OXM rumor: Gearbox developing Halo 4 as launch title for next Xbox

Remember back in February when Gearbox Software big boss Randy Pitchford teased his studio's next project as something "big"? Well, not just "big" but something that was "even bigger" than anything Gearbox is currently working on? Well, the kids at OXM sure remembered and they sent their spies deep undercover into Gearbox territory and came back with one heck of a rumor for their October issue: Gearbox is working on Halo 4 as a launch title for the next Xbox (NextBox?).

With Bungie admittedly uninterested in creating Halo games ad nauseum, and Gearbox one of the industry's top FPS developers, we've certainly heard crazier rumors. And there are few licenses that would get a studio chieftain to inadvertently slam his own games in development. Whatever the project is, Pitchford has said he'll be directing it himself, adding, "When you find out what this is, you'll likely agree that I can't oversell this one." Nope, you probably couldn't Randy. Overselling Halo is Microsoft's job anyway; you guys just make with the shooting of the aliens ... no, the other aliens.

[morganfell]

Well well, I have only posted this news on this board 4 times that I can count.

[TheColbertinator]

Yeah I have heard this rumor myself.Hopefully Microsoft isn't getting the next console ready for next year because I think the 360 has not yet reached its limit so it would be unfair of Microsoft to rush things simply for profit

[XboxOZ360]

SO, it doesn't mean it can't be approached ina different fashion, simply because someone else has mentioned it perhaps a different context.

If that was the case, no news of any kind would get legs or increase as once it's posted, then by your definition, it shouldn't be discussed again . .

SOrt of misses the point really.

If you did post items on it in the past, that's great, but perhaps more ppl are now aware of it, and have different views on it and want to share those views. I'd be adding my views on it if I had of already posted an item on it in a similar way beforehand. As many may not have read the earlier one . . .

Just share your news rather than worry about who did what when and who beat who to the punch. If we want to stay informed, we need to be kept up todate with news, even if it's only slightly newer news.

Share with us, don't pout in the corner

[GameDev]

it is you who is missing the point, MOrgan's point is that it was ignored by the xbots because he is a PS3 supporter.

[Kratos Spartan]

Your opinions are not facts. Stop trying to convince people otherwise. You provide no links for your claims.

[XboxOZ360]

It's really hard to give links to the printed media mate, so I'll direct you to two publications, and if you can be bothered to read them, you'll find the information in there that i've quoted or mentioned.

They are Opening The Xbox and Xbox 360 Uncloaked, both written by renowned game journalist Dean Takahashi . . . who was given complete access to MS records and information when he secured the the go ahead to write the books on the xbox platform.

Not ALL things are on the net, and not all things ever will be, Not every book published is available on the net in full content, so not supplying a link does not automatically make a "statement" false of untrue.

ANd no, I don't ignor his post because he's a PS3 supporter, in actual fact, if you read, I amed him for MORE comments rather than to shut up. Perhaps other "may" have,but not all Xbox supporters are like that, just the same as not all PS3 fans are like that.

If you're a "gamer", then you will be open to everyone's opinions and comments, so it applies to both sides of the fence mate.

We've had news items blocked and reported so they get shut down by groups of PS3 supporters, simply because the item was Xbox related. So it applies to both sides. Gamers, in the real sense of the word will be open to listening to all information, fanboys on the otherhand, irrespective of the platform they support are blinkered fools and are a right pain in the arse.

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

i would hope for another 4 years with the 360...its a special system that will fair better than the 360 who cares if they end up in third as long as they profit

[Arsenic13]

This doesn't really say that the 360 is being phased out soon. The next game is just slated for the next Xbox. I think its a good job, maybe Halo can finally be a serious and more engaging game.

[Snukadaman_]

It takes about that long to make a game....maybe 3 years....4 years with the extra work ...its possible.

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

Why not this gen...I mean graphics this gen did not make the same jump as last gen so w8ing a while console games wont care unless the i think for at least 7 years because graphics aren't moving as fast as they once were i mean look at cyrsis and then gears of war and metal gear they look better but not those 3000 dollar computer better ..simply it just aint worth it

[Bnet343]

It's a rumor guys, calm down.

Edit: @ Bubbles

Why not this gen? Well, a Halo game at launch would sell systems like crazy. It would be a smart move by Microsoft and give them a huge boost.

[n4gzz]

Hmm !! could be better or worse. Either way its good for me 'coz i really tried to like halo but its just didn't appeal me. I played Halo 1 for about 2 hours and I gave up. Didn't even try 2 or 3. If the game mechanism is different on 4, i might give it try again. After all its such a big franchise. Now, I am not saying Halo is bad game, in fact it is great game. Most of my friend, they are in love with Halo series. I just have different taste when it comes to FPS.

[RemmM]

AGAIN I was right....Halo 4 coming to X Box 720 :) I predict FF7 Remake is coming for PS4.

