A surprising turn of events in the gaming world has seen Microsoft announce that Halo: Campaign Evolved will now be available on PlayStation, a move many are calling the definitive end of the ‘console wars’ and the era of Xbox exclusives. Adding to the bizarre narrative, the White House recently shared an AI-generated image of Donald Trump depicted as the iconic Halo protagonist, Master Chief, in a salute before the American flag. However, a closer look reveals a glaring error.
For those unfamiliar, Halo: Campaign Evolved is a modern remake of the original 2001 Halo: Combat Evolved campaign. It’s set to release in 2026 across Xbox Series X and S, PC, and, notably, PlayStation 5. This marks a historic first for the franchise, as it will be the very first Halo title to launch on a PlayStation console, solidifying Microsoft’s shift towards being a multiplatform developer.
The White House’s AI-generated image of Donald Trump as Master Chief.
Just a few years ago, the notion of a Halo title appearing on a PlayStation console would have been unthinkable. This shift is reportedly a result of Microsoft’s strategic move to expand its multiplatform presence, driven by a reported need to increase profit margins from its Xbox studios. The monumental announcement even spurred GameStop, a prominent U.S. video game retailer, to tweet that the console wars were officially over.
It seems someone within the White House communications team noticed GameStop’s declaration and seized the opportunity. They shared an AI-generated image portraying the U.S. President as Master Chief, complete with an Energy Sword, saluting proudly in front of the White House and the American flag. The accompanying text simply stated:
Power to the Players
— The White House (@WhiteHouse)
However, the image quickly drew attention for a glaring factual error: the American flag depicted has only 40 stars instead of the correct 50. This sparked immediate questions and speculation: Was this a subtle political message, an AI glitch, or perhaps a hint at the future of generative AI? The internet pondered if this was a cause for concern.
Whether this image was meant to signify the President’s role in the “console wars” truce or was a direct appeal to the gaming community remains unclear. Regardless of intent, the image quickly achieved viral status, accumulating over 9.3 million views shortly after its release. IGN has reached out to Microsoft for an official statement regarding the situation.
This particular “collaboration” from the White House raised eyebrows, especially considering previous statements by the President concerning video games. In 2019, he notably proposed that addressing violent video games could be a solution to prevent future mass shootings in the United States.
“We must stop the glorification of violence in our society,” he stated. “This includes the gruesome and grisly video games that are now commonplace. It is too easy today for troubled youth to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence. We must stop or substantially reduce this and it has to begin immediately.”
One might wonder if, in the President’s view, the sci-fi combat of Halo somehow transcends this categorization.
[A video related to Halo: Campaign Evolved gameplay would typically be featured here.]
This isn’t the first time the administration has utilized AI imagery to promote the President. In May, a similar AI-generated image of Trump as the Pope caused controversy among some Catholic communities. That image, also disseminated via official White House social media, appeared at a sensitive time when Catholics were mourning the passing of Pope Francis and anticipating the selection of a new pontiff.
Other instances include the White House sharing AI images depicting Trump as Superman and as a Star Wars Jedi. Furthermore, just last month, The Pokémon Company issued a formal response after the Department of Homeland Security used the Pokémon TV hero Ash Ketchum and the show’s theme song in a video featuring law enforcement arrests, prompting calls for a lawsuit.
For more insights into Halo: Campaign Evolved, readers can explore why its cross-platform release is seen as a significant shift for Xbox exclusives, and hear opinions from members of the original Halo development team at Bungie.
Image credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.
This article was originally written by Wesley Yin-Poole, Director of News at IGN.