Players of Halo: Combat Evolved will soon be able to choose between sounds from the game’s updated anniversary edition and the retro sounds gamers remember from the original. Released in 2001 for Microsoft‘s first Xbox console, Halo: Combat Evolved not only re-framed the way developers approached first person shooter combat but also became a staple franchise of the Xbox library moving forward.
Halo’s popularity has continued to grow over the years, and although the franchise may not be as well-regarded as it once was there are still thousands upon thousands of players who are both replaying previous titles in the series thanks to the Master Chief Collection and also actively awaiting the launch of the newest Halo game, Halo Infinite. Scheduled to arrive this holiday season alongside Microsoft’s Xbox Series X gaming console, Halo Infinite is utilizing developer 343 Industries new SlipSpace game engine in order create a true next generation experience which will lay the groundwork for the Halo series moving forward.
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However, for those players who prefer to play games the old fashioned way, a new update to the Master Chief Collection might have just what they desire. According to developmental blog post on HaloWaypoint, two new changes will be coming to Halo: Combated Evolved, and one of them is the much-requested feature to have classic Halo sounds in multiplayer. This new (old) sound option will be featured in the form of a toggle, so players will be able to switch between the retro Halo noises or the newer sounds from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary at will.
The other change coming to Halo: Combat Evolved is reportedly a “complete overhaul of the H:CEA customization interface,” according to 343 Industries. These updates will come to PC players first and will be available to Xbox One players at a later date, but the developer warns that because of the massive amount of changes and bug fixes coming to all of the different games in the Master Chief Collection the new update could be upwards of 60GB depending on which games the player currently has installed.
Many players likely have fond memories about early Xbox LAN parties and battling three of their friends at once on Halo: Combat Evolved maps, everyone jammed together and staring at their own tiny squares in the corner of the screen. Playing an updated, working version of the first Halo game is sure to bring such memories to the surface, and even players who weren’t around when these FPS titles came out can now appreciate their entertainment value for the first time. Adding retro sounds back to Halo: Combat Evolved’s multiplayer will only enhance this nostalgia, and fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
Source: 343 Industries
