The gaming industry has changed a lot, indeed. Microsoft’s announcement that Halo will be released for the PlayStation 5 was a complete surprise. The title Halo: Campaign Evolved was also stated in the official announcement. The game is receiving a complete redesign and improvement with the addition of several new features like 2-player local co-op and 4-player online co-op. Even Master Chief being on a Sony console comes as a surprise to everyone.
Halo on the PlayStation is a significant move for many reasons. For a long time, Xbox was the closest platform to this game and now it is becoming almost the opposite. It has been the leader of the Xbox platform and a real reason for people to buy the consoles for 20 years more or less. The original Xbox seller was exactly that game. Phil Spencer, the Xbox division chief, in 2011 once remarked: “If we go astray with Halo, we go astray with Xbox.” It wasn’t this way back then, but now it seems so as the competition enjoys the game just as much as Xbox users do. Online buzz has gone through the roof, some people are extremely hyped while others are confused and of course there are still the disbelievers.
The comments of gamers definitely express the seriousness of this as a holiday. “PlayStation has really become an Xbox. That’s it,” one user tweeted, and this actually pretty much sums up the case. Another one said, “I never thought I would see a day when Halo would go to PlayStation.” A considerable number of gamers share the same sentiment. The major factor in console wars has crossed over to be… gone? Or just different?
On the other hand, there are a lot of players who are not happy and are just trying to complain. Many consider the situation to be a huge defeat for Xbox and that is why the response has been so negative. One user again stated, “Nintendo has officially won,” implying that with this move the console war has shifted drastically. Another one pointed out that “This just means that PlayStation has no true console seller,”—that is indeed a very hot take. Is it right to say the manufacturers’ strategy has changed to having every game available on every console?
The theme of money is being brought up by several observers who argue that this whole situation is a manifestation of how desperate console makers are for cash because they can no longer afford to let go of exclusive titles. One commentator seems to be in agreement with them. He observes that given the high cost of development, it’s clever business to lease the platform with the largest user base for your flagship title. Furthermore, every single sale through the digital store is complemented by a share for Sony. So, by taking their rival’s biggest hero, they are making the situation a bit odd and keeping their power in the market.
Although the announcement was a bit vague on the multiplayer aspect, it is still a very crucial part of the Halo experience. The news just confirmed that the campaign is the one being transferred. Halo: Campaign Evolved. Perhaps the multiplayer will be introduced later as a test to see how well the PlayStation crowd responds to the Master Chief story or it will just be a matter of more time for the multiplayer component to follow. But the emphasis on co-op play is a smart move. Many people have formed lifelong bonds with Halo playing the campaign co-op, and having a new generation introduced to the universe through co-op is a fantastic way to make them bond with the universe.
Some of the comments made are just too funny. One person condemned, “This is sacrilege,” while another just stated, “There’s no fucking way this is real. This should be illegal.” The shock is still very prevalent. It is the case for some players but others are already asking for more. One tweet is calling for “Give me halo wars 1 @ 2,” expecting the strategy spin-offs to be the next in line coming up with a jump. So maybe it’s not just a one-off instance and the gates might be opened for more of the Xbox’s IPs to come over to PlayStation.
Hold on a second! Where was I? Ah, yes, the commercial side. This feels like the closing of a chapter, the console makers finally getting the message that they shouldn’t be afraid of the risks involved in the marketplaces being mixed. The barely graduated scale of exclusivity will soon vanish completely since it has been getting steeper and steeper over time. You can start playing an Xbox game on PC from day one. Now, the same goes for PlayStation as well. It’s no longer about the box, it’s all about the ecosystem, it’s all about Game Pass, it’s all about spreading the software around as much as possible. The hardware is now the least significant part. For the players, this is still a positive primarily. You can play your favorite games on your preferred hardware. Gone are the days when you could choose the “wrong” box made of plastic and then pay for it through missing games.
Still, it leaves us wondering what the future holds. If Halo is on PlayStation, then what is next? Gears of War? Forza? Then, will anyone want an Xbox console? The value will have to be in the service like Game Pass or a less expensive hardware option. It’s a weird new world where we and everyone else are cohabitating. The barriers are being removed and the walls are getting knocked down. The Master Chief will be on PS5. It is indeed happening. Get ready for next year’s surprise.
The video game industry has definitely changed the fastest. The Halo relocation is a clear signal that the big players are changing their thinking. It’s no longer about restricting games to a certain platform but rather about spreading the word to everyone everywhere. No matter how you look at it—either as a player win or as a signal of Xbox’s decline—the fact is that soon you will be able to play Halo on your PlayStation 5. What a great time to be alive!
