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A fresh batch of Castlevania games arrives on modern Xbox consoles.
Today, Xbox players are in for a surprise treat as Konami has suddenly dropped the new Castlevania Advance Collection. This new set includes four classic games from the legendary Castlevania series, all of which are releasing on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One for the very first time. Complete with a release trailer, modern features and enhancements, and a tantalizing price tag, Xbox players can play these Castlevania games for the first time, or revisit old favorites, right now.
The Castlevania Advance Collection features four titles, including:
Besides simply bringing these beloved classics to Xbox consoles for the first time, Konami also includes some modern enhancements and features, as well as perks for anyone who picks the collection up. Some of the highlights include:
Castlevania Advance Collection is available now for Xbox consoles, and could very well already be among the best Xbox games for fans of the franchise.
Kill the beasts
Explore four Castlevania classics on Xbox for the first time, complete with a host of modern enhancements and new features.
A chance to play, even for those that haven't signed up.
The second Halo Infinite technical preview is currently underway, with several different times and dates to play Halo Infinite over the weekend for players who were previously invited to try out PvP in Arena against both other players and Halo Infinite's Bots. The next weekend's flight, which is set to run from Sep. 30 through Oct. 4, will feature Big Team Battle. According to 343 Industries, even more users will be able to join next weekend, though there will still be a cap.
Brian Jarrard, community director at 343 Industries, shared via Reddit that next weekend, "Steam and Xbox players will have an opportunity to participate without going through the Halo Insider process." Jarrard noted that to what extent this will extend is not yet certain and this isn't an open beta, there will still be a limited on the number of players allowed in.
So if you haven't managed to join the via Halo Insider Program, you'll have another chance to try and play starting on Sep. 30. We'll share more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, we're also tracking the list of maps, vehicles and weapons we know of so far in Halo Infinite.
Halo Infinite is currently scheduled to launch on Dec. 8, 2021 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming. The multiplayer is free-to-play and the campaign will be included in Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold in one
Xbox Game Pass gives you access to over 200 games for one monthly fee. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also adds Xbox Live Gold to the package so you can play online with your friends. You also get access to EA Play.
Ever since the Steam Deck was announced, PC VR gamers everywhere have been wondering if it could power a VR headset. Valve initially shied away from talking about the machine's VR capabilities but did eventually note that it, in a technical sense, had everything needed to run a VR headset. Now that developers have gotten their first development kits in hand, we're finding out that VR on Steam Deck is proving to be a bit more difficult than initially hoped for.
Denny Unger, CEO of Cloudhead Games and developer of the immensely popular Pistol Whip spent the past few days exploring the VR capabilities of Steam Deck using a Valve Index headset. The takeaway is that Steam Deck, at least in its current dev kit form, doesn't seem to provide enough power to display an image in a headset. All of the other inputs, including the controllers and roomscale motion tracking, work just fine. Other folks on Twitter are seeing the same results.
Steamdeck update: Shock to no-one; this is a devkit. Second shock to no-one; Valve was clear that this was NOT for VR. Third shock to no-one: It will take time to understand what the capabilities are and how to optimize. This is about a potential future, not the right now. pic.twitter.com/AYOzN93c3r
— Denny Unger @CloudheadGames (@DennyCloudhead) September 24, 2021
That has led many to believe there's plenty of hope left, especially since development kits have only been available for about a week at this point. We've seen quite a bit of development with Steam Deck recently, including the development of Easy Anti Cheat for Linux, which paves the way for many online-enabled games to be playable on the handheld.
If all else fails, fans could always install Windows on Steam Deck, although the performance and compatibility are certainly a huge question at this time. Many VR gamers have been hoping for a viable alternative to Facebook's Oculus Quest 2, which requires a Facebook login to operate. Steam Deck has been seen as a possibility, although this news sheds a bit of doubt on that.
Play your Steam library anywhere
Wanted more places to play your Steam library? Now you'll be able to with the Steam Deck. This machine comes in three configurations, each allowing you to play your games locally and portably.
Chip shortages breed contempt.
As the coronavirus' Delta variant rampages through Southeast Asia, causing chip factories in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia to delay production or intermittently shut down, companies across many industries are facing production pipeline problems.
According to The Washington Post, companies in entirely separate sectors are at each other's throats. Automakers want the chip supplies and resources that are currently going to smartphone companies, while smartphone companies argue that automakers can suffer for all they care and that it's not the smartphone industry's problem that automakers didn't plan accordingly for the coronavirus-stricken landscape.
"It's on industry to come up with the solutions here and to identify some of the path forward," said a Biden administration official about the situation, in the leadup to the Thursday (September 23, 2021) meeting between the White House and various industry leaders.
That's a general overview of the macro situation. On a micro level, the Kansas City Business Journal has an illustration of the immediate impacts of the chip shortage: Ford's and GM's Kansas-based auto assembly plants have seen sporadic shutdowns during 2021. Combined, these shutdowns affect nearly 10,000 employees directly as well as those at companies depending on Ford and GM.