[XboxOZ360]

There is a distinct difference between a "life cycle" of a gaming console, and a "viable sales period before new tech being included"

The first Xbox was simply designed as a stepping stone to introduce the platform to developers, and most importantly, to get XboxLIVE off the ground and in peoples home PRIOR to releasing the 360.

Which btw, was being designed and built from as early as 2003, not long after the 1st-Gen Xbox was released in Nov 2002. The x720 began its life two weeks before the release of the 360 in Nov '05 (US release) when the main team was split in half. Half went with J Allard onto the ill-fated Zune Project, the other half went straight into the designing and building of the x720 (seems that's the official code name for it btw). Source: Opening The Xbox and Xbox 360 Unleashed by Dean Takahashi.

The "Life Cycle" of the 360 is around 10 years, MS has said this and they mean it, but that does not mean a new console will not be released during that time, which in turn has its own life cycle, so that each overlap the other. There needs to be overlap to allow for merging of games from one to the other, so that developers get to grips with one and then have time to get to know the new one, rather than waiting 10 yrs and then making a new console.

The next x720 should be with ups as early as Nov '09 or as late ast last financial quarter of '09, which is early 2010.

The new unified GPU/CPU motherboard called Valhalla will be the motherboard for the x720 and is earmarked for release in that window just mentioned. That would fall inline with Gearbox working on a Halo Project (FPS) and allow both the game and the x720 time for development.

Please don't confuse life cycle with development cycle. The two are completely different, and need to treated as such. We can't have such a long period between design cycles now as we once had, if they did (Sony, MS, Nintendo) they would be behind the eight ball within a few years to a point they simply couldn't catch up.

The older release cycle of 5 yrs or more on console is now dead, at best it will be 4 yrs for the majors. SOny ARE working on the PS4 as we speak, and have been for some time, and if you check, you'll find job applications looking for designers and programmers working of the "next iteration of Sony gaming hardware" dah . .!

The Wii will have a rebuild as well, that's agiven . .as Nintendo to NOT hold on to the belief youhaveto have a console, be it handheld of shelf, for a 5 yr period. They re-released a new DS every 2 years, and they sold big time.

[XboxOZ360]

To those that disagree, how can you disagree with 'facts' . . . duoh, some people simply disagree to disagree ... Fact is, MS IS making the x720, Sony ARE making the PS4, Nintendo IS making a Wii second iteration.

Fact is, MS will be using the Valhalla's unified Motherboard on the new x720. Which is due for release lat '09 or early 2010. Which means

That the x720 will be released around that time - hello.

Sony's PS4 is planned for release around mid to lat 2010 if all goes well, they started on it no sooner than the second wave of PS3's were released, and Ken K was "retired" from Sony.

So how can one dispute fact. The only rumour about the issue is, will Gearbox's IP be the new Halo (whatever number it is) and when will it be released.

My best bet scenario is for the first quarter of 2010 alongside the release of the x720. As this would fit in perfectly with the time needed to develop the game, which they are no doubt already working on and have been for some time. That would give them at the very least 3 years all up to work on the project. It's not as if it's a whole new concept, so the normal 4-5 yr period for game development is shortened somewhat.

They will use a few game releases before then to continue the growth of the 360, but be holding off on a few "big guns" for the x720 release. The x720 will not complicate earlier games at all, and will simply ad enhancement to the current games available . . . no emulation etc, just drop in and play, but may well look and run better.

The Playstation platform did much the same thing as the Xbox did. The first Playstation was a test case, they found out what they needed to know and moved to the next logical console, which is the one they then gave a solid "life cycle" so as to carry the platform into the obvious next iteration (PS3).

The 1st-Gen Xbox was the initial test unit, had a simple life span of 3-4 yrs tops, to be completely phased out once the 360 got in the door, usually 12mth after release. Guess what, 12 moths after the 360 was released, production stopped on the Xbox. It didn't fail, it did it's job, just like the very first Playstation did.

There's some excellent books out there that if you read them (yes, I know, it's a new concept not many have grasped yet - reading that is) that if you did read, you'd find most of this information there is for your use and knowledge . . .

[AAACE5]

The 360 should continue along the same path as the ps2. The xbox 1 was just a problem for MS which is why they left it behind. Too much has been invested in the 360, and MS won't let that pass.

Once the new console comes out, the 360 will be targeted more towards kids like what happened with ps2!

Remember MS wants to achieve what Sony did with the ps1 and ps2, so logically that means they will follow what was done in the past!

***Oh, you guys want a rumor, I got one for ya... The next Halo games story will revolve aroung the female character Nichole(from DOA 4), and will have totally new enemies, environments and gameplay!***

[InMyOpinion]

Most people on N4G prefer fiction before facts. Maybe they just can't deal with the truth? I think many Sony fans get upset by your comment cause they firmly believe that Sony aren't going to release a new console in 10 years, hence the ten year lifespan they are bragging about. It's a statement full of ambiguity. Most of us realize that they will be forced to put out a new console as soon as Microsoft decides to do it. Bubbles for writing great comments!

