Table of Contents
Microsoft is bringing one of its most famous games to a rival console for the first time.
The popular science-fiction shooting game Halo will soon be on the PlayStation 5 (PS5). When the game first came out in 2001, fans thought this was impossible.
Microsoft will release a new version of the original game called Halo: Campaign Evolved. It will be for Microsoft’s Xbox, Sony’s PS5 and PC.
This decision shows that Microsoft is changing its strategy. Console makers used to keep their popular games only for their own systems. Now, Microsoft wants people to play its games in more places.
Halo helped Microsoft start in the game market with the first Xbox. However, the company has struggled to sell its newest consoles. The PlayStation 5 has sold more than twice as many units as the Xbox Series S and X.
Now, Microsoft is focusing on playing games on many devices. This includes PCs, tablets, phones, and a new handheld device. Microsoft is also promoting Game Pass, a subscription service. For a monthly payment, players get many games, like Netflix for movies.
Some fans of the Halo series are happy that more people can play the game. A gamer named Kara said that Halo was important to her. “It was one of the first games I ever played,” she said.
However, some Xbox owners are unhappy that Halo will not be an exclusive game. But this is a trend. PlayStation is also releasing games on PC. Kara says this is a good thing for gamers.
The Halo’s executive producer agrees. He said, “Halo is about connection. We are happy to meet a new generation of players.”
Vocabulary
- Famous – Many people know it; Well-known or admired by many people
- Rival – main challenger; opponent; enemy; opposition
- Console – A machine you use to play video games on a TV (Xbox Series X, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch are game consoles)
- Popular – Liked by many people; something many people like; common; frequent
- Shooting – situation where a person shoots a gun at other people
- Come out – release; debut; become available; launch
- Fan – a person who likes a sport, team, or celebrity; supporter; follower
- Release – make available to everyone; launch; put on the market
- 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
- Original – the first one made and not a copy; the origin or beginning; not a remake
- Decision – a choice that you make about something after thinking about several possibilities/options; choice; ruling;
- Show – To display or present something; to share; to let people see something; to make something easy to see
- Strategy – A plan or method to achieve a goal
- Used to – Refers to something that happened regularly in the past but doesn’t happen anymore; in the past
- Game system – an electronic device like a console or handheld that runs games, connecting to a display and using a controller (Xbox Series X, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch are game systems)
- Market – the field/area/place of trade or business; the buying/selling of a specific product or service; a category of potential buyers
- Struggle – to fight; to try very hard to do a difficult thing; strain
- Twice as many – Having two times the number of something; X2; double; 100% more
- Unit – one item; single piece;
- Focus on – to give most of your attention to someone or something; to look or listen carefully
- Device – electronic equipment like watch, camera, phone, etc.
- Include – to contain; incorporate; to be part of; to have something smaller as a part of it; come with
- Handheld – A small electronic device that you can easily carry and hold in your hand
- Promote – to advertise; to market; to push; to make people aware; to make popular
- Subscription – paying money regularly to receive a product or service (Netflix subscription; Amazon Prime subscription; newspaper subscription)
- Subscription service – A business that lets you use something (like games or movies) when you pay them money every month.
- Service – system or tool that performs an action that is helpful to people; a business that offers a particular type of help or work; utility; system
- Payment – the act of paying or being paid money; installment; premium; The money you give to buy something
- Series – A group of things (like books or games) that follow one after the other
- Exclusive – Something that is only offered to one group or is only available in one place
- Trend – A general direction in which something is developing or changing; course; direction; a general direction of change
- Producer – someone who is in charge of and manages the production of a TV series, movie, video game, etc. including financial and creative points
- Agree – To have the same opinion or feeling as someone else; to say “yes” to something
- Connection – a link or relationship between things or people
- Generation – a group of people born and living around the same time;
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it is a good idea for a company like Microsoft to share its games with a rival company like Sony (PlayStation)? Why or why not?
- The text mentions that some Xbox owners are unhappy. Why do you think they feel this way? Do you agree with them?
- Do you prefer playing games on a console (like PS5 or Xbox) or on a device like a PC or a phone? What are the advantages of your preferred way to play?
- Do you use a subscription service (like Netflix or Game Pass) for entertainment? What do you think is the biggest advantage of paying a monthly payment for a large library of content?
- If you were the leader of Microsoft, what strategy would you focus on to sell more games?
- 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 _____ one of its most famous games to a rival _____ for the first time.
The popular science-fiction _____ game Halo will soon be on the PlayStation 5 (PS5). When the _____ first came out in 2001, fans thought _____ was impossible.
Microsoft will release a _____ version of the original game called Halo: Campaign Evolved. _____ will be for Microsoft’s Xbox, Sony’s PS5 and _____ .
This decision shows that _____ is changing its strategy. Console makers used to keep their popular games _____ for their own game systems. Now, Microsoft wants people to _____ its games in more places.
Halo _____ Microsoft start in the game market with the first Xbox. _____ , the company has struggled to sell its newest consoles. The PlayStation _____ has sold more than twice as many units as the Xbox Series _____ and X.
Now, Microsoft is _____ on playing games on many devices. This includes PCs, _____ , phones, and a new handheld device. Microsoft is also _____ Game Pass, a subscription service. For a monthly payment, _____ get many games, like Netflix for _____ .
Some fans of the Halo _____ are happy that more people can play the game. A _____ named Kara said that Halo was important to her. “It _____ one of the first games I ever played,” she _____ .
However, some Xbox _____ are unhappy that Halo will not be an exclusive game. _____ this is a trend. PlayStation is also _____ games on PC. Kara says this is a good thing for gamers.
The Halo’s _____ agrees. He said, “Halo is about connection. _____ are happy to meet a new generation of _____ .”