That same report says the global automotive industry is primed to lose revenue to the tune of $210 billion in 2021 because of the shortage. The large figure is one example of how the chip shortage is affecting things beyond the availability of the best graphics cards, which are also being hurt by supply constraints.
It's a stopgap, not a fix.
Microsoft has a lot of products and services, and with so much tech being released and maintained, bugs and vulnerabilities are bound to crop up. However, Microsoft Exchange, in particular, has had a suboptimal 2021, starting out with a large-scale Chinese hack and continuing through the year with a plethora of smaller issues. Much like Microsoft's PrintNightmare situation, Exchange woes don't seem to be going away anytime soon.
To summarize a long story, it was recently discovered that Exchange's Autodiscover protocol has been leaking Windows credentials due to improper implementation issues. These credentials are being shared with domains that should not have access to such information.
Now, it appears Microsoft is scrambling to register domains that could accidentally acquire leaked info, per a report by BleepingComputer. To be clear, this is not a solution for the implementation issue, but is something of a stopgap to stem the flow of the leaks and minimize the potential impact of the real problem.
At the time of BleepingComputer's report, Microsoft had registered a minimum of 68 domains to combat the Autodiscover problem. However, it's mentioned that Microsoft's likely registered far more than the immediately apparent 68. This method of leak prevention can be equated to taping up holes in a boat, in that it may prevent water intake to some degree but doesn't fix the root cause.
As always, we'll provide updates as the story develops, so keep checking Windows Central for the latest scoops on Autodiscover issues, PrintNightmare problems, and any other Microsoft products that succumb to Murphy's law.
These are the weapons you can use in the Halo Infinite multiplayer.
When players load into builds of the Halo Infinite beta, they're going to be picking up lots of weapons as they duke it out with other players in PvP matches. Halo Infinite features plenty of weapons from past games as well as brand new ones, and all of the weapons have a unique role within its sandbox. Here's an overview of every weapon that you can use in Halo Infinite, including an explanation about what they do and details on how you can maximize their effectiveness.
For the first beta preview that runs from July 29 until August 1, there are a total of 12 different weapons available for players to try out and use in matches against bots as well as during weapon training drills.
The latest variation of Master Chief's iconic weapon, the MA40 Assault Rifle, is one of the best jack-of-all-trades options available to players in the Halo Infinite multiplayer. It does good, consistent damage at close and medium ranges thanks to its automatic firing, and it's a great weapon to soften foes up with before you finish them off with a quick melee strike. The Assault Rifle is generally weaker than precision weapons when outside of its optimal range, though, and up close, the shotgun will beat it as well.
The BR75 Battle Rifle is an excellent choice for dealing precision damage at range thanks to its stellar accuracy, and the damage is strong, too. Picking up one of these whenever you find them is recommended as precision weapons are the core of the Halo sandbox. Try to make sure you keep your foes at a distance while using the Battle Rifle, though, as it will struggle against close range weapons if you let them close the distance.
The VK78 Commando is an automatic precision weapon that's essentially a combination of the Assault Rifle and Battle Rifle that's effective in the roles both weapons fill, making it a great option if you want something solid in both close and long range combat. It loses to the Assault Rifle up close and to the Battle Rifle from afar, though. With the Commando, you're ultimately getting versatility instead of specialization.
The Pulse Carbine is a unique burst-fire plasma weapon that's ideal for short and medium ranges and does excellent damage to shields, making it an awesome weapon to pair with something headshot-capable. It also does respectable damage to unshielded targets, but ballistic human weapons outperform it in this situation. If you fire it too much too quickly, the Pulse Carbine will overheat, so keep that in mind during use. It also has some light tracking properties that will help you land shots.
The Plasma Pistol returns in Halo Infinite, and like in previous titles, it's incredible at stripping shields — especially if you overcharge by holding down the trigger. This will cause the weapon to discharge a massive plasma bolt that tracks enemies and knocks out their shields instantly, leaving them wide open for a headshot. This bolt can also EMP vehicles, which will be useful in Big Team Battle modes. It does abysmal damage to enemies once their shields are down, though.
With its ability to do good chunks of precision damage and its quick fire rate, the MK50 Sidekick is a great sidearm that's ideal for finishing weakened enemies off. It can also act as a respectable primary weapon, too, although it's less effective in that role compared to more specialized options.
The Disruptor is a fast-firing pistol style weapon that shoots small electric bolts. It's unclear what these do at the moment, though we anticipate they do high damage to shields but low damage to regular health enemies. It's also possible that the Disruptor will be capable of disabling enemy vehicles.
The CQS48 Bulldog shotgun is one of the few close range power weapons in the Halo Infinite beta, and it's a powerful one. Between its high close range damage, tight bullet spread, and fast firing rate, the Bulldog solidifies itself as the most powerful close-quarters combat weapon in the game — though that may change when the Energy Sword is available to use.