[Bangladesh]

That was a very interesting read, and I think your points are not only valid, but should be obvious to anyone that keeps up with gaming.

You spoke of the x720 using a CPU/GPU hybrid. This troubles me because I have yet to see a hybrid chip that was any good. The Emotion Engine was a hybrid, and the Cell was originally going to be a hybrid (the RSX was added after Sony spent 3 years trying to make it perform to the level of current generation GPU's to no avail) , neither of which have proven to be an overly good game development solution. Don't you think the use of a hybrid would ruin any chance of current generation 360 games being backwards compatible next generation?

edit- also is there somewhere that I could read up on this hybrid chip?

[jspc1989]

Finally someone who has something inbetween their ears! lol.

But!, at the same time you were wrong about one thing. Msoft didnt discontinue the original xbox purely because that was just a test run, they discontinued it because Nvidia stopped making the graphics chips which means Msoft didn't really get much choice in the matter.

Think about they lost around $4 billion last gen, do you honestly think they just shrugged that under the carpet by choice. The fact is the last xbox could have still been going today just as the ps2 is, had msoft not relied on third party hardware manufacturers.

Fortunately Msoft isnt exactly brittle when it comes to the size of the companies very deep pockets, so the xbox brand isnt going anywhere, which I for one am happy about :-), as apart from hardware faults which are in a way - inexcusable - overall they are a company that likes to deliver, even if they more focused on profits than anything else (which is understandable as there isnt a single company on earth that isnt).

[masterg]

How in the world can anybody take this as good news. (If true)

If Halo 4 is in development for the next Xbox, it would mean MS had given up on this gen. It would mean they are trying to rush out the next console just like they did with this one.

It means Gears of war 3 is going down the same road.
It means the best IP's the 360 has to offer is no longer coming with new games to the 360.
It means every body with a 360 would be left in the dust just like they did with the original Xbox.

How in the world can anybody take this as good news.

People need to remember that technology advancement made from 2000 to 2005 is way higher than the technology advancement made from 2005 to 2010. Processing power is not doubling every year like it did back then.

[TheExecutive]

3 more years for the 360? well if they overlap systems and still support the 360, then yes. But SIX years for just the 360? wha? The technology is already starting to look a little older, 3 more years of it? I HIGHLY doubt it. Sales have progressively gone down from the 1st year to the 2nd and I am almost positive that they will sell less this year than they did last year.

The numbers just dont add up to the xbox3 coming out in 2012. I would say Q3 2010 at the earliest and Q4 2011 at the latest. If MS tries to hold out for 3 more years its gonna be in trouble.

ABSOLUTELY no one could possibly argue that the 360 was built for a 6 year lifecycle. It just wasnt built that way. There is nothing wrong with the hardware choices the 360 made unless they try and last for 6 years.

[Bangladesh]

No, to your whole post. If that's the case then the PS3 is outdated as well. If you remember correctly, the PS3 was scheduled to release Spring 06 (3 monthes after 360). But was delayed because of licensing issues with blu-ray and poor yields on blu-ray diodes.

You can't buy a 360 for $129, so there is plenty of life cycle left. 360 will be around 10 years.

[dantesparda]

Um, Im I the only one who noticed they said that "Gearbox" is going to be making it!?

[TheExecutive]

bangladesh??

10 years of DVD? are you serious? So you are telling me that MS is going to support the 360 for 10 years? I dont think so. The 360 was never, ever, built to last that long.

So no to your whole post. Please explain to me who will be playing games on a 3 core, DVD format system in 2016? That is f*cking insanity. The 360 CANNOT STAND BY ITSELF until 2012. There is no way that will happen. It may be SUPPORTED but the 720 will be out by 2011 at the latest.

Secondly, I never mentioned the PS3. That is a different console with different goals.

[johnnypatras]

XboxOZ360, very nice writing ;-) but you've also written some things that are not right(no offence, please).
Just to clarify things, the unified GPU/CPU motherboard, code-named Valhalla, is not the next XBOX. It will ( at least, according to rumors) be just further shrinking of the Xbox 360, leading to cost reductions, less heat dissipation, less power consumption,possibly integration of the power supply in the box etc. etc., making the console more profitable.
I would expect the new XBOX to ship around 2011, personally.
Sorry for my English guys, not my native language.

[XboxOZ360]

Thanks mate, re the graphics chip change.

As early as Spring '03, MS Xbox-Div went on the hunt for a new CPU/GPU for the 360 . . yes, that early, as they had to sign up thousands of contracts for parts from the simplest screws, right down to the main casing once a design was accepted. (there ended up being 9 final designs btw)

One of the BIG reasons MS changed was that Nvidia were not willing to look at alternatives in the areas MS were, and most importantly, not willing to allow MS to have rights over the chip once produced. MS wanted Nvidia to construct a "custome designed chip, but to have the cost kept within a certain budget so as not to blow the final Retail Price off the scale.

