Screech

Earlier today Kotaku posted a story on a huge list of Xbox One-related leaks posted on NeoGAF late last night by someone using the handle "ntkrnl," who has been confirmed to be connected with Microsoft. Here's the article, with all of the interesting stuff highlighted: Plans for a disc-free Xbox One? Halo 5 in 2015? A Halo 2 remake this fall? A massive dump of rumors posted on NeoGAF last night hints at all that and more: a new Forza Horizon this fall; a game called Shangheist that was cancelled when the studio Black Tusk started development on a new Gears of War; a widespread white Xbox One launch later this year. This all comes from someone with the handle ntkrnl, who hasn't identified himself but has been posting details and tidbits about Microsoft's future plans for the past 24 hours. Some of the info is vague—like an alleged deal between Microsoft and the cloud processing company Cloudgine—while other snippets are more specific, like details about the upcoming Xbox One game Sunset Overdrive. Ntkrnl adds that Halo 2: Anniversary is scheduled for November 11 and Fable Legends will be out in the summer of 2015. So how valid is this stuff? Well, thanks to a reliable source, I've been able to confirm that ntkrnl is indeed connected to Microsoft, although I haven't been able to verify any of the poster's claims. Just because the leaker is in a position to know this information doesn't mean this information is true. (When I reached out this morning, Microsoft declined to comment.) But adding some veracity to ntkrnl's posts is The Verge's Tom Warren, who has a very good track record with Microsoft-related leaks and rumors. Warren says he's been able to verify a few of ntkrnl's claims, including the white Xbox One release and a major dashboard update scheduled for this March that will reportedly fix some of the system's big interface and party chat issues. Warren also says he confirmed Microsoft is testing out builds of the Xbox One without a disc drive—floated by ntkrnl—although neither knows whether that version of the console will actually make it to the market. On top of all that, according to one person familiar with the situation who spoke to me under condition of anonymity, Microsoft is currently trying to track down and identify ntkrnl. According to that person, Microsoft executives are looking to take legal action against ntkrnl, which, again, doesn't mean that everything he says is true. Ntkrnl also posted a mock-up of what appears to be a Titanfall-themed Xbox One bundle: Two industry sources have told me that this bundle is real, although the image is not 100% accurate. UPDATE (5:37pm): It's worth noting that just because the bundle is real doesn't mean it will make its way to store shelves. Frequent NeoGAFfer Pete Dodd, who has been correct about some gaming rumors in the past, says he heard the bundle was cancelled. So, what'cha think guys? I really hope that Halo 2: Anniversary release date is legit! It's also worth noting that Edward Kenway has already posted about ntkrnl's white console / XBL update leaks - check it out! Kotaku's Story NeoGAF Thread

I have no idea how this happened but it looks hilarious!

I'm sure it'll run fine! They may have to tone down certain things in the game like DICE did with Battlefield 4 on the 360 and PS3, but I don't think you'll have any problems other than some framrate issues...

With the arrival of the new Onslaught map pack, it looks like Infinity Ward has brought Gun Game back in Call of Duty: Ghosts, along with a new free-for-all version of Hunted! For those who aren't in the know, here's a little background on Gun Game, courtesy of Call of Duty Elite: "Each player starts with the same basic pistol. Every time you kill an enemy with your gun, you're upgraded to the next weapon. Anyone killed with a melee attack is demoted to the previous weapon, so watch your flank. Suicides also set you back to the previous tier, most often occurring when using explosive weapons. The match ends when someone cycles through all twenty weapons. Success in Gun Game requires aggressive tactics and familiarity with each weapon in the rotation. Don't worry about dying - just go for a lot of successive kills. " I'm excited to give the newly returned playlist a go! I'm not too into Ghosts so far. It's probably my least favorite Call of Duty game of all time, and I've been playing since CoD 4 was in its prime... Maybe Gun Game is exactly what I need to bring the fun back into this game.

Wow, this is a great montage, dude! I think it's the first Halo 4 montage I've ever seen as well... haven't watched any since H2 / H3. You did a phenomenal job on the editing and the player was awesome too - I loved all the crazy multi-kills! Thanks a lot for sharing - gonna watch some more of the montages you've edited

I haven't really been following this game very closely but I kinda remember seeing stuff about around E3 and the announcement of XB1. I like to participate in betas for new games so I suppose signing up won't hurt!

Hmmmm, I don't have any exact statistics or anything but I'm fairly certain a majority of gamers are playing their games online nowadays... Obviously, there's still a good chunk of people out there who don't use XBL / PSN / whatever and just play single player games, but there aren't too many to my knowledge so I don't think this will really be a major hindrance to Titanfall's sales.