The S7 Sniper is the ultimate long range power weapon, giving players the ability to two-shot enemies by hitting them in the body or one-shot them with headshots. It's clunky in close range situations, but if you're able to put lots of distance between you and your targets, the sniper rifle will excel. Just make sure to aim carefully before firing, as both ammo and magazine size is limited.
The Hydra has returned after its initial appearance in Halo 5: Guardians, and it appears to have a similar function. Players can use it to shoot moderately-damaging explosive shells at enemies, which will likely throw off their aim and soften them up for precision headshots (or just kill them outright). Zooming in with the Hydra may also give its explosive rounds tracking like it did in Halo 5, though we aren't sure if this is the case or not yet.
Fear the pink mist! Halo's wackiest weapon is back in Halo Infinite, and like previous iterations, it's a great medium range tool for taking down fast-moving targets thanks to its aggressive tracking and speedy fire rate. Once you sink seven needles into another player, the needles will "supercombine" and explode, killing them instantly while also dealing some damage to anyone around them.
The Mangler is a slow-firing precision weapon used by the Banished. It does strong damage, but its slow fire rate means that hitting your shots is crucial when going up against more forgiving weapons. It's a great alternative to the Sidekick if you'd prefer raw damage output over the ability to fire several rounds quickly.
Even though the Banished Spiker resembles the Spiker from Halo 3 and Halo: Reach, the weapon performs more like the Brute Shot and Concussion Rifle that the Covenant used in previous Halo titles. The Ravager allows players to blanket an area with area-of-effect damage by shooting small explosive plasma projectiles, which is useful for softening enemies up or knocking them out of position. If you get an opportunity to hit multiple players at once with the Ravager, there's a good chance you'll get a multikill on all of them by following up with a headshot weapon.
The Cindershot is a Banished grenade launcher type weapon that shooters slower than the Ravager, but also creates larger explosions. The plasma grenades it shoots can also be bounced around corners and off of surfaces, giving the weapon creative playmaking potential.
The Shock Rifle is a Banished weapon intended for mid-to-long range usage. It deals moderate damage and can be used to pick players off if you score headshots, but it also has the capability to arc off of players or map objects into other players. This allows you to damage multiple enemies at once if they're bunched up.
The Stalker Rifle is a Banished weapon that we haven't seen in-game yet, although the weapon's shape suggests that it's the Banished's dedicated sniper weapon. It's likely that it will do less damage than the S7 Sniper overall, but will offer some unique utility.
The Gravity Hammer has returned in Halo Infinite, and like its previous versions, its an excellent weapon if you like to get up close and personal with your foes. It delivers one-hit kills in a small area-of-effect around you when you swing it, but the range of the swing itself is small. Therefore, it's best used as an ambush tool against groups of enemy players.
The classic Halo melee weapon is back in Halo Infinite, and like its previous iterations, it delivers one-hit kills and allows players to lunge at enemies from a short distance by attacking when their reticule is red.
The Heatwave is a Forerunner weapon that players can use to bounce deadly energy projectiles off of surfaces, which is a useful way to deal indirect damage around corners. You can also shoot it at players directly if necessary. Notably, players can switch the trajectory of the projectiles between a vertical and horizontal mode to control the weapon more precisely.
The Sentinel Beam returns in Halo Infinite, and like its previous iterations, you damage enemies with it by holding the trigger down and firing an energy beam. The damage is effective, but the weapon as high recoil so be prepared to control it.
Last but not least is the Skewer, which is one of Halo Infinite's most effective anti-vehicle weapons. It shoots an extremely deadly projectile at high velocity, tearing through any armored vehicle that it hits. It also sends lighter vehicles flying, which will help disable vehicles that it doesn't destroy outright. The Skewer also one-shots other players if they're not in a vehicle, making it a deadly anti-infantry power weapon when in skilled hands. It's slow and awkward up close, though, so switch to something better suited for that range if needed.
What do you think of the weapons featured in the Halo Infinite beta? Let me know. Personally, I think they're all interesting and fun to use, and hopefully the weapons that 343 Industries adds in the future will be as well. For more on the Halo Infinite beta, don't miss our list of all the maps and modes in the Halo Infinite beta. Also, make sure to check out our guide on how to play the Halo Infinite beta for info on how you can participate in the tests yourself. Hopefully, these beta tests help 343 Industries shape Halo Infinite into one of the best Xbox games ever.
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A new Great Journey awaits
Halo Infinite is sure to be an incredible game filled with wonder, adventure, and more. Based on the beta and what was seen at E3 2021, we can't wait for the full release.
Join the conversation live!
For episode 41 of Xbox Chaturdays we'll be joined by the iconic Brand Manager of Untold Tales and host of The Joy of Gaming Shinobi602 (Nate Najda). We'll be discussing Crystal Dynamics assisting with development for Perfect Dark, Master Chief for Smash, Halo Infinite flights, and so much more. If you're excited to catch up on all the biggest gaming news of the week, tune in to Xbox Chaturdays live every Saturday at 12 p.m. ET!
