It’s a Halo fan’s dream this morning at the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, as members of Microsoft’s 343 Industries describe and show their work on “Halo: Anniversary” — a remake of the classic “Halo: Combat Evolved” that was responsible for cementing Microsoft’s original Xbox console as a mainstay of the video-game industry and culture.
Speaking on the panel, members of the team confirmed the news that the game will be playable in 3D, but they promised that the experience will still be just as rich on regular old HD sets.
The game uses elements of the original Halo code, and remains true to the story line, but there’s an option to toggle back and forth between the new visuals and the original appearance in real time as people are playing the game.
It’s a glimpse not just of Halo’s evolution but of the game industry’s evolution over the past decades, said Dan Ayoub, the executive producer. “What we didn’t want to do is do an HD version throw it in a box and call it a day. We wanted to do something a little more special,” he said.
Later, in response to an audience question, Ayoub didn’t rule out the possibility of a future “Halo 2” remake.
The overhauled game, announced this spring, is due out for $34.99 on Nov. 15 — the 10th anniversary of the first Halo release.