As quoted by Marv Burkett, chief financial officer at Nvidia at the timer "They wanted a custom design, but they didn't want to pay the price".

The both chip companies were vying for the deal right up until the very last minute, and in fact Nvidia actually thought they had the deal, only to find out that IBM had beaten them to the punch with a last minute pitch to MS Xbox-Div by offering MS ownership over their chipset and the commitment to work on a Unified Chip for the x720.

Intel had a chip in the works at the time that code named Tejas, a Pentium4 that promised to run at speeds faster than 4ghz, due to arrive in '05, but Intel never offered the Tejas, but MS did ask for it, but at a far lower price than Intel were willing to sell it for in '05. Plus the fact that test showed that a chip running that speed would need significantly more cooling than they had planned, again, raising the end cost in production.

Neither Intel or Nvidia were willing to sign over rights for their chips to MS. By not doing so, it meant that the final cost would be higher on the finished item, as they would control the production, whereas if MS owned it, they (MS) could use their own plants to build the chips, saving huge amounts on the finished product.

So in walked IBM and ATI who were willing to do just that, (there were being pitched at the same time as the others as an alternative, so all parties knew everyone was vying for a slice of the MS 360 pie. They (IBM/ATI) could see the advantages of being in millions of end users lounge rooms by 2010. But this meant a change in direction regarding 1st-Gen games playing on the 360. Which is another story.

@ johnnypatras :

Not doubting you mate, or your English mate. However, the Valhalla is the last of the current series of motherboards which will be preceded by the two final ones for the 360, Jasper and Opus. The Valhalla is the one which is supposedly carrying the new unified MB which they began looking into as early as 2003.

I's release is to correspond with the new x720 in or around late '09 or early 2010. While the Jasper (which replaces the Falcon and due in Fall of '08) and Opus MB's will be fitted in between that period and the x720's release, as they reduce the over costs on production and reduce the size and thus production costs on the MB's.

In fact, the name Valhalla is not the actual name of the Motherboard per se', but the name of the "Super Chip" which will be mounted on the unified GPU/CPU motherboard which is yet to be actually "named", but scheduled for release in the x720.

The last MB in this current series will most likely be the Opus due out in '09.

But I hear some saying, yeah but that only gives the Opus a short life span as the Superchiped Valhalla will be out by late '09 early 2010.

Yes, it will, but the Valhalla equipted motherboard is for the x720, NOT the 360. The Opus will be the last MB for that series, and will last the remainder of years in the 360 and the Valhalla equipted MB will be the initial MB for the next iteration of hardware.

So while one ends, yet continues, the new is introduced and heads the way. Get it . . . you can't just drop one and start a new one, there MUST be overlap and there must be two version on the market to offer choice and a transition period between models. 360 - x720 etc.

@ jspc1989 :

Not tryingto ruffle you mate, however, Steve Balmer and Robbie Bach both signed off on a budget that allowed around 6.3 billion loss over the next 7 years from the release of the 1st-gen Xbox as a worse case scenario, but at a best case scenario, they could come home with a profit as early as mid '08 if everything went their way.

This was outlined in a 80 page white paper released by the heads of Xbox-Div in 2003 called XE 03. So yes, they were willing to simply right that amount off. At the time, MS had over $US32 billion of cash assets (liquid assets) while Sony had just $US3 billion. They (MS) could see thatthey could afford the possible loss of that amount in the greater scheme of things, and when Bill Gates and Steve Balmer as well as Robbie Bach read the XE 03, and did the numbers, they could see the "possibilities" and signed off on it.

Up until that point, the 360 was still on paper, but not a solid fact regarding budgetary expenses. The MS Xbox-Div had to meet targets and budgets in order to get further funding during the design and early stages of its conception.

If anyone wants some detailed info on these facts or information, then I'd suggest reading just two major works by Dean Takahashi called, Opening The Xbox and Xbox 360 Unlcoaked. Both excellent reads and give some very detailed insights into the console as a platform. You'll find them at Amazon.com or any online store. I managed to get a signed copy from Dean several years ago.

[etownone]

that sucks... it should be released within this console's lifespan.

anyways... i see rumors for halo 4 and it bring me back to last year and the flood of rumors, news, and pics before the release of halo 3

[lodossrage]

I say this because this might be a bad move. When the original creator is taken off of a franchise and it's given to a new developer, it loses a great deal of its personality and style.

Look at what happened to crash bandicoot when Naughty Dog sold it

Look at what happened to Spyro when Insomniac sold it.

I'm not saying Halo will suffer the same fate. Gearbox is a good group. But regardless, the possibility of Halo loosing some of its substance is very real if Bungie isn't the developer working on it

Of course, for now this is just a rumor. So we have no idea how much of this is true (if any of it at all)

[etownone]

"Look at what happened to crash bandicoot when Naughty Dog sold it

Lot at what happened to Spyro when Insomniac sold it."