Xbox Chaturdays is our weekly Windows Central Gaming podcast. Every Saturday, we sit down with various Xbox developers, enthusiasts, and industry figures to chat about all things Xbox. We designed our show to provide exciting and engaging content for Xbox and PC players, highlighting what we love about gaming. From the best games on Xbox Game Pass to the titles we can't wait to play, there's always something fun to chat about.
With Xbox Chaturdays, we've built up a pretty incredible audience of live viewers that consistently keep the show fresh and exciting with their questions. Our show promotes community interaction, and we strive to immerse our viewers in the experience. If you haven't caught an episode before, head on over to the Windows Central Gaming YouTube channel to watch past episodes.
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So many games.
It's hard to ignore the value of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. With over 100 awesome games and extra perks, this is hands-down the best deal in gaming right now.
Halo Infinite gives players a near-infinite number of ways to customize their Spartan.
With Halo Infinite, 343 Industries and Xbox Game Studios are placing a lot of emphasis on Spartan customization, a facet of Halo that has grown increasingly important since the series' debut (especially after the arrival of Halo: Reach). In Halo Infinite, players are going to have more control than ever before, with potentially thousands of possibilities for armor, weapon, and vehicle customization. Of course, at the center of every Halo are the Spartans, so players will especially have a ton of options when personalizing their Spartan.
343i is going to include innumerable armor pieces in Halo Infinite, with more being added over time. In our ultimate guide to every piece of armor in Halo Infinite, we'll keep track of it all. Here's the complete list of armor in Halo Infinite.
The next Great Journey awaits
Halo Infinite represents the next chapter of Halo's storied journey, and everything we've seen from 343 Industries recently shows that Halo Infinite has what it takes to be an incredible game filled with wonder, adventure, and more.
In Halo Infinite multiplayer, players will take control of a Spartan, an augmented human with increased speed, strength, and combat abilities. Spartans are infamous for the imposing figures they strike in their armor, and it's that armor that provides players with the greatest amount of customization in Halo Infinite. 343i and Xbox Game Studios clearly want to let players be whoever they want in Halo Infinite, and that means customization is getting more in-depth than ever before.
Firstly, Halo Infinite features a new coatings system, a way for 343i to quickly release detailed and diverse "skins" for Halo Infinite's armor. Coatings can feature all kinds of colors, textures, and patterns, and can drastically alter how your Spartan looks. And, thanks to changes to Halo Infinite's multiplayer, where players are now outlined in team colors instead of being forced to adapt to blue or red fully, your choice of color will now remain in all Halo Infinite multiplayer matches. Halo Infinite's coatings system has the potential to be positively massive, so we've compiled a complete list of every Halo Infinite armor coating.
Halo Infinite will also let players customize every weapon in Halo Infinite with Halo Infinite weapon coatings, and the same applies to vehicles as well! Of course, Halo Infinite's armor still retains its edge in customization with a number of other options.
Besides coatings, Halo Infinite will also let players customize multiple aspects of their Spartan's armor, ranging from the base it's built upon (the armor core) to the color of the visor, and many pieces including the helmet, supplemental chest pieces, hip attachments, and much more. There's truly a ridiculous amount of variety here, and the potential for additional armor cores, including special themed ones (like the Samurai-inspired armor we've seen in trailers), and armor kits (collections of armor pieces), raises the stakes even more.
Halo Infinite's armor can be unlocked via the Halo Infinite Battle Pass, bought from the store, or possibly unlocked via in-game challenges and events. We're keeping track of everything we see, including through the Halo Infinite beta, which is ongoing right now with set matchmaking times.
Customization is one small part of a complete multiplayer experience, but Halo Infinite looks to deliver in more ways than one. With everything we've seen from 343i and Halo Infinite's in-depth armor customization, Halo Infinite has a chance of becoming one of the best Xbox games you can play. Be sure to keep up to date with every Halo with our ultimate guide to Halo Infinite.
Besides color coatings, which we covered above, Halo Infinite provides a staggering 10 different ways to customize your Spartan's armor in multiplayer matches, with an 11th method to connect your Spartan to the wider Halo universe in new ways or let you apply a complete set of customizations in one fell swoop. That means there's a lot to cover here, and the list will only grow as Halo Infinite nears release and, after release, begins to drop new content updates and Seasons with additional customization options.
Without further ado, here is the complete list of armor and its customization options in Halo Infinite, and how to obtain them.
You can select the images next to armor and armor pieces to view the image in greater detail.
Armor cores, as the name implies, sit at the center of your Spartan's armor and are the foundation upon which everything else is built. Your chosen armor core dictates the overall look of your Spartan, and can be pulled from the wider Halo universe, or even be non-canonical and expand beyond Halo's reach (like the Samurai-inspired armor we've seen in trailers).
