The Chronicles Of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay
Developer: Starbreeze Studios
Release Date: June 1, 2004
Genre: Action-Adventure
Metacritic Score: 89
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay had a lot going for it in 2004. Not only was it a tie-in to the popular media franchise, but Vin Diesel also reprised his role for the game. As a result, it scored an impressive 89 on Metacritic, though the game struggled to perform commercially.
Thankfully, the game’s developer Starbreeze Studios was at least rewarded for its efforts, picking up awards for Best Game Based on a Movie and Unsung Hero Game of the Year. The franchise has since faded away into obscurity, but the game remains one of the original Xbox’s very best.
Halo An Xbox Exclusive No Way Says Bungie
BungiesMatt Soell, Community Guy and Keeper of the Bungie Way, resoundingly squashed rumors spread this past weekend that suggested that the studios forthcoming 3D action game Halo would be released for the Xbox only.
Various game news sites around the Web suggested over the weekend that Bungies forthcoming game Halo would be an Xbox exclusive. Apparently the rumor was spread following news thatEBWorld.com, the e-commerce site associated with games retailer Electronics Boutique, was not accepting pre-orders for the PC version of Halo.
Microsoft Vice President of games Ed Fries and Bungie founder Alex Seropianboth spoke to crowdsof Mac users at the keynote address held at last summers Macworld Expo in New York. Fries stated Microsofts support to bringing top games to the Macintosh, and then introduced Seropian. Microsoft hadacquired Bungie the previous month.
We still have a lot of love for the Mac platform, said Seropian during last summers keynote, and yes indeed, we will be bringing Halo out for the Mac.
So, have things changed since then? Despite some wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth on the part of some gamers, the bottom line is no development of the game is still continuing.
MacCentral got the straight answer from Bungies Soell. Soell has been serving as the de facto spokesperson for the Microsoft studio for some time and he wants to put a stop to this unfounded rumor.
So dont worry, folks. Halo is still coming to a Mac near you.
Is ‘halo Infinite’ Coming To Xbox One
Console exclusive games have been a little tricky when it comes to the new generation of gaming tech, including the Xbox Series X/S. While certain games have more graphic capabilities and a shinier look on the newest consoles, they’re largely still playable on the previous generation, albeit with less visual fidelity.
Take PlayStation’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, for example. The game was touted for having smoother gameplay and better graphics on the PS5, but it still released on the PS4 and made for a perfectly good experience. The urgency to play the newest games on the latest consoles has become less prevalent now that new games are becoming more accessible on current-gen.
So let’s bring it back to Halo Infinite and the current Xbox consoles. Infinite will come out on the Xbox Series X/S on Dec. 8, 2021, but it will also come out on the Xbox One on the same date. Plus, it will be available on PC, and you can even wishlist the game on Steam now.
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Analysis: A Lot Riding On Halo
Shadow-dropping a big videogame release, however, is just not done.
And it is especially surprising when it comes to an important franchise such as Halo.
The series has been used to encourage players to choose an Xbox over rivals such as the PlayStation – it is Microsoft’s most iconic exclusive franchise and carries nostalgia for many gamers.
But multiplayer gaming has changed a lot since the release of the previous Halo.
Fortnite and Warzone dominate the free-to-play online market with their battle-royal “last man standing” format.
And Microsoft will be hoping Halo’s unique brand of smooth, frenetic team deathmatch action, offered for free, will draw players away from titles such as those.
In short, there is a lot riding on this release – and all of a sudden, it is out in the wild.
If the gamble pays off and gamers love what is on offer, then the franchise could return to its heyday, when Halo 3 dominated the online multiplayer scene.
It could reinvigorate the franchise ahead of the game’s full launch in December.
But if it fails, it could leave Microsoft looking for a new standard-bearer for this generation of its console.
Halo: Infinite has had a troubled development cycle since it was announced in 2018.
The first trailer for the title was unveiled in mid-2020 to a significant fan backlash about its visual style.
Some thought the graphics “cartoonish” and unpolished.
Microsoft’s Commitment To Current

Finally, let’s talk about Microsoft’s commitment to current-gen.
Microsoft has confirmed that it won’t release next-gen exclusive first-party games for a few years. “Over the next year, two years, all of our games, sort of like PC, will play up and down that family of devices,” said Microsoft’s Mat Booty.
Halo: Infinite has been delayed to 2021, which falls into that timeline.
If Microsoft were to make Infinite a next-gen exclusive, it would have to release in 2022 at the earliest, presumably alongside other major first-party next-gen exclusives like the new Fable and Forza games.
So Microsoft would either have to break their next-gen promise or delay Infinite again.
It seems to me that Halo: Infinite should stay the course and release as an Xbox One game as planned. It’d be better for business, better for marketing, and better for overall sentiment. Yes, the game could have tighter performance on Xbox Series X if it were an exclusive, but remember, Microsoft’s first-party studios have access to toolsets, hardware, and architectures that third-party developers don’t.
