similar price point to the last generation.

Following Nvidia’s disappointing graphics cards last generation and underwhelming Super follow-ups, fans hope to see a major breakthrough for the xx60 tier GPUs.

The early release could be a sign of confidence from the gaming giant, but only time will tell how things turn out. What are your thoughts on Nvidia’s new release timeline? Let’s discuss in the comments and the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Microsoft Removes $1 Game Pass Subscription As Black Ops 6 Launch Draws Near

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  • Microsoft has seemingly removed the $1 Game Pass subscription as the Black Ops 6 launch is drawing near.
  • That $1 subscription would have given you a Game Pass for 14 days, but it has now been removed.
  • No free trial is available either, suggesting that Microsoft does not want you to play Black Ops 6 at such a low price.

Every new and veteran Call of Duty player is waiting to get their hands on Black Ops 6, but some are also looking for a shortcut to grab the game for a cheap price. Since the next mainline entry is arriving on Xbox Game Pass as a day-one release, some players hoped to pay for the lowest subscription tier and play the game’s campaign for a limited time. But Microsoft has just made that fully impossible.  

The company has removed the $1 game pass subscription as the launch of Black Ops 6 approaches. You can no longer pay a dollar to have the subscription for two weeks.

Why it matters: Microsoft removing the $1 Game Pass subscription suggests that it does not want gamers to play the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at such a low price.

Xbox Game Pass
Many gamers are upset by the decision to remove the $1 Game Pass subscription before Black Ops 6’s release. 

As you can see in the image above Microsoft has removed the popular Game Pass deal and wiped out the free trial you could grab for Game Pass. Now, you must pay the full-price monthly subscription if you want to play Black Ops 6 as a day-one release on the popular gaming service.

The deal was removed to ensure gamers would not create new accounts to take advantage of the Game Pass service. This makes sense since the $1 trial has been abused plenty of times in the past.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the next awaited mainline entry in the popular franchise.

However, it has still rubbed some gamers the wrong way and caused ripples of backlash on various forums.

All in all, while Microsoft’s decision to remove the $1 Game Pass subscription might be controversial, it also makes sense from a business standpoint. But what do you think the giant conglomerate should have done instead of removing the tier? Let us know in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.

Halo Remake Reportedly Coming Sooner Than Expected After Shifting To UE5

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  • Following past reports, another insider states that Halo Combat Evolved is indeed getting the remake treatment.
  • He also states that the game is coming sooner than expected.
  • An announcement could be made as soon as next year.

Xbox has pitched a fresh start for the Halo series powered by the switch to Unreal Engine. According to Halo Studios, formerly known as 343 Industries, multiple projects for the franchise are currently in development, with one of these expected to be a remake.

As excitement for Halo Combat Evolved Remake continues to build, an insider seems to have corroborated this information. He reveals that a remake is indeed in the works and may be released in just a few years.

Why it matters: Halo’s first remake is also expected to arrive on the PS5, so the IP’s debut on PlayStation consoles may be coming sooner rather than later.

Xbox Era’s Nick Baker recently discussed Halo’s next big release. According to his sources, the game isn’t too far away, implying that the series could return during this generation.

I don’t think it’s out next year, but I don’t think it’s quite as far away as people think.

-Nick Baker

Discussing the statement in a tweet, the insider elaborated that it referred to Halo Combat Evolved Remake. This is significant since it adds yet another credible source to the rumors surrounding this re-release.

Fans should also note that the recent Unreal Engine 5 teaser showed an image depicting Master Chief in his classic look from Combat Evolved, providing additional evidence for the remake’s existence.

If Nick Baker’s words are anything to go by, Halo Studios may be gearing up to launch the title by 2026 or 2027. This could also set the stage for an official announcement as early as next year.

Halo-Unreal-Engine-5
Halo Has Joined The List of Big IPs Using Unreal Engine 5

With the shift to Unreal Engine 5, many expected Halo Studios to take its time for the first game. The team has been using Slipspace technology for the past decade, but the transition to Epic’s technology seems to be going smoothly, according to the report.

Halo Combat Evolved is still considered one of Xbox’s most successful titles. As such, a remake could be a game-changer for the series, and fans are excited to see where the IP goes next.

What are your thoughts on the IP potentially receiving its first remake soon? Do you plan on revisiting Halo again? Join the discussion in the comments, or share your thoughts on the official Tech4Gamers Forums.