By default, Spartans will be equipped with the modern Mark VII armor core, but additional variants will undoubtedly be available to players. Here is every armor core we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
Mark VII  |
Description: The latest generation of powered assault armor by Materials Group ○ Rare rarity |
● Default: First armor core for Halo Infinite |
Second only to armor cores, the helmet is one of the most immediately recognizable and prominent aspects of your Spartan's armor. Spartan helmets can be military-grade hardware specifically designed from combat, or third-party solutions that provide unique perks and benefits to the Spartans that adapted them. Either way, they're a great way to set your Spartan apart from others immediately.
Spartan helmets can support Helmet Attachments, which adds an additional way to customize. Here is every helmet we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
Cavallino  |
Description: Cavallino expands Emerson Tactical Systems' offerings with Mjolnir-platform helmets, tailored for the needs of fireteam leaders, trainers, and combat observers ○ Common rarity ○ Helmet attachments supported |
● Default: Helmet for Mark VII armor core |
Enigma  |
Description: The Enigma by Imbrium Machine Complex was intended for use by Army tank crews, but the Spartans have acquired most of these helmets, as its state-of-the-art vehicle cyberlink is an invaluable resource ○ Rare rarity ○ Helmet attachments supported |
● Store: Available during Season 0 |
Aviator  |
Description: The Aviator helmet by Hannibal Weapon Systems is tailored for use by cybernetically augmented aerospace pilots. Among its many special features is a high-bandwidth machine interlink configured to operate seamlessly with next-gen neural interfaces ○ Rare rarity ○ Helmet attachments available |
● Battle Pass: Tier 1 of Season 0 |
Trailblazer  |
Description: Trailblazer by Imbrium Machine Complex builds on the many successes of Mjolnir (R) to pioneer integration of the latest forward observation and reconnaissance VISR systems into a single Spartan-friendly package ○ Epic rarity ○ Helmet attachments available |
● Battle Pass: Tier 25 of Season 0 |
ZVESDA  |
Description: The ZVESDA faceplate by RKD Group incorporates a programmable phased array antenna grid, though leveraging its full capabilities has proven to be a challenge for software developers ○ Epic rarity ○ Helmet attachments available |
● Unknown |
Apart from helmet-specific attachments, you can also accessorize your Spartan's helmet with a new visor. New visors can change the color and texture of your helmet's visor, and are a great way to color match a theme or complete an overall look. In a way, visor changes are almost like coatings of their own, since they typically don't physically change from the default helmet visor.
Here is every visor we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
Enlisted  |
Description: By Lethbridge Industrial, even Spartans have to start somewhere ○ Common rarity |
● Default: Visor for Mark VII armor core |
Goblin  |
Description: By Lethbridge Industrial, tricksters are wise to hide their eyes ○ Rare rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 9 of Season 0 |
Phalanx  |
Description: With shield and spear, vigilant, by Lethbridge Industrial ○ Rare rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 14 of Season 0 |
Vandal  |
Description: By Lethbridge Industrial, an open space means open minds if you don't spot the snipers ○ Epic rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 19 of Season 0 |
Rampant  |
Description: The color of despair and madness, by Lethbridge Industrial ○ Epic rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 3 of Season 0 |
Beltane  |
Description: Light the bonfire of freedom, by Lethbridge Industrial ○ Rare rarity |
● Unknown |
Dragoon  |
Description: A favorite of skyborne lancers, by Lethbridge Industrial ○ Epic rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 27 of Season 0 |
Chest armor pieces are supplemental upgrades (read: optional) that provide extra personality to your Spartan and can feature a wide range of visual upgrades from grenade belts, packs and storage, technology upgrades, and more. Chest upgrades are one of the biggest single customizable aspects of your Spartan's armor, and vary wildly in appearance and canonical purpose.
Here is every chest we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
Util / ENAV Beacon  |
Description: Emerson Tactical Systems delivers emergency navigational transponders, compatible with all civil and military networks ○ Common rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 23 of Season 0 |
UA / M55OD Halfplate  |
Description: Up-armor set, specced for minimal impact on Spartan mobility, by Beweglichrüstungsysteme ○ Rare rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 30 of Season 0 |
UA / M557 Jackplate  |
Description: Up-armor module for Spartans tasked with breaching and urban warfare, by Beweglichrüstungsysteme ○ Rare rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 13 of Season 0 |
Util / KHILPK Cooling  |
Description: Chiller and radiator that extends operational time in high-temperature environments, by Imbrium Machine Complex ○ Rare rarity |
● Unknown |
UA / Relikt Cuirass  |
Description: Armor reinforcement set made to the specific requirements of Spartan containment teams, by Vakara GMBH ○ Epic rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 8 of Season 0 |
Shoulder pads are another important part of a Spartan's armor, but Halo Infinite is making those shoulder pads supplemental, or optional, for the first time in a Halo game. That means you can customize your shoulder pads for each shoulder, including not having any shoulder pads at all.