And also remember that Microsoft cares far more about service revenues and digital monetization than it does from initial game sales. Microsoft is a service-first company and it’s emphasis on digital is reflected in the Game Pass-dominated Xbox brand.
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Best Xbox Exclusives You Need To Own
BySam Loveridgepublished 26 October 21
These are the best Xbox One and Xbox Series X exclusives for you to dive right into, especially via Game Pass
The best Xbox exclusives are the titles that live only within Microsoft’s gaming ecosystem. That means that it’s not really about console exclusives when it comes to Xbox anymore, but rather those games that exist only for those playing within the Xbox family – consoles and PC. What’s additionally great is that many are also available for free as part of Xbox Game Pass, thus becoming some of the best PC games too.
If you’re looking for more recommendations that include multi-platform releases, check out our list of the best Xbox One games and the best games on Xbox Game Pass. If you’re short on hard drive space or in need of add-ons, have a gander at our roundup of the best Xbox One external hard drives and the best Xbox One accessories. But if you just want the best Xbox exclusives, read on for 10 unmissable classics.
Is Halo Infinite On Xbox Game Pass
The release of Halo Infinite will see the game made available for retail sale as well as downloadable on Xbox Game Pass.
As noted, several major Xbox titles have been made available to download via the service, and Halo Infinite looks to be the biggest of 2021.
Several new titles are being added to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service each month, and it already offers a huge amount of gaming content from EA, Ubisoft, Indie developers and Microsoft themselves.
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Xbox Losing Two Exclusive Games To Ps4 And Ps5
Xbox is losing two console exclusive games to PS4 and PS5. Xbox isn’t known for its exclusive games like PlayStation and Nintendo are, but that’s slowly changing. For example, just in the last month, two of some of the biggest games of the year, Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5, have been released as Xbox console exclusives, and between upcoming games like Hellblade II, The Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, Indiana Jones, Avowed, Perfect Dark, and Fable, Xbox is closing the gap on PlayStation and Nintendo. That said, in the meanwhile, it’s actually losing two console exclusives.
The first of these two games is The Ascent, a cyberpunk-themed isometric action RPG developed by Neon Giant and published by Curve Digital. It was released back in July via the PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. And while the game failed to overly impress critics — garnering Metacritic scores ranging from 68 to 73, depending on the platform — it found a player base that has championed the title. Right now, the game hasn’t been confirmed for PS4 and PS5, but it was rated for these platforms in Taiwan, so an official announcement is not only inevitable but likely coming soon.
Below, you can read more the pair of games and check out a trailer for each game as well:
The Ascent: “The Ascent is a solo and co-op Action-shooter RPG set in a cyberpunk world. The mega corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent Group, has just collapsed. Can you survive without it?”
Halo Infinite Next Story Chapter Dlc Release Date
The next story chapter for Halo Infinite is yet to receive a confirmed release date, and we dont know at this stage whether it will drop like a traditional DLC or be packaged as a new product. Wed expect the former, though, for reasons well get into further down this article.
As official dates are confirmed for Forge, co-op and any other significant post-launch content drops, well be sure to update this page!
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How To Get Halo Infinite Armor Coating Skins Redeem Codes
To get Halo Infinite Armor Coating Redeem Codes right now for free, you must have played previous Halo games like Halo Master Chief Collection and completed rare achievements in it. So if you were an avid fan of previous games, and spend hours hunting down those hard to get trophies, then heres how to check you are eligible to get one:
If you dont see any, then make sure you have signed in with the correct account you use to play previous games. And if you have more than one Xbox accounts that you used to play previous Halo games, then you might be in luck. You can use all these different accounts to sign in to Halo Waypoint and redeem free Armor Coating codes for each of them. But we suggest you stick with your main account which you can carry further ahead in Halo Infinite, as we believe you will be able to collect Armor Coatings pretty easily with all the giveaways and free codes passing along on the internet. And if you are lucky to receive a free code from someone, then read on to know how to redeem them.
Will There Be More Halo Games
343 Industries has said Halo has a long future ahead of it. Halo Infinite is the start of our platform for the future, said Chris Lee from 343 told IGN. We want Infinite to grow over time, versus going to those numbered titles and having all that segmentation that we had before. Its really about creating Halo Infinite as the start of the next ten years for Halo and then building that as we go with our fans and community.
Future Master Chief stories will fall under the umbrella of Infinite still. So rather than just a one-off title, its more of a platform. And well be sure to bring more news as we hear it!
Follow for all the latest insights. Or if youre looking for something to watch, see our TV Guide
Visit our video game release schedule for all upcoming games on consoles. Swing by our hubs for more Gaming and Technology news.
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Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
Developer: Moon StudiosGenre: Platformer
Only one game could replace Ori and the Blind Forest on this list, and that’s its sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Both games are worth playing, but Moon Studios’ latest action-platformer improves on the original in every way, from its fluid platforming to its gorgeous world to its heart-breaking story. It’s more inventive, more challenging, and thanks to its totally revamped combat and RPG-lite customization systems, much more involved. It’s among the best-feeling 2D platformers ever made, it’s one of the finest Metroidvania games of this generation, and it’s the perfect send-off to one of the most touching stories available on Xbox One.