I didn't know those were the original teasm behind those games... PS3 could have had some major console exclusive platformers, and judging by the latest work from those developers, those games could have been sick.

[r2kcipher]

this may be good if true! hopefully they add the strategy element to it. allot like BIA. but it probably wont include master chief. cause hes a loner. that means the combat will be more realistic than the others too. wich is a good thing, and what the series needs imo.

[lodossrage]

but at the same time it MIGHT not. To me, this is a gigantic risk. Even more so because Halo is MS flagship franchise. If it works out, it will payoff big. But if it doesn't work out, the fall might be devastating.

But for now, we'll just have to see if the rumor holds true or not.

[Bnet343]

Gearbox did Halo PC.

@lodossrage

True. But it's not the same as Spyro and Crash situation.

[lodossrage]

But we aren't talking about a simple port here.

Now we're talking about a full fledged game of their own. Big difference

[r2kcipher]

i completely understand what ur saying. this is a different company. and they have a much different style then bungie. so there is a chance this game may fail. but to me BIA has better gameplay than halo 1-3. so i would like to see halo 4 be developed by gearbox. and of course i am the minority. more people like the simple halo gameplay they have come to expect. but i think its time it evolves.

[lodossrage]

Hey, I'm all for any game evolving. Improving is always a great thing. But yeah, like you just said r2k, Gearbox favors more realistic styles of play. That MIGHT make the next Halo less accessible for some people. OR, like you said, it could raise it to the next level.

[CrippleH]

Another dumb rumor.

[Xheratuul]

i hope halo 4 to be good with another developer.

[Young Puzzle]

hope they have grapics that don't look as if it should be labeled halo 3.5

[FantasyStar]

Halo 3 is Halo 2.5. Therefore...

Halo 4 would be Halo 3 or Halo 3.5 (It's madness to add 1.5!)

But yes, I was severely disappointed in the graphics of Halo 3 when I was promised E3 2k6 graphics. Bungie was always at the forefront of technical limits, but not this time. I have low expectations for Halo 4 if it turns out Halo 4 is Halo 3 with more weapons and blah blah. The whole "Don't fix it if it's not broken" speech gets old quick with every passing Madden Game.

[silverchode]

i think this would be better so the game wont be rushed.

[Arsenic13]

Im hoping for a more serious and realistic Halo. Hopefully Gearbox can deliver on that next gen.

[soljah]

confirmed just like the first xbox ms already giving up. 2 years from now i will have another paper weight sitting on my desk.

[ozsman]

Who are you trying to convince?

Its just a rumor based on a nothing. Anyways i hope they make it for the 360. Just to see what the sales would be like.

[Chuck Norris]

Halo 4, Allan Wake, and Splinter Cell: Conviction as launch titles.

[Arsenic13]

Alan Wake is being worked on. Remedy just said like a week or 2 ago that they are hard at work on it, they are just not showing it off. As for Splinter Cell, that game is deep in the shadows some where.
Im just hoping that MS next box isnt going to pop up to soon.

[thekingofMA]

that would be pretty damn awesome

[TrevorPhillips]

game better run at higher then 720p

[n4gzz]

It will be 1080 p standard for almost all games for 720 or ps4. Live will be free and mandatory download. Like it or not but that's what we are getting. As long as competition is alive, we gamers are in real treat.

[SmokingMonkey]

M$ is trying to do to the gaming industry, what it did with PC software industry.. try and bring out new sh!t before we've had a chance to fully enjoy the last sh!t....VISTA and the 360 are both proof of this lame business technique...and the RRoD and XP's dominance prove why it's bad for the consumer and great for M$ wallet.

[Dyingduck]

We called Microsoft M"$"
We called Xbox owners = X"bots" for their blindness

[trancefreak]

ya no doubt bubbles up bro

[Pain]

To make as much money as it can,thats why it entered the console market, they wanted some of that oh so green back and right now Xbox 2 cant compete with PS3 anymore so its new Xbox in 09/10 .

Xbox 2 was good for trying to be a PS2 but PS3 made it inferior so its back to the drawing bored or Photo copiers again.

still wonder how they will get around the Blu-ray.

[Bangladesh]

We were reading news about the PS4 just a few days ago.
http://n4g.com/Search.aspx?...

You Phail

[jack who]

more bull crap? mk

[mirroredderorrim]

Let us see if "gearbox" is doing the game and then, more importantly, if the game delivers. Xbox 720?

Oh, man. I need to blog my thoughts. I would get some controversy going on.

Bubbles to ALL! Let's have some debate and general conversation going on here~!

[XboxOZ360]

AHh - a sensible person, they do exist.

I have seen information for some time leading to this conclusion. Even as far back as 2005 things were written up within MS Xbox-Div to bring the next iteration of their platform out by "around 2010" giving them a 5 yr window to establish the second generation of console.

