OXM 109: Titanfall. Dark Souls 2. Free Games Special. Evolve.

Edwin writes: "That unholy radiance spilling onto the street outside your newsagent? Be not afeared, ye faithful - that's just the latest issue of Official Xbox Magazine. Our cover game is Titanfall, and we've risen to the occasion by plastering the wallet with hyper-futuristic silver lettering. It's like a disco in paper form. You may wish to wear some form of eye protection."

[SteamPowered]

And so it begins....

[Magicite]

it better be if MS want to stay in the console market for any longer

[Eonjay]

Well I think if it is we will know for sure after E3

[GarrusVakarian]

OXM say 2014, Master Chief himself says 2015, hmmmm.

Halo 5 would be the perfect way to end 2014, bring back invasion mode!

I found the quote -

"GameZone interviewed Downes and said the following: "I think you may be ahead of yourself on Halo 5. I wouldn't expect anything until 2015. What you can look forward to this year is an anniversary edition of Halo 2.""

I hope he's wrong.....but being the Master Chief....how could he be?

[bganci]

Steve downes went back on what he said about halo 5 and halo 2a

[Eonjay]

@bganci

I think he did that because they wanted it to be a surprise... even though they were hinting at H2A. Larry Hyrb was asked about it on Twitter and said he didn't want to comment because they need something to announce (I think he was referring to E3). Also, if they do release a beta in 2014 does that technically count as Halo 5 in 2014? I think Microsoft was on the right path in regards to Gears about not wanting to rush it. 343 should take the same path with Halo.

[Kingthrash360]

i'm no xbox one owner. but im a gamer and i care for games like halo. it would be a mistake to release it this year....i feel it would be rushed.
that my opinion at least. tf can fail the x1 will survive the multiplat game...but if they mess up halo, the mario of xbox, it will hurt them.
i think the cover may be just to drive sales through deception too...but hey maybe its true.

[Boody-Bandit]

Isn't a Halo 2 remake coming out in this year?
If so there is no way Halo 5 will be released in 2014 as well. Unless the Halo 2 remake was just a rumor?

[UltimateMaster]

I don't think it would make a difference if Halo 4 is released late 2014 or early 2015.
People that love Halo will buy the Xbox One whenever it's released regardless.

[BallsEye]

Not sure what you mean. So far I have a ton of exclusives to play on my xbox one. Dead Rising 3, Ryse, Forza , Planst vs Zombies, Project Spark this week, Titanfall next week, and plenty of others. So what are you playing?

[come_bom]

"Halo 5 Will Be Released in 2014 According to Official Xbox Magazine's Cover"

Wouldn't be surprised if Halo 5 is for 2014. AAA games have a average 2-3 year development cycle. Halo 4 was released in 2012.

[ovnipc]

Wait to 2015. To many games coming out this year.

[Retroman]

Since ps4 on the RAMPAGE HALO don't have system seller appeal anymore.it have much of appeal as CALL OF DUTY now which is blahhhhhhhh.

MS know this is 2015 release but out of desperation to PS4 rampage they releasing it now to gain momentum. as charley tuna would say : "SORRY charley to late"

[palaeomerus]

Halo 5 could probably make me buy an xbone. I might wait a little while though.

[combatcash]

A next gen (Halo or Gears) can definitely move systems I don't have an xbox one yet but when the price is right and depending on what they do with these franchises I will be all over it. I know many people who are waiting for it to drop in price and then the fun will begin.

I will also mention Fable with hope that they can make it what it's suppose to be.

[u got owned]

So much for H2 A...

[LAWSON72]

So much for me wanting a Xbone

[Blaze929]

i wouldnt be surprised. Two years since Halo 4 now, and what better a title to go into the system's first full year with?

@u got owned - i mean it's halo...for the most part, every game has always been "optimized"

[u got owned]

MS should hold it until 2015. Make sure is optimized.

@xx4xx

Well then it will be the end of Halo mark my words. This is the last chance they have to make the franchise relevant again, that includes 60 fps at least +900p resolution and a completely overhaul of the gameplay they need to go back to it roots and forget about going for the COD fans.

[xx4xx]

While that may have been the initial plan, the market has changed. They'll pull out all the stops to make it a 2014 release. They need it too bad. :)

[ABizzel1]

@u got owned

They need a mega seller, and Halo is it from them from a first party perspective.

I still think it's more likely that it's Halo Anniversary 2, and this is a reveal that it's coming in beta form. We'll see.