The Best Xbox One Exclusives

With the console generation, the Xbox One and PS4 have truly battled it out. Although the Xbox One X is substantially more powerful than the PS4 Pro, Microsofts offering this console generation has fallen by the wayside. Still, there are countless excellent exclusives on the platform, and with how cheap Xbox Ones are at the moment, now is a great time to play some of the best Xbox One exclusive titles.
In recent years, though, Microsoft has taken a different approach with Xbox One exclusive games. Ori and the Will of the Wisps, for example, was published by Microsoft Game Studios, but its also available on Switch. There arent many Xbox console exclusives. Although were ignoring timed exclusives like Cuphead, there are a few entries that have become cross-platform games, in particular, since launch. Still, theyre Xbox One exclusives at their core.
Many of the titles here also are available on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, so you can play them with Microsofts more powerful hardware down the line. Most are available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, too, so you can play them for free with a subscription.
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How To Redeem Halo Infinite Codes
Heres how to redeem codes in Halo Infinite:
- Go to the Halo Waypoint Redeem page.
- Or click on the link here.
- You will be taken to the official Halo Infinite code redemption site.
- Copy and paste your redeem code here on the area with Enter Code text.
- Now click on the Redeem button.
- Once successful, the armor coating will be added to your account.
Thats everything you need to know about how to redeem Halo Infinite Armor Coating codes. While you are here, make sure to check out our Halo Infinite Guides, to know more tips & tricks in the game.
Halo Infinite Campaign Release Date
The Halo Infinite campaign release date took place on Wednesday 8th December 2021, with the games main story launching on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, PC and Xbox Series X/S at 6pm GMT for players here in the UK.
So if you havent already jumped into it, you should definitely go and check out the Halo Infinite campaign now to get that Master Chief fix.
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Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
Developer: Revolution Software
Release Date: December 8, 2003
Genre: Adventure
Metacritic Score: 77
Though arguably the worst entry in the classic point-and-click franchise, Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon is still a very good game. It brings George Stobart and his on-again-off-again girlfriend Nico into the third dimension and features an elaborate story that’s full of epic twists and turns.
Interestingly, Microsoft only went as far as securing exclusivity for the title in North America, meaning that those in Europe were able to play the game on the PlayStation 2 a month earlier than Xbox owners in the states. It was definitely worth the wait though, as the Xbox port looks and controls far better than its PS2 counterpart.
Theres Also An Awesome Discount On Halo Infinite Right Now
If youve been playing Halo Infinite over the past week, then youre going to want to check this incredible PC and Xbox gear out. Razer has recently launched its beautiful set of Halo Infinite gaming accessories in the UK, and Im not kidding, its all spectacular.
From headsets to keyboards, mice, and even mousemats, you can now full-deck out your gaming set-up with these incredible Halo Infinite themed accessories from Razer. But, some of the new items are also retailer exclusive, so we’ve created a quick and handy guide to help alleviate the stress of locating everything.
Editor’s Note: This article is brought to you in association with Currys.
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Blinx: The Time Sweeper
Developer: Artoon
Release Date: October 7, 2002
Genre: Platformer
Metacritic Score: 71
Given the huge success of series like , Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot, it’s easy to see why Microsoft was so keen to secure a platforming franchise of its own. As it happens, Blinx ended up being a little more Bubsy than Banjo, but it still had plenty of redeeming qualities that made it worth playing.
The game performed reasonably well with critics and sales were strong enough for Microsoft to greenlight a sequel. Unfortunately, however, the response to Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space was fairly lackluster, which led to the franchise being kicked to the kerb. It wasn’t the last Xbox exclusive title that Artoon would work on though, with the studio later going on to co-develop Blue Dragon for the Xbox 360.
Here Are The Games Coming Exclusively To Xbox In 2021
2021 will be a fantastic year to be an Xbox fan. The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S have launched, so were officially going full steam ahead into the next generation of gaming. Catch ya later, 2020!
Of course, no matter the year, its always about the games. In 2021, creators around the world will tap deeper into the power of Xbox Series X|S and bring a massive variety of content to Xbox players. We anticipate this to be the most exciting generation yet for developers and players alike, with something for every kind of gamer. While we have so much more in store, both from our talented partners and our creative teams at Microsoft, we figured that now would be the perfect time to take a closer look at the announced games that are launching as console exclusives on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Adios 2021
Adios is a cinematic first-person game about sticking to a complicated decision. You have decided that youre no longer okay with letting the mob use your pigs to dispose of bodies. When your old friend a hitman arrives with his assistant to deliver another body, you finally tell them that youre done. Your friend doesnt want you to stop. He knows that theres no such thing as quitting, so hell try to convince you that youre making a mistake. How you respond will determine the rest of your life.
The Artful Escape 2021
The Ascent 2021
The Big Con 2021
CrossfireX 2021
Dead Static Drive 2021
Echo Generation 2021
ExoMecha 2021
Exo One 2021
The Gunk 2021
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