Gears Of War was engaged much earlier to be THE game for the 360 to help move it in sales - NOT the once thought of golden boy, Halo's Master Chief. Halo had been moved to a 2006 release as early as late 2005- early 2006. As the developers wanted more time, as it was 'earmarked' for a April release in 2006 initially, and was moved to their second release slot, November 2006. Allowing them a solid window to build on the Gears game. Giving them a solid 12/24 month periods between the different major IPs.

Cliff Belenski originally fronted MS's Ed Fries in 2004/5 about the game, then called something else and got the nod for it over drinks at the bar one evening at a major event. Releasing the x720 on or near '09/'10 will fit in perfectly with how their 7 yr plan will work, which was outlined in white paper/s called the XE 30 which most of the heads of the various departments had to contribute to during the early development of the 360 as early as 2003.

They had budgeted to lose at least $US3.2 bil (I actually believe it was higher than that, but just looking for validation on that figure now and something around the $US6.1 bil mark touted by Robbie Bach as head of finance - and other areas- at the time) in a worse case scenario over the initial Xbox and first 7 years of the 360's life, but also in a good case, they would break even by early or mid 2008. Which they have done. SO it 'seems' everything is going as planned. It just seems to those uninformed that it's a bit of a hit-n-miss approach as they forget this is well planned. just like any major company does years in advance.

The only thing Sony did NOT take into consideration with the PS3, which basically shot them down big time, was Ken K's obsession with the console and his resistance, nay refusal to listen to those above him, and pull in his grand ideas and make the console profitable, not build it beyond what the average gamer would normally pay.

If he had of followed some direction, the PS3 would be the one leading the way atm. With MS's 360 following on behind. But, Japanese loyalist being what they are, did not listen to the Gajins ("round eyes" "white dogs" "foreigners") and many just refused to even obey direct orders from their CEO of Sony directly. Causing huge rifts internally which are only now starting to heal.

I do believe the x720 will come alongside a "major" game release to propel it into the lounge rooms of the loyal followers. And what better title that their flagship Halo Series. It just makes perfect sense and fits in perfectly with what has been written about it over the last few years.

[XXXCouture]

XBOXOZ360 -> You make alot of guesses of what happens when, and what would have happened if they did this and that. But you can't know all that for sure, it's just guesses.

You should blog your thoughts, like mirroredderorrim. I'm sure a lot of people would read it (no sarcasm there)

And about the disagrees, i think they disagree because you say "this should happen in '10" and so on, and that's not fact. Well maybe it is, but it's not fact, until it happens. And don't forgot there is always fanboy's that presses disagree, as soon they find out you got a xbox. Don't know if you've been a victim of that though.

You had some good points though.

peace

[Fade_Walker]

Developed my Gearbox?

Ok I'll trust them, after all they did do the Halo 1 port to PC along with the Brothers in Arms Series and I think they also ported Half Life to PS2.

And right now they have Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, Borderlands and Aliens coming out.

Or this could all be BS and Bungie is working on Halo 4 right now and it will be released in 2009 or 2010 for the 360.

[trancefreak]

that article 1 no halo mentioned, 2 no new console mentioned. pretty week rumor if u ask me

[Droid]

all they did was brothers in arms, and who the hell played that?

hopefully some of valve's genius rubbed off on them when they ported Half Life 1 over to the PS2. we can only hope.

it might be a nice change for Halo's direction from a new dev. I would actually look forward to that.

[Crazyglues]

Why in the world would you get Gearbox to make Halo 4 the biggest console game in gaming history... These guys don't know nothing about making a killer FPS...

why not get the guys making Crysis... or Infinity Ward... jesus, I can think of at least 8 other companies before I would ever think Gearbox..

But I guess it's because they did Halo for PC... most people don't know that...and yeah it came out good...

-But this is the franchise, I just don't know if this was a wise move.

[DARK WITNESS]

Halo 4....... i am still waiting for halo 2 !

for me personally ( and please remember these are just my feelings ) i was never satisfied with halo 2 and 3 as sequels.

and the truth is i don't see bungie bringing back any of the original feel they got with the first halo. with each sequel that has come out, more and more feels like its been lost.

its hard to explain, but thats just how i feel. maybe, maybe gearbox can do that. maybe they can see what bungie missed and make a real sequel that does justice to the first one.

i know halo 2 and 3 were all about the multiplayer. but halo CE had a great single player.. i loved it... i still do.. i am yet to play any fps game that i have played the single player as much as i have played halo ce.

anyway, i just have a feeling halo is just going to be one of those games, nothing will ever match the first one. i hope i am wrong.

[DoctorXpro]

I want Bungie not Gearbox

[TrevorPhillips]

Xpro PT i have to disagree with you on that one gearbox makes the best fps game and it will be a good choice for gearbox to take over i mean if it was bungie developing halo 4 they would just rush it like halo 3 more like halo 2.5 and halo 4 would be more like halo 3.5 you get me

[mirroredderorrim]

Haha! Now, now. It was Microsoft that rushed it! Not Bungie. Bungie was still owned and at the whip(mercy) of Microsoft to make this game and get it out the door in time to help further "crush" Sony at it's weakest point in the next gen console race.