[UnholyLight]

When Halo 5 comes out it should be right where it needs to be. They'll have enough time between now and September to put the final polishes on the game.

My thoughts on it anyways. I think it's the perfect time and should help Microsoft shift a lot of X1 sales.

[KingDadXVI]

@u got owned

I don't think it would be the end of Halo but it would be a serious blow to 343's credibility with the franchise.

I agree that they need to set the bar high though and achieve it. The campaign for Halo 4 was good but the MP was not good. As you say they need to stop chasing COD and go back to what made Halo 2 and 3 so much fun online. It needs to be simplified so that the game is open to everyone and not just the hardcore crowd that plays 10 hours a day.

I was never the best at Halo online but I wasn't the worst either. In Halo 2 I usually maintained a level of 38 to 40 but in Halo 4 if you were not playing online from the start and didn't play 10 hours per day you just ended up being slaughtered. That drove a lot of people away.

Halo was an innovator in the FPS genre but once they stopped innovating and started copying COD things went down hill rapidly. They forgot that people played Halo online because it was Halo not COD.

If it takes them until 2015 to make the game right I say wait. I suspect that it may be a Beta though. That would give them a way to say Halo 5 is coming in 2014 but have the time to polish the game.

Then again the holiday season this year will be when the casual market starts to dominate sales and it would be a very good way to move consoles next Christmas if Halo 5 was coming out then too.

Hell, maybe the rumors that it was delayed until 2015 were not true and it always was going to land in 2014.

Who knows? We will have to wait and see I guess.

@xx4xx

With TitanFall out in a couple of weeks and a bunch more AAA exclusives coming coupled with 3.5 million in sales in 13 countries over 3 months I don't think that they are really desperate yet.

[curtis92]

Coming this year and literally nothing has been shown so far except a concept trailer... oh and also they had their lead designer leave for ND late last year.

And if I've said something that isn't factual please feel free to correct me.

@theWB27 Gotcha, thanks.

[theWB27]

She wasn't the lead designer. Frank Oconnor himself has cleared that up many a time over on Neogaf.

[cyclindk]

Come on... say it... you know you want to :)

[lets_go_gunners]

"Talking outta my ass cause I'm an idiot"...That's what I read from your comment.
Corrine Yu was an engine architect not a lead designer.

[Mikefizzled]

Corinne Yu was a lead architect on the engine they used for Hslo 4. She finished it and then left. Halo 5 is going to be using the same engine.

[4logpc]

They did the same thing with Halo 4. We saw next to nothing until the E3 before it came out, which was in the same year.

[Godz Kastro]

If so id be surprised... great year for x1 games. Bring on E3!

[Chanogram]

I have a feeling thats in reference to a beta... not the actual game. I know its just rumor, but i really think H2:A this year, and sometime first half next year, Halo 5.

[xx4xx]

Good point. I can see it now: Halo 5 beta access with purchase of H2A.

[n4rc]

Sounds about right

[ME1989]

I've read the preview in the magazine. Absolutely nothing there says it's coming this year, complete speculation on their part. It even says " While Microsoft considers it a 2014 title, later rumors suggested that this might refer to a beta rather than the final game.". Just a few new concept art images. Typical cover page eye grabber by OXM.

[Iltapalanyymi]

HAPPENING

[Convas]

INTENSIFIES

[nope111]

I doubt it, maybe a beta.

[Angainor7]

while i'm excited i also can't help it. i hope it's not rushed. i was ok with Halo 2: Anniversary for this year and Halo 5 in 2015. If this is true i hope to be good.

[u got owned]

If they release this year its gonna be rushed. I don't think two years is enough to make the jump to next gen and have an optimized app. If true expect low FPS and resolutions.

@Angainor7

the did confirmed 60fps, but history has shown that you can't believe MS on this confirmed bull crap.

[Angainor7]

i agree.

EDIT: they have already confirmed at E3 2013 that it's gonna be running at 60 FPS, the deal now is with the resolution.

[GarrusVakarian]

Master Chief says 2015 :(

[Relientk77]

Halo 2 Anniversary? is that 2015 then I guess

[Wikkid666]

2014
H5 on X1
H2A on X360

2015
H1A and H2A on X1

[bleedsoe9mm]

it would be a odd decision to have 2 halo games this fall , i guess it would get allot of people of the fence whether to buy a xb1 .

[Qwagy UK]

In glorious 720p!

[koliosis]

Let's all hope its in glorious 1080p and 60fps.

