: "She's not really nude … but that's what it makes you think of,"
: O'Connor explained. "So one of the reasons she [chooses to appear
: without clothes]* is to attract and demand attention. And she does it to
: put people off so that they're on their guard when talking to her and she
: has the upper hand in those conversations."

: * I don't have my headphones today at work - what did he really say where
: the article paraphrases in brackets? Because that paraphrase directly
: contradicts his first statement in the quote

Stutterings aside, what he actually says in the video is:

"Firstly she's not actually nude, 'cause she has neither clothes nor private parts. She's effectively just wearing a kinda holographic bodystocking. I mean that's the conceit. However, it's like you said, that's what it makes you think of…"

So, the contradiction you perceived was merely because the article omitted his explanation of why it's wrong to say she's nude. The term doesn't really apply (as I said myself, earlier in the thread). Later he says:

"and one of the reasons she does it is to attract and demand attention, and she does it to put people off, so that they're on their guard when they're talking to her, and that she has the upper hand in those conversations."

: But I still don't buy "Cortana is naked", especially in Halo 5,
: again with the collar and skin tight bodysuit.

You're with cheapLEY on the bodysuit perception for H5 eh? You'll gather from my replies on that, that I don't see it that way at all.

: "Impression of nudity" perhaps

Not in H5, I'd say.

: but the character isn't naked. The linked article
: title is leading. "Why is Cortana naked?" - she's not, and
: Frankie said it.

Yes, but it was the question asked of him, that's all. I'm guessing the guy asking it was thinking of earlier games too.