We know how this ends up, though...

[Firstkn1ghT]

I go where Halo goes. If the next console comes out tomorrow than I'll be in line.

[PirateThom]

Gearbox is a questionable choice for a game...

They've made some good ports (the Godly Half-Life port on PlayStation 2 for example), but I honestly can't think of a really good game they've made.

[NanoGeekTech]

I told you so...................

It makes sense.......the 720 is right around the corner....H4 will be on 720....GOW III will be on 720.....ME2(maybe) ME3( of course) these two titles may even go multi-platform( my guess... money talks BS walks)

I was never a big fan of Halo after part 2....I will also predict that Bungie will make a game for the PS3.......We will hear something some time next year!!!!!!

I think people are blind if they are rumors that GearBox is currently working on H4 as a launch title for the 720.....THIS SOUND LIKE THE 720 IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER......with sales slumping and the great price reductions on its way...are we going to see a Xbox 360.5? SOON....

MS has no great news of anything totally insane for 2009 except for FF and Gearbox is working on H4 for the 720!!!!!!something does not feel right...

Hey>>>>>>&g t;>>>> for the record...I will be purchasing the 720..GOW III will be pretty sick...

PSN: ProPaperPusher
360: KMJFNIGUY

[iconic blade]

i would be more than happy to get the next xbox if it was launched with halo4,then a year later gow3 and cod.3 top quality shooters as well as forza4.what are you lot moaning about? lol.. if the new xbox was released in 2010 then that would mean the 360 would have been out for nearly 5 years.

ms would not dump the 360 like it did the old xbox,the 360 still has a good few years for it.

i would rather have halo4 on the next xbox than it being on the 360 as it would have more power which will give halo4 to have a greater chance of making it a better game.

the next xbox could not fail with having halo4 and gow3 as their titles.

so long long that i can take my 360 gamerscore over to the next xbox i would be happy

[Fatmanp]

Ihop ethey do the multiplayer Bungie suck at making multiplayer in sequels.

[pain777pas]

If M$ wants to do what Sony has done they already failed. PS1 opened the gaming flood gates. There were like 100 million sold. No one has achieved such success right out the gate except maybe the gameboy combining all its various versions. The PS2 correct me if I'm wrong is still giving the next gen consoles a fight. Some of the best games I've played even up till now were played on the system. I don't know about anyone else but M$ is doing good right now but something tells me that they are going to launch the same sort of strategy that they did this gen next gen with Halo leading the charge. They have got to think like Nintendo now and Sony. Nintendo pretty much introduced every gameplay oriented innovation there is from tilt to touch. Sony ushered in the 3d experience to the masses with the PS1 and the eyetoy. Microsoft has expanded the Sega Dreamcast dream as far as online functionality goes and little else. I have no desire to buy an xbox again after the RROD situation really turned me off I couldn't play for like 3 weeks and there are too many shooters and metoo games. They need to innovate stop buying and start trying to think outside the box.

[El Padre]

Riiiight, "stop buying", so they have less games on their console?

[kevnb]

Halo without Bungie... not interested.

[cereal_killa]

Everyone is jumping the gun this is just a rumor guys relax. I believe Bungi said they were working on a "Halo" title so unless the expansion pack for H3 is it then this could be true but at the same time i would say the M$ is feeling desperate to make sure people continue to stay with M$ when the 720 (or whatever they call it) launches... I don't care what anyone says the RROD hurt there reputation as being a reliable gaming console IMO, if i was a parent and knew nothing about video games and the sales person told me that the 360 has a problem with breaking down (RROD) i wouldn't even think of picking this up for my child. No one really know when the next system will be announced you can look at the statistics all you want but nothing is for certain.

[AnthonyPerez]

I'm torn on this one. Gearbox is good, but Bungie not doing a Halo feels very unnatural. I'm sure they'll do an admiral job, but it wasn't exactly their baby.

It's all a bit disconcerting.

[IaMs12]

This is neat... it would be a great launch title of Halo for the new Xbox just need to make it as fun and worth it like Halo 1 was...

[hazardman]

If this rumor is true.im more than happy to know Gearbox is developing Halo 4..they have worked on countless FPS Half Life,Counter Strike,Halo..and they're also developing Aliens..and they have their own game Brothers in Arms which is a pretty good game..and I can also wait for this game as there is already alot of Halo games coming out this gen. We still have Halo Wars and Peter Jackson's Halo game..and Bungie keeps giving DLC for Halo 3..

[hazardman]

ayo..I agree with you that the RRoD hurt them big time, but I also think MS will make sure that their next gen system launches with minimal issues..I for one won't have a problem getting one..i'll just buy mine with replacement plan..like i do with all my products no matter who makes it...

