Table of Contents
Microsoft is bringing its famous game to a rival game console. This game is called Halo. It is a shooting game in space.
Halo will soon be on the PlayStation 5 (PS5). Halo first came out in the year 2001.
Microsoft will sell a new version of the first Halo game. It is for Xbox, PS5, and PCs.
This is a new idea for Microsoft. Video game companies used to keep big games only for their own consoles. Now, Microsoft wants people to play its games everywhere.
Halo helped Microsoft start with the first Xbox. But Microsoft’s newest Xbox does not sell well. The PS5 sells much more.
Microsoft now wants people to play games on many devices, like phones, tablets, and computers. Microsoft also has Game Pass. This is a monthly fee to play many games. It is like Netflix for games.
Some fans are happy. More people can play Halo now.
But some Xbox owners are not happy. They wanted Halo to be only on Xbox.
The producer of Halo is happy. He said Halo is about people playing together.
Vocabulary
- Famous – Many people know it; Well-known or admired by many people
- Rival – main challenger; opponent; enemy; opposition
- Game console – A machine you use to play video games on a TV (Xbox Series X, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch are game consoles)
- Called – Named; To give something a name
- Shooting – situation where a person shoots a gun at other people
- Space – the area outside of Earth with stars and darkness; 🌌
- Come out – release; debut; become available; launch
- Version – a copy of something that has been changed so it’s a little different; something a little different from others of the same type
- Video game – a game that is played on a computer or other electronic device
- Used to – Refers to something that happened regularly in the past but doesn’t happen anymore; in the past
- Device – electronic equipment like smartwatch, camera, phone, etc.
- Monthly – every month; once a month
- Fee – the cost of something; an amount of money that you pay; price; charge; rate
- Fan – a person who likes a sport, team, or celebrity; supporter; follower
- Owner – the person who has something; the person who has the right to control something; the person who has something and can decide what happens to it;
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it is good that people can play Halo on PS5 and Xbox? Why or why not?
- Is it fair for Xbox owners that Halo is not only on Xbox now?
- Do you like the idea of Game Pass (paying one fee for many games)? Why?
- Do you think Microsoft should put more of its games on PS5?
- Which is better: playing games on a console or on a small device like a phone?
- Do you think games will be on consoles in the future, or only on phones and PCs?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Microsoft is _____ its famous game to a rival game console. This _____ is called Halo. It is a shooting game in space.
Halo _____ soon be on the PlayStation 5 (PS5). Halo first came out in the year _____ .
Microsoft will _____ a new version of the first Halo game. It is for Xbox, PS5, _____ PCs.
This is a new idea for Microsoft. _____ game companies used to keep big games only for their _____ consoles. Now, Microsoft wants _____ to play its games everywhere.
Halo _____ Microsoft start with the first Xbox. But Microsoft’s _____ Xbox does not sell well. The PS5 sells much _____ .
Microsoft now wants people _____ play games on many devices, like _____ , tablets, and computers. Microsoft also has Game Pass. _____ is a monthly fee to play many games. It is like Netflix for _____ .
Some fans are happy. More people _____ play Halo now.
But some Xbox _____ are not happy. They wanted Halo to be only on Xbox.
_____ producer of Halo is happy. He said Halo is _____ people playing together.