Here is every left shoulder that we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
UA / Vitus  |
Description: Supplemental deltoid and shoulder armor by Chalybs Defense Solutions ○ Common rarity |
● Default: Left shoulder for Mark VII armor core |
UA / Alair  |
Description: Supplemental deltoid and shoulder armor by Chalybs Defense Solutions ○ Common rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 18 of Season 0 |
UA / Agathius  |
Description: Supplemental deltoid and shoulder armor by Chalybs Defense Solutions ○ Epic rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 5 of Season 0 |
UA / Viator  |
Description: Supplemental deltoid and shoulder armor by Chalybs Defense Solutions ○ Epic rarity |
● Unknown |
Shoulder pads are another important part of a Spartan's armor, but Halo Infinite is making those shoulder pads supplemental, or optional, for the first time in a Halo game. That means you can customize your shoulder pads for each shoulder, including not having any shoulder pads at all.
Here is every right shoulder that we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
UA / Vitus  |
Description: Supplemental deltoid and shoulder armor by Chalybs Defense Solutions ○ Common rarity |
● Default: Right shoulder for Mark VII armor core |
UA / Alair  |
Description: Supplemental deltoid and shoulder armor by Chalybs Defense Solutions ○ Common rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 17 of Season 0 |
UA / Agathius  |
Description: Supplemental deltoid and shoulder armor by Chalybs Defense Solutions ○ Epic rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 4 of Season 0 |
UA / Viator  |
Description: Supplemental deltoid and shoulder armor by Chalybs Defense Solutions ○ Epic rarity |
● Unknown |
Players may not think about the gloves their Spartan wears very often, but it's those gloves that will appear on screen most often when picking up guns or equipment, dishing out melee attacks, or interacting with the environment. In Halo Infinite, you'll be able to customize your Spartan even down to the gloves they wear.
Here is every pair of gloves we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
Capaxx  |
Description: By Beweglichrüstungsysteme, Mjolnir gloves provide a great deal of protection, but nothing that can't be augmented with a simple up-armor plate ○ Common rarity |
● Default: Gloves for Mark VII armor core |
Halo Infinite wrists upgrades may bring to mind some of Halo Infinite's equipment, like the repulsor or grappling hook, but Halo Infinite also lets you apply cosmetic armor pieces to your Spartan's wrist, which presumably provide a number of in-universe benefits you won't see in the game.
Here is every wrist we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
UA / Type II-A1 Buckler  |
Description: Despite rumors to the contrary, this buckler does not have an energy shield generator, by Materials Group ○ Rare rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 10 of Season 0 |
Utility armor pieces in Halo Infinite, previously referred to as hips, will seemingly be quite diverse, including utility belts, hip accessories (we've even seen concept art of swords!), and possibly thigh and upper leg upgrades as well. In Halo Infinite's first technical preview, a few hip accessories were present but could not be unlocked or seen, but it wasn't until the second technical preview that we were able to see the first utility armor pieces in action. These are supplemental upgrades, and should add plenty of variety to armor customization.
Here is every utility we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
Medaux Unit / Type 1  |
Description: Medigel Applicator Unit, Single Pack, by Opticon. Allows for quick replenishment of the suit's internal reservoir ○ Common rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 17 of Season 0 |
Medaux Unit / Type II  |
Description: Medigel Applicator Unit, Double Pack, by Opticon. Medigel is as precious as diamondoid dust on extended patrols, or when bartering with colonials ○ Rare rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 24 of Season 0 |
MAT-2550 / Grenade Pack  |
Description: A spare tactical radio and grenades go a long way when you are in harm's way, by Emerson Tactical Systems ○ Epic rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 9 of Season 0 |
Finally, Halo Infinite lets you apply the final touch to your Spartan's armor with knee pad variants, which offer a small measure of personalization to your armor core's mostly untouched leg armor. While knee pads are described as "supplemental," it does seem you're required to have knee pads installed on your Spartan's armor.
Here is every knee pad we know of in Halo Infinite.
| Name | Information | Unlock requirements |
|---|---|---|
UA / Type SA  |
Description: Supplemental leg armor by Korolev Heavy Industries ○ Common rarity |
● Default: Knee pads for Mark VII armor core |
UA / Type RG  |
Description: Supplemental leg armor by Korolev Heavy Industries ○ Common rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 22 of Season 0 |
UA / Type SP  |
Description: Supplemental leg armor by Korolev Heavy Industries ○ Epic rarity |
● Battle Pass: Tier 28 of Season 0 |
Out of all the extensive armor customizations in Halo Infinite, armor kits come with the most mystery and the most potential. Armor kits basically apply a predetermined set of customizations (be it coatings, pieces, or other) to your armor core, likely revolving around a theme. This means that players might be able to instantly become one of their favorite Halo Spartans like Jameson Locke, Sarah Palmer, and more, as long as they own the armor core that character uses. Since Halo Infinite's first Season is reportedly based on Halo: Reach, it stands to reason that armor kits for Spartans like Carter, Kat, Jun, Emile, and Jorge from Noble Team may make an appearance.
