Windows 10’s Next Internet Browser Codenamed ‘Spartan’

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While this isn’t related to any coming out of 343 Industries, Microsoft is developing a whole new web browser for Windows 10 codenamed ‘Spartan’.  It’s hard to pass this up as a coincidence since Microsoft’s new personal assistant available for Windows 8.1 devices is called ‘Cortana’, but don’t set your hopes on that becoming the final name of the new browser.  Both the new browser and Cortana will be built into Windows 10 upon launch later this year.  Below you’ll find an early build of ‘Spartan” loading Facebook.  It has a very minimalistic and sleek view taking a rather different approach from the different iterations of Internet Explorer.

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Source: Ars Technica

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Halo 5: Guardians Beta Pegasus and Orion Maps Revealed

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For week three of the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta, fans will have a chance to vote on two maps revealed today over on IGN First: Pegasus and Orion.  Both of these maps were made from an early implementation of the game’s Forge mode.  Voting for these maps starts tomorrow over on the Halo Channel after watching the Bulletin.  This does not mean we are getting access to Forge during the beta, but may give us a glimpse into some of the new options we will have available.

Discuss in our forums!

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Halo Mega Bloks Spring 2015 Sets Announced

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Mega Bloks recently announced their Spring 2015 lineup of their Halo sets.  There aren’t any large builds in these sets, but they compliment many of the 2013 and 2014 sets.  Currently, no release dates have been given for the sets.

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New Years Content Update

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Today there’s a small content update for those logging onto the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta. From Bravo on Halo Waypoint:

Happy New Year! The next time you log into the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta, you will be prompted to download a small content update. This particular content update improves matchmaking by adjusting how the dedicated servers are selected.

The Master Chief Collection has also been updated to include the additional avatars and nameplates for those that have played the game before Dec 20th.

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Halo 5: Guardians Pre-Order Details

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If you’re eagerly awaiting to play the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta, like we are, there’s just a couple more hours before you get to dive into some high octane Halo action.  Pre-orders for Halo 5: Guardians are available today as well from participating retailers and there’s all the Halo goodness packed into three different options to choose from:

  • Standard Edition ($59.99) – Halo 5: Guardians plus an exclusive poster, only available to those who pre-order.
  • Limited Edition for ($99.99) – Standard Edition plus new digital content to enhance Spartan combat and exclusive items wrapped in a uniquely designed steel book.
  • Limited Collector’s Edition ($249.99) – Limited Edition including additional content such as a commemorative numbered statue designed by 343 Industries (Design details to come later).

Each edition is available right now for pre-order at participating retailers including the Microsoft Store, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and GameStop.  Get the full details at Xbox Wire.

Launching in fall 2015 exclusively on Xbox One, Halo 5: Guardians continues the story of the Master Chief, and introduces a brand new central character to the Halo universe – Spartan Locke.  Peace is shattered when colony worlds are unexpectedly attacked.  And when humanity’s greatest hero goes missing, Spartan Locke is tasked with hunting the Master Chief and solving a mystery that threatens the entire galaxy.

Discuss what you would like to see in the special editions in our forums!

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Halo 5 Guardians Multiplayer Beta Starts Tomorrow, Pre-Download Today

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For everyone who owns Halo: The Master Chief Collection, you’ll get access to the Halo 5: Guardians Mulplayer Beta starting tomorrow at 9:00A PST.  Right now, however, you can pre-download it through the Master Chief Collection. Launch the game, navigate to the “Extras” menu and select Halo 5 Beta.  If you participated in the early access, you’ll be greeted with a 7.7GB update.  For those downloading for the first time, you’ll download a total 10.9GB install for the beta.  We’ll be hosting a couple of game nights during the beta so keep a look out for our announcements.  For those interested in the schedule, here’s what you can expect:

Week One

  • Slayer, (AR starts)
    • Truth
    • Empire

Week Two

  • Slayer (BR starts)
    • Regret
    • Eden
  • Breakout
    • Crossfire
    • Trench

Week Three

  • Strongholds
    • Pegasus or Orion (community votes)
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MCC Receives Spartan Ops Content Update

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The latest content update for Halo: The Master Chief Collection includes Halo 4’s Spartan Ops and continued fixes to matchmaking, custom games, and UI improvements.  The whooping 3GB update will be available next time you launch the game.  Some key fixes in this update along with the release of Spartan Ops includes not allowing matchmaking games not start unless there are even teams and resolving issues where a player would get stuck “Joining Session”.  Here’s the list which can also be found on Halo Waypoint.

Spartan Ops:

  • Added the entirety of Halo 4’s Spartan Ops mode

Matchmaking:

  • Made an update to make sure a match only starts when teams are even.
  • Players will now receive a ‘loss’ when disconnecting before a round has ended.
  • Made an update to include all split screen players in vote tally.
  • Resolved an issue that caused players to become stuck “Joining Session.”
  • Resolved an issue where players could be dropped from matchmaking after disconnecting their controller.

General Multiplayer Updates:

  • Made additional improvements to Halo: CE hit registration.
  • Made an update to the “Halo 2: Anniversary Career Progress” page to ensure achievements are correctly tracked.
  • Fixed an issue where it took a long time to join players that are in a Multiplayer lobby.

General UI/Menu Updates:

  • Made additional improvements to Roster update times.
  • Fixed Halo 3 game type text when viewing saved data in “My Files”.

Halo 2: Anniversary Campaign:

  • Fixed an issue where the ‘Black Eye Skull’ incorrectly prevented players from reaching checkpoints.

Campaign Playlists:

  • Fixed an issue where cross-game playlists could fail to progress to the next level.
  • Made several fixes to Campaign Playlist Carnage Reports.
  • Fixed an issue where Halo 3 Cooperative Playlist progress would not save correctly when completing a mission.
  • Made changes to ensure that Competitive Scoring and Timing are tracked correctly in Halo CE and Halo 2 Campaign Playlists.

Stats & Medals:

  • Made updates to improve stat tracking.
  • Fixed an issue where the “Steaktacular” medal would not be correctly awarded in Halo 3.
  • Fixed an issue where the “Supercombine” medal would be incorrectly awarded in the Halo 4 Campaign.

Achievements:

  • Made an update to ensure that the “Flaming Ninja Anniversary” achievement unlocks when prerequisites are met.

Control Layouts:

  • Updated the Halo 2 “Boxer” Button Layout.
  • Updated the Halo 4 “Legacy” Thumbstick Layout.

General Stability:

  • Made several updates to improve overall game stability.

An interesting note that 343 also included about Dedicated Servers:

We’ve seen many inquiries about dedicated server support for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Dedicated servers have been up and running since launch, and we continue to optimize and improve connectivity. The vast majority of games are being played on dedicated servers, but in the event that players cannot connect to a dedicated server, the lobby will stay together and the match will still occur on a peer-to-peer connection. Please be aware that you may connect to the dedicated server quickly enough that you won’t see the ‘connecting to dedicated server’ dialog. The absence of that dialog doesn’t mean that you’re not playing on a dedicated server.

Discuss in our forums.

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