Though Microsoft has said time and time again that all Xbox One consoles will be sold with the new Kinect, Fool.com seems to think a Kinect-less XB1 will be available for purchase sometime in the near future... November's sales numbers saw the Xbox One move approximately 910,000 units; an impressive figure, but also below what the PS4 posted by an as-of-yet unreported margin. In the UK, Sony's system moved 530,000 units in five weeks of sales, while the One managed about 364,000 units. The PS4 is said to be outselling the Xbox One in Spain by an approximate 3:1 margin. These trends will have to be reversed if Microsoft hopes to make good on its gaming investment in this cycle. Consider that the Xbox One will have very little presence in Japan and the picture of Sony establishing a substantial global sales lead starts to come together. Microsoft wants to have some manner of presence in Asian territories, which provides another reason for a Kinect-less Xbox One being released in 2014. Homes in Asian cities tend to be smaller and more compact, which means that a living room or TV-area often lacks the space for a Kinect to function. The six- to eight-foot distance that should separate players from the camera's sensor bar might not sound like a lot, but this actually appears prohibitive for a substantial number of Japanese gamers. If you've got an expensive piece of optional camera hardware that weighs down your console globally, you don't spend the time and resources necessary to further rework that hardware so that you can better sell it in your weakest territory. You just ditch it. Microsoft may have adamantly stated that Xbox One would never ship without Kinect, but plans to do just that are almost certainly under way. If the company intends to stick around in the console business, it knows it can't afford to leave the One's price problem unaddressed. By the end of 2014, you're going to be able to buy Xbox One hardware at a lower price in a box that weighs about one 3-D camera less. What do you guys think? Is it gonna happen? And if it does, do you plan on buying a Kinect-less Xbox One at the reduced price (however much that may be)? I already have an XB1 and I think the Kinect is an important part of the console.

Hmmm, sounds kinda like Coke Rewards.... If it's anything like that, you'll probably have to answer 2 million surveys before you can even think about buying a game out of the dollar bin! Hahaha, I'm not a Power Up rewards member any more but I'm interested so I guess I'll check it out...

I have a bad memory but I think my first Xbox game was either Crazy Taxi 3 or Halo 2... Can't remember which one. I know for a fact that my first 360 game was Burnout Paradise, though. I put in sooooo much time on that game.

From the Examiner's article: Chris Butcher has provided some details regarding the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the cross-generation video game, “Destiny.” According to a report from World’s Factory on Jan. 7, the technical director at Bungie believed that the current-generation consoles still give the development plenty of “headroom,” adding that the engine has been their “most optimized” yet. As a result, both systems are being pushed to the limits. You can find his comment below: "The current generation of consoles, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, they have a lot of headroom still for us. We have the most optimized game engine we’ve ever produced for these consoles. We’re getting at the point now where we are wringing pretty much every ounce of juice out of the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3." Chris Butcher went on to disclose that the Bungie was surprised at abilities of the PS3 and Xbox 360 being able to display higher counts of individuals on screen. The development team is using the CPUs and SPUs of both systems to the full effect in an attempt to make the experience consistent on all platforms. You can find some “Destiny” screenshots in the slideshow to the left of this article and the comment below: "We’re running higher character counts and higher player counts than we thought would even be possible on these things because we’re using every ounce of the CPUs and the SPUs and we’re offloading stuff to the graphics processor. You’re basically eating the whole buffalo at this point in the current generation. And that’s been our target right from the start is to make sure that we can provide that game experience that is consistent for everybody." R.I.P. to all of the pre-slim Xbox 360's that are gonna overheat when they try to run Destiny. I'll be sitting pretty with my Xbox One

Psssh. Elites are sooooooooOOoOOooOOOOo 2012.

Maybe we should have a search setting that makes it so we only get put in games on maps included in the DLC?... Any playlist that isn't Slayer or Big Team seems to be getting the cold shoulder from most of the people on H4 so I don't know if a new DLC-only playlist would be the best idea.

Chainsaws? What is this, Gears of War?! Hahahaha

Eh, I don't know... I think I'd kinda feel like a sucker if they were to release future Halo games on multiple consoles... Halo 5 and 6 (and possibly H2: Anniversary) are the main reason I got an Xbox One over a PS4, after all.

Teabagging's okay when I'm the one doing it

Sounds like it's a new copy from the description he/she gave... They did a 'Holiday Bundle' for the new E model 360's that includes the console, a copy of Halo 4, and a digital download for the new Tomb Raider game: http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-250GB-Holiday-Value-Bundle/dp/B00FATRKOK

You should get an invite from one of the hosts on the date/time of the whichever event you'll be participating in (US or UK). That's why you've gotta post your Gamertag here.

Hahaha, I appreciate that

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I have absolutely no experience in coding and know nothing about what goes into making a video game so I think what you're doing is amazing! Can't wait to see future video updates and eventually attempt to play the game on my crappy PC

Yeah, I think so as well... But Vince and a lot of the other guys at Respawn Entertainment made a lot of good games during their time at Infinityward and I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing. I don't know why they're including so much AI in the multiplayer for Titanfall though... Seems like it would make more sense to cut half of the AI out and make it 8v8 at least.

Wow, I haven't run into anything like this in Halo 4! I don't think I've seen a single person cheating... maybe I've just been extremely lucky so far?...

No way in hell this will ever happen. Xbox One players can't even be in the same party as their friends on the 360 so it's highly doubtful that Microsoft will even consider allowing us to play games with / against people on non-MS consoles.

Wow. That's pretty bad ass looking! It may be a bit OP though, don't you think?... I mean, normal shotgun's like a 1 to 2 shot kill - with the addition of the explosion that happens after the needle penetrates the enemy I'm thinking this might be a 1 shot kill 100% of the time... I'm no expert though, that's just my assumption.