Armor kits may also feature other themes as well for seasonal events and more. Honestly, we still don't know exactly what armor kits will entail in Halo Infinite, and we've yet to see one in action. We'll update this section as we learn more about armor kits, and find out which ones will actually be available in the game.
$60 at Amazon $60 at Best Buy See at Xbox See at Steam
The next Great Journey awaits
Halo Infinite represents the next chapter of Halo's storied journey, and everything we've seen from 343 Industries recently shows that Halo Infinite has what it takes to be an incredible game filled with wonder, adventure, and more.
From $1/month at Microsoft $40 at Amazon (3-month subscription) $15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)
All your gaming needs, in one subscription
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. Halo Infinite is coming to Xbox Game Pass, so be prepared for when the Master Chief arrives.
Best answer: Certain Surface Pro 8 models will be able to handle light gaming thanks to Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. All models should also be able to handle cloud-based game streaming. But for a true gaming experience, you will want a PC with a dedicated graphics card (GPU), a more powerful processor (CPU), and better cooling capabilities.
The Surface Pro 8 will handle light gaming, but don't expect it to wow you.
The refreshed Surface Pro 8 is here, complete with 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs, larger display, upgraded inking experience, new ports, and better cameras. Compared to the Surface Pro 7, the Pro 8 is a big upgrade. But those new features don't exactly mean the Pro 8 is suddenly a monster PC that can handle anything. Like previous generations, the Pro lineup is focused more on professionals who want a slim 2-in-1 design that can keep up with other modern Ultrabooks.
Was the Surface Pro 7 good for gaming? No, not really; at least compared to the best gaming laptops on the market today. The same holds true for the Pro 8. Integrated Iris Xe graphics in the Core i5 and Core i7 Pro 8 models are a solid step up from Intel UHD and Iris Plus graphics available in the Pro 7, but you're still not going to get performance at the level of something discrete, like an NVIDIA RTX 3060. And the Core i3 Pro 8 model is significantly weaker with its Intel UHD graphics.
The Pro 8 will do well with light indie games, many of which can be found through Xbox Game Pass for PC. It will also handle older titles without as high of system requirements. The Pro 8's biggest issue will likely be keeping itself cool while under prolonged load, so maxing out the chips with modern AAA titles won't do it any favors.
xCloud on the Pro X.
With Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Cloud Gaming program (aka xCloud) also now getting streaming through the PC Xbox app, it's easier than ever to stream games to your PC without having to tax its internal hardware. xCloud isn't the only player in the streaming game, with PlayStation Now making a strong case for itself.
The Pro 8 and its Wi-Fi 6 capabilities shouldn't have issues handling the network load, at least as long as it's paired up with a solid router. Check out our list of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers if you need an upgrade. And with 5G support expected in 2022, you'll be able to stream games to your Pro 8 in even more places.
Those of you who want a true gaming experience will still want to check out one of the best gaming laptops available today. These laptops have specially designed cooling systems to keep a more powerful CPU and dedicated GPU cool under prolonged load. They also generally offer more ports, a keyboard geared for gamers, and a screen to make your favorite titles look as good as possible.
Something like the HP OMEN 15 will be much better geared toward delivering a high-end gaming experience, and it's even in the same price range as the Pro 8.
The Surface Pro 8 finally adopts the modern design that Microsoft first introduced with Surface Pro X, now with two USB-C ports that are Thunderbolt 4 enabled, an upgraded 13-inch display with a high-refresh rate of 120Hz, and support for the Surface Pro X-style Type Covers with the Slim Pen charging cradle.
The combination of near-perfect 4K display, high-end performance hardware, mature design, and good audio makes the HP OMEN 15 an easy buy for anyone who wants to maximize their spending. The keyboard could be better and it's not the thinnest or lightest gaming laptop out there, but these downsides are easy to justify in the face of all the refreshed OMEN lineup does right.
We don't know why you'd do it, but you can indeed use Microsoft Office on Xbox consoles through the new Edge browser.
Some ask why you would want to use Microsoft Office on your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S. We at Windows Central choose to ask why not? The Xbox September Update brings the new Microsoft Edge, which is based on Chromium. The browser has full mouse and keyboard support, opening the door to all kinds of shenanigans. If you have one of the best keyboards for the Xbox Series X or Series S, you can now type up documents on your console.
Within Microsoft Edge, you can browse through gaming how-to guides, media sites, and everything else the web has to offer. You can also go to Office.com. Of course, you could access Office's web apps before this new version of Edge shipped to consoles, but you couldn't use a mouse and keyboard. You could have used your Xbox controller to navigate through your documents and a chatpad to write, but that seems a bit awkward, even compared to using your Xbox to do your homework.