[ghettocheeze]

Another one bites the dust. Time to upgrade to some pimped out next gen hardware. Next week Microsoft is gonna put up fire sale on the 360. Man what is up with console makers these days?

Sony has very little selection of quality games for 2 years now and everybody is already thinking about PS4 and Microsoft is working on 720. WTF happened to taking care of the people that dished out 400 to 500 for a console which is going to become dead paper weight.

[altimako02]

if ms comes out with the 720 i will buy it , because i believe that both ms and sony kinda failed this gen. both consoles need more ram badly. I just built a pc with a 2.6 ghz amd dual core and 2gigs of ram with a 9800gtx+ and it can do what no console can even think of doing. this gen of consoles is starting to lag behind badly in terms of graphics, we need the next gen within the next 2.5 years.

[ghettocheeze]

What is it that your PC can do that no other console not even PS3 can?

Crysis?

Crytek already said a few months ago they got a PS3 version in the works. The problem is not graphics but the availability of good games. Last 360 game I bought was GTA IV 4 months ago. A lot of devs are pushing games claiming to have next gen graphics but the same old last gen game play. Nobody wants to shell out 300-400 bucks for a system only to play a good game everyone 6 months. PC market is the same stale stuff right now.

[altimako02]

with my comment above my computer only cost me $400 and it will blow the doors off 360 or ps3, even though i love my 360. i did have a ps3 but i hated the controller could never get use to it, and sold it.

[immatt]

I wonder how much Halo is too much Halo

[jerethdagryphon]

gearbox have so far denounced the rumor

everything else is speculation however going by m$ history a new console late 09 is possible

as to more ram
yes it would have been nice if they had 1gb shared (360)and 512 per
(ps3)

but its not gonan happen

pcs need more ram because of background processes and the way they work

ps2 had like 32 meg ram xbox had 64

jumping from 32/64 to 512 is a big jump and enough to keep these consoles in the 'game' for a good few years

yes pcs are more powerful but there not specialised

halo 4 i feel would be a mistake
halo was ok 2/3 were poor copys that didnt inovate much

so now we have a console war' i do feel that m$ will do the same thing that happened with xbox they attempt to manhandle customers and fail..

we shall see

[Kratos3452]

Ps3 will last 10 years, but the ps4 will come out halfway through the ps3's lifespan.

Just like how the ps2 is at year 9 and the ps3 came out almost 2 years ago.

The ps2 will die at 10 years, the ps3 will be at 5 years and then the ps4 will be out and the ps3 will continues for another 5 years and then it will die at 10 years.

[jerethdagryphon]

because not everyone canbe bought and forced to make additional sequals for a a game

crytec will lisence there engine but have no interest other then persuing there own ips

infinity ward will be starting pre production on cod6
it seems them and the other group alternate games whichis good for a franchise

gearbox are an ok developer
m$ would be better off spending 3-5 years on the background tech for 720 and make h4 a real killer game but they would have to do a lot of changes in theree development style

which i belive (my opinion) m$ lacks the ability to do
there buines model stems from the 80s and invovles buying up anything they can so they have more total ips and renaming reworking the purchased products for themselves

rather then truly create anything new

[AngryTypingGuy]

I don't know if I like the idea of a Halo title being a launch title, since that will lead to a shortage problem worse than the last time around.

But then again, I won't get the next Xbox right away, I'll wait a little bit in case there are any bugs. I don't expect there to be a significant hardware problem like they had with the 360. MS doesn't want to learn another billion dollar lesson the hard way.

[silverchode]

another 1.9 billion dollar lesson :)

[SpartanZero]

Halo 4 in the next xbox I will def buy :D

[zonetrooper5]

If the Xbox 720 and PS4 come out in 2010/2011 then I'll wait a year and buy them. My 360/PS3 will not last 10 years, nor do I care for the 10 year bs rule. I'll buy a new console(s) every 6 years and with backwards compatiable games what is the point in owning a 360 or PS3 after 6-7 years time?

[ASSASSYN 36o]

False!

[pixelsword]

...remember how The Next Halo was supposed to be THEIR big announcement before Microsoft told them not to announce it?

http://multiplayerblog.mtv....

and remember the "right of first refusal" clause after Bungie Left?

http://kotaku.com/gaming/ru...

I think Bungie is on the outs with Microsoft.

*sheds a tear*

[DFresh]

God.
When will Microsoft ever work on some new IPs and give Halo a break for once?
I swear Microsoft can only been gambling on 2 series this gen Halo and Gears of War.
I have nothing against the 360 but when will they ever make something new and that's not going to the PC.
If Microsoft had some games only for that console and not the PC I might get a 360 but the fact that there's nothing new except Gears 2 as expected I don't see any long term value in a 360 at all past 2008.
It's not gonna be worth it to get the new Xbox they haven't even finished the job w/ this console and they're already thinking about another.
Halo 3 is coming to the PC later this year or next year then what's left.
Microsoft was at the top now their going down hill while Sony and Nintendo are going up or getting better.