[curtis92]

1080p/60 on first person shooter would look quite unimpressive on xb1 since it's not an enclosed racer. I mean even F5 had to use sprites. This game would benefit more from 720p/30 in all seriousness.

[tuglu_pati]

I wouldn't count on it

[u got owned]

The Xbox One cant even run Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare at 1080p what makes you think it will run Halo at 1080p

[Stopher92]

LOL

[Tedakin]

343 confirmed it's 1080p and apparently 60fps. We'll see.... They have had the hardware way longer than anyone else.

[Qwagy UK]

I hope it is in 1080p and 60fps welcome to next gen.

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

Lets hope it Runs 1080p and 60fps... It uses the same engine as Destiny (REACH) so If they can run it looking better than Destiny on PS4 while running the same res and fps, then MS will be back in the Ballgame, either way, I hope Halo 5 is epic!

[QuantumWake]

60FPS has been confirmed. 1080p on the other hand... Eh, that seems a little far-fetched. Especially for the Xbox One considering all these sub-1080p games we've been getting.

My bet is it will be somewhere along the lines of the resolutions we've been getting which will be around 720-900p.

EDIT: ( http://www.eurogamer.net/ar... ) Well Eurogamer reports 1080p + 60FPS but I'm sure that will change upon release. That type of resolution and frame-rate will come at a severe cost to other parts of the game like lighting, shadows, etc.... We'll see what 343 does.

[tuglu_pati]

@QuantumWake

agree I dont think it will be 1080p at all. XBO does not have the power for it, specially considering how open are the maps on Halo at least in the first 3, ODST and Reach.

[DoubleM70]

You must don't know about directx 11.2 and tile resoucres that fits 6GB of data into 32MB ESRAM. Also Halo 2 anniverary is dropping this year in Novemember. Halo 5 next year

[QuantumWake]

@DoubleM70

I've heard of it but I don't know much about it. I'll hold you to this post once the game comes out.

[deadfrag]

Sorry Halo5 is not running in the the same engine has Destiny that i can assure you. Just because Bungie made Halo engine it does not mean they are working with the same for Destiny.

[palaeomerus]

Nor does Destiny use the same engine as Halo Reach.

[LexHazard79]

Hows that, when Halo 4 was made by 343 and their engine...btw Halo 4 looked fantastic on Xbox360. I would like to see what a new Halo looks like on Xbox One!

[PSnation4]

trying to get people to impulse buy an xbox one.. halo 5 is not coming out in 2014.. mid 2015 the earliest

[koliosis]

Halo 5 will set the bar.

[tuglu_pati]

that make me chuckle

[FanboyKilla]

you must be lol at infamous, knack, and killzone then. i was rolling on the floor when i seen deep down gameplay. wont even start on the order, wouldnt be fair to judge that yet, but the gameplay video sucked. phew, its gonna be a long year for the ps4. their best game is baseball lmfao.

but on topic, i think 343 has been working on this for a while. this is in house, its basically their machine. i see devs struggling with xone, i highly doubt 343 will have that problem. hopefully it will open the door for other devs to see xone can you just cant. dont want to say it isn't coming out this year because i and millions of others would love to see it. it does seem like a stretch though.

[xDHAV0K24x]

Plz 343i. DO NOT release Halo 5 this yr! Take ur time! Let Titanfall and Destiny "die" out a little and then make your move.

[christocolus]

i think i agree with you. i want halo 5 to be the best it can be, don't want ms rushing it out except maybe its been in development a lot longer than we all thought. they are releasing sunset overdrive and quantum break at fall, there's also titanfall and destiny as you've rightly said so imo there really isn't any need to push it out yet.. halo2 anniversary can be released instead.

i really want this game to be outstanding..same with the new gears of war.i guess at E3 we will finally know their plans.

[LexHazard79]

Yeah it makes better sense for 2015. Why would MS want to overshadow new exclusive IPs with a mega ip like Halo?

[Jag-T1000]

With all the negative publicity over resolution, it better release this Xmas season. A lot of people are jumping ship.
I myself am already planning to get a PS4 with my tax return.

[xDHAV0K24x]

Jumping ship or enjoying both sides of the 'war'?

[BattleTorn]

Even owning both, I always want to dedicate myself to one system.

MS has got to impress me with their exclusives now, cause as it stands my 3rd party purches are set to be on my PS4.

[palaeomerus]

Mine will be on PC where possible. Sadly Destiny I must get on PS4.

[Rask]

Hell yeah!

