{
  "id": 11440800,
  "title": "Original Xbox Version of Halo: Combat Evolved Made Available to Play in a Browser",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/original-xbox-version-of-halo-combat-evolved-made-available-to-play",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-02T12:07:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IGN",
    "slug": "ign",
    "url": "https://www.ign.com/articles/original-xbox-version-of-halo-combat-evolved-made-available-to-play-in-a-browser"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Microsoft has made the original Xbox version of Halo: Combat Evolved playable in a web browser. This is not a port, but rather the original Xbox game running directly in the browser. AI developer Mitchell Hynes is hosting and maintaining the game himself. Hynes clarified that this browser version is not Microsoft's official and controversial 2003 PC port. Within five hours of release, the game garnered nearly 20,000 plays, averaging 94 frames per second. Despite Microsoft's recent release of Halo: Combat Evolved on PC and consoles, the company may view this free browser version as competition. Some speculate Microsoft had already taken action, but Hynes' website was initially flagged as \"Suspected Phishing\" and later cleared. The current AI video game explosion has seen various games mashed together using AI, creating viral content and leading to cease and desist notices. The future of Halo in your browser remains uncertain, as Microsoft has recently handed the next mainline Halo game to Activision, while gutting the original Halo Studios.",
  "summary": "The original Xbox version of Halo: Combat Evolved has been made available to play in a web browser.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TechSpot",
        "title": "You can now play the original Halo in your browser, 128-player multiplayer included",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/you-can-now-play-the-original-halo-in-your-browser-128-player",
        "published": "2026-09-30T16:44:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "XDA Developers",
        "title": "You can now play the original Halo for free in your browser with 128-player multiplayer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/you-can-now-play-the-original-halo-for-free-in-your-browser-with-128",
        "published": "2026-09-30T20:38:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}