With full mouse and keyboard support, you can use your Xbox console to do your homework, create a PowerPoint presentation, or even play around in Excel. Again, we're not sure how many people will use their browser like this, but isn't it fun to know that you can?
You can update your Xbox console with these steps:
$250 at Amazon $250 at Microsoft $250 at Best Buy
This keyboard and mouse combination is fully compatible with the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. It has a lappable wireless design for gaming. You could also use it to write a Word document.
The physical manifestation of Intel's war on chip shortages is here.
The global semiconductor shortage has been impacting a variety of sectors, ranging from the auto and medical industries to PC gaming hardware manufacturing. Intel has been committed to combatting said shortage and, by extension, helping get tech companies back on their feet so that they can supply consumers with the best graphics cards and other useful hardware.
Months ago, the company spoke about putting $20 billion toward new chip factories (oftentimes referred to as fabs, a truncation of "wafer fabrication facilities") in Arizona, and now, construction has officially begun. Intel claims this marks the "largest private investment in state history" and serves as a reiteration of its focus on getting the U.S. semiconductor industry back into world-class shape. The U.S. falling behind in this department was a focus of Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger's during his appearance on the program 60 Minutes.
You can read more about Intel's investments in the two new Arizona fabs via the company's press release on the subject. And know that while Intel invests in the U.S.'s semiconductor sector, the same sorts of investments are happening with rival companies and countries.
For example, the ongoing chip war between the U.S. and China remains heated as companies such as SMIC work to ensure China's technological self-sufficiency and independence.
With regards to Intel's commencement of construction on its new Arizona fabs, don't expect these developments to fix shortage issues overnight. As many companies have said, it'll be a good year or so before there's a realistic chance of supply chains stabilizing.
Not being able to switch weapons in Halo Infinite's latest technical preview is a common problem.
Halo Infinite has just kicked off its latest multiplayer technical preview, which will let Halo fans get another taste of what 343 Industries and Xbox Game Studios have been cooking up for the 2021 holiday season. However, the list of known issues in Halo Infinite's technical preview continues to grow over time, causing some frustrations for players as they try to overcome these obstacles. One of the more widespread bugs we've seen is an issue that prevents you from switching your weapon both in the newfound Training Mode and in multiplayer Slayer matches.
The issue makes it so that, while you can still equip two different weapons like normal, you're entirely unable to switch away from your primary gear. This can be detrimental in a firefight, when being able to switch weapons at a crucial moment can potentially turn the tides. This glitch appears to affect any mode that lets you switch weapons, which makes sense when it becomes apparent how to fix it.
Here's how you can fix the weapon switch bug in Halo Infinite's second technical preview:
Even though Halo Infinite's controls on the right side of Settings showed that this control was enabled, it actually wasn't in the controller bindings. Rebinding the control should fix the issue, once again letting you switch your weapons whenever it's necessary.
The second Halo Infinite technical preview is ongoing, and we've got the full Halo Infinite beta schedule so that you never have to worry about missing a bout of multiplayer matchmaking.
From $1/month at Microsoft $45 at Amazon (3-month subscription) $15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)
All your gaming needs, in one subscription.
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. That means access to hundreds of games, with more added all the time, for a single monthly subscription cost.
$60 at Microsoft $60 at Best Buy $60 at Steam
A new Great Journey awaits
Halo Infinite is sure to be an incredible game filled with wonder, adventure, and more. Based on the beta experience and what was seen at E3 2021, we can't wait to play it at launch.
Halo Infinite's second technical preview has exhibited server issues, with high demand headed into the first play session.
Microsoft has launched its first Halo Infinite beta, providing the latest hands-on opportunity with the next iteration of its sci-fi shooter. The test, formally dubbed the Halo Infinite technical preview, promises two weekends with various multiplayer maps and modes. The first Halo Infinite play session has gone live, with multiplayer matchmaking restricted to scheduled four-hour playtimes.
The first session in the Halo Infinite schedule kicked off at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. BST on Sept. 24, opening the preview build to the globe, allowing for matchmaking against real-world players. The sudden influx in players has unsurprisingly pushed Halo Infinite to its limit, with some experiencing connectivity issues on console and PC.
The issue appears to be isolated to only certain players, with some unable to log in to Halo Infinite, facing a lengthy initial loading screen. Matchmaking seems to operate a little smoother once in the menus, albeit with server errors still a possibility, given the work-in-progress nature of the build. However, like all scheduled Halo Infinite beta times, servers are expected to remain online for four hours, before going offline, and returning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT/1 a.m. BST.
While there's no formal workaround, those encountering issues are best waiting it out until the initial rush subsides. We've found success in restarting the game, or your console/PC, to improve the chances of a successful log-in. Our ongoing list of Halo Infinite bugs and launch issues tracks prevalent errors players may encounter throughout the test.
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