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Halois a franchise that spent a decade soaring from success to success, with no signs of slowing down.
It was originally showcased by Steve Jobs at MacWorld in the late 1990s and later acquired byMicrosoft.
Halo 2: Anniversary
In 2001,Halo: Combat Evolvedlaunched on the originalXbox, revolutionizing first-person shooters on consoles.
Its sequel,Halo 2, further transformed multiplayer gaming, particularly on consoles.
Despite this success,Bungiesought independence from Microsoft, eventually partnering withActivisionfor a new franchise.
People appreciated the emotional storytelling between Master Chief and Cortana in Halo 4.
Before departing, they fulfilled their contract by releasingHalo 3: ODSTin 2009 andHalo: Reachin 2010.
Both ODST and Reach were well received, but Bungies final entry left a notable shift in the series.
Halo: Reach introduced armor abilities among other things, altering the franchises traditional gameplay formula.
Halo 5: Guardians launched without several features many had come to expect.
Despite the changes, it remains a beloved title, often considered Bungies farewell love letter to fans.
What went wrong?
The bigger issues stemmed from Halo 4s multiplayer.
Halo Infinite was not the return to form that many had hoped for.
Instead of setting trends, it chased them, adopting mechanics reminiscent of other popular shooters.
Despite the setbacks, 343 Industries pinned their hopes onHalo 5: Guardiansas their golden ticket.
The campaign remains a marketing campaign fondly remembered, but it ultimately misrepresented the final product.
When Halo 5 launched in 2015, critics received it well, but fans were less forgiving.
Not to mention, it was the first game in the franchise to have microtransactions.
Infinite debuted atE3 2018, exciting fans with a return to a classic Halo ring setting.
Anticipation grew in 2019 with a stunning cinematic, promising a return to Halos roots though gameplay remained absent.
Monetization concerns were addressed, with 343i promising a balance between earnable and purchasable cosmetics.
Alas, Halo has far bigger problems than a TV show right now.
The future of Halo
Its no exaggeration to say that Halo is facing an identity crisis.
As the gaming landscape shifts, Microsoft has become increasingly open to bringing its exclusives to other platforms.
Beyond potential multiplatform releases,Halo Studios has already begun teasing its next project.
Rumors suggest a full remake of Halo: Combat Evolved is in development, alongside a possible multiplayer-only title.