[Rapture271]

*cough cough* magazine: http://www.dl4all.com/e_boo...

page 10

</cough>
phew what was that..says 2014

[XiSasukeUchiha]

I thought 2015 confirmed by the voice actor of Master Chief

[PrinceOfAllSaiyans]

Hopefully there's no stupid armor abilities or sprint. 343 tries to cater to cod fans too much. Just bring back H3 style.

[xDHAV0K24x]

There should be playliststs that cater to both styles from the get go! MLG style for the hardcore and the other for the casuals. Unless i'm playing on the original xbox, I want sprinting as a standard.

[daedra]

No, no, nooooo, you must have been not around back in halo 2 days, one does not simply use abilities halo 2 was perfect without any extra armor stuff, all about getting lucky with that last sticky grenade, and last round clip in your gun.
Halo 4 was a master piece tthough, my favorite after halo2, but their isn't time to enjoy the game if everything is competitive and fast. At least make it like halo 3 where you gotta pick up equipment.

[JediDiah]

Their play with my feelings. :(

[JokesOnYou]

I actually think pre holiday Sept 2015 is a great time for Halo5. The 1st next gen Halo on X1 would no doubt be a blockbuster that will pick up momentum all the way through Christmas 2015....besides on top of the launch games 2014 is stacked with awesome major titles like Titanfall, Project Spark, and Quantum Break.

[purp13m0nk3y]

What's to bet MS are pushing the developer HARD for a 2014 release. I just hope it doesn't effect the final games quality.

We all saw what rushing a game does for quality with the launch titles on PS4 and Xbox1. Both BF4 and KZ would have benefitted greatly from an extra couple of months development. I'd much rather they take as much time as they need and release a polished game.

Only time will tell I suppose.

[BattleTorn]

It's not time though, to them it's $$$.

What your saying is 'you'd rather developers take as much money as they need (from publishers) to release a polished game.

Publishers don't want to invest that addition money.(time)

Where as in this case, the publisher being Microsoft, I think they'll be pushing hard for 2014 because of the holidays more than anything.

[LexHazard79]

If Halo 5 comes out this yr, I might have to consider a XB1 purchase for Black friday/Holidays!

[90Supra]

They're rushing it to market...

[corvusmd]

Don't rush it guys..with Halo 2 Anniversary coming this year, we can get a Halo fix to hold us over...just take whatever time you need to do it right. Hopefully they are using the new SDK kits with DX 11.2

[larrysdirtydrawss]

halo can release every year,its not gonna matter. theres fatigue in the series and a dif dev all together.... they need to just make this a multi-plat game only,the campaign in 4 was mediocre at best

[tuglu_pati]

Huh?

[DevilishSix]

Releasing Halo 5 this year would big mistake. It would be only two years between games and since they have been working on dlc it would mean they have had less time to work on it plus its on a new platform. I don't think it will be ready. Plus why would they want to go up not only against COD but against Bungies new IP Destiny. This year wouldn't make sense and imagine if Destiny is much better than Halo 5 it wouldn't look good.

[palaeomerus]

Destiny is coming in September so if Halo hits in November there'd be no problem. A COD comes out every year so you'ne not go up against CoD.

[Ashunderfire86]

Wait wasn't that quote from E3 2013? It must be dated by now. OXM need to change their facts, and that cover looks different than my kindle edition of this magazine. Hmmmm.

[bornsinner]

ps4 will still have killzone to play..... LOL

[palaeomerus]

Shadowfall was lousy.

[Azzanation]

Any Halo game will be worth buying XB1 for, its there grand daddy franchise. Halo 2 Anniversary will be most likely the case this year then Halo 5.

Either way the budget levels of Halo games will be quality games regardless of there due dates.

[tkato]

Money doesn't insure a good end product. you need time in order the mature a good game and a great team. sadly, money usually takes care of the time issue, but it seems that MS is stressed to get this game into the market.

[tommygunzII]

The should call it Halo One.

[Chrisgamerguy]

I love halo!

[CharlesSwann]

Halo, on a Microsoft console. Never saw it coming.

[tkato]

if it's not bungie i'm not playing. just saying. nvm anyway, no way i'm getting an xbone this generation.

[A7XEric]

Ugh Halo 4 only came out 2 years ago. How do you expect a dev to rebuild their tech for a new system and crank out a title the scope of a Halo game in that time?

I hope this is only referring to a beta because this game should not come out this year.

[Kevin26385]

This is a mistake if true. They need to release Halo 2 Anniversary this year if they don't want to get crushed by Destiny.