"Halo Online" Beta Coming to PC

[MadSprite]

Microsoft to launch free-to-play "Halo Online" in Russia. A new Halo game will be launched in Russia for a closed beta term, similar to what Activision has done with its Call of Duty Online beta that was released in China.

Halo Online is a PC-only game which is not expected to be on the Xbox One. It will feature a free-to-play multiplayer experience (which has been a hit or miss with online shooters trying to avoid "pay-to-win") where SPARTAN-IVs train together to gain better skills and test experimental technology.

Microsoft says that the game, based on a modified Halo 3 engine, will be capable of running on low-end PCs. Given the nature of F2P, it's not surprising that they aren't aiming to renew the Halo experience, but to introduce new fans to the Halo universe.

The Russian launch is a closed beta, as Microsoft figures out the best way "to welcome new fans to the Halo universe," according to a post on Halo Waypoint. Halo Online is built on a modified version of the Halo 3 engine, and it should run smoothly on lower-end PCs, Microsoft says. Halo Online comes from Halo: The Master Chief Collection collaborator Saber Interactive and software developer Innova Systems, who have partnered with Halo 4 and 5 studio 343 Industries and, of course, Microsoft.

Historically, Halo is exclusive to Xbox, since it comes from that console's manufacturer, Microsoft (though the first Halo did launch on Windows as well). However, the company notes that Halo Online is not destined for Xbox One, since it was built specifically for PC.

Halo Online is in development for Russia only, though Microsoft notes that "theoretically," the game would have to be adapted for different regions before launching elsewhere. Until then, we'll just be sitting here, Needlers crossed.

At first glance, the game looks like it relies on some "pay-to-win" features where weapons are featured in loadout. However, with further examination, you can see that it only affects your starting loadout at spawn, as you can pick up other players' weapons.

The most important factor is that multiple types of the same weapon are not actually pure upgrades; rather, they have been balanced to counter the bonuses within themselves so that you may have stronger damage output but a slower rate of fire and high recoil. The weapons are also on a rent scheme where you cannot keep the weapon past a certain amount of time, allowing you to pick up a weapon cheaply for 30 minutes to play a quick session without requiring you to invest 200 hours in the game to obtain it for use. This also combats the "pay-to-win" system that has plagued F2P games where putting in real money can reduce the tens of hours required to obtain a worthy item.

So why is Russia being targeted for this beta? Microsoft may be trying to capture a new audience that is not used to buying full console or PC games. Releasing a paid Halo game on PC might interest current Halo fans, but also may be overlooked by others as yet another first-person shooter. With F2P being popular in Russia, it could be a good testing ground to bring new fans into the Halo universe, especially since Microsoft is investing heavily to incorporate the Halo franchise into their desktop and mobile operating systems. It would make sense to have Cortana to appeal to a new subset of fans in the hardware market as well!

Particularly early on, free-to-play games caught on fastest in South Korea and Russia, where they took over 90% of the gaming market.

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Free-to-play

 

TIDBITS:

Here's a video of someone loading the maps and playing with the weapons and vehicles, bypassing the login menu that would restrict it to closed beta members.

Special weapons and vehicles are not part of the loadout selection and exist where they are in the map they would exist in Halo 3.

https://youtu.be/fy1jbrrMfZc

Another video is from the Halo Online's video game file that shows up as the intro video.

It's currently in Russian but there is english subtitles that you can enable in the youtube video.

https://youtu.be/w26R1tMHn0k

Source:http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/25/halo-online-free-pc-russia/?ncid=rss_truncated]http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/25/halo-online-free-pc-russia/

Other Sources:

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[Pyromaniac225]

This interests me greatly.

 

Nice Avatar.

[the jolly roger]

i can just imagine the micro transactions

 

OH NO I SEE THEM 

 

MAKE THEM GO AWAY PLEASE

[Xorbot]

i can just imagine the micro transactions

 

OH NO I SEE THEM 

 

MAKE THEM GO AWAY PLEASE

 

Make them go away by not partaking.  Not sure why this is hard for people to grasp.

[Tim Drake]

Lol this is going to suck incredible amounts.

 

And I am was a massive Halo fan

[Tiby]

[KamiKatze]

What the fuuuuuuck. 

 

i guess they finally release Halo on PC again. What a shame!

[Trik'Stari]

Make them go away by not partaking.  Not sure why this is hard for people to grasp.

Because people give in to the "it won't make a difference" argument, in order to justify their actions.

[Anarchyz11]

Halo is the only reason I still own an Xbox One.

 

I swear to god if they bastardize it any more than they already have I'll kill 7 goats.

[qwertywarrior]

why do the commies get all the luck !

[G33k 4 L1F3]

I like it.

[OfficialJsP]

meh i cant see it being any good halo died after halo 3 and along with bungie when they left to work on other games

[G33k 4 L1F3]

Halo is the only reason I still own an Xbox One.

 

I swear to god if they bastardize it any more than they already have I'll kill 7 goats.

Do it. I will join you out of shire fun!

[Xorbot]

Because people give in to the "it won't make a difference" argument, in order to justify their actions.

 

I should clarify.  I didn't mean that if we all stopped buying DLC, then DLC goes away.

 

What I intended to say was that any individual does not have to buy DLC items.  More specifically, if you don't want DLC, then don't buy it.  DLC is there for people who want to buy it.  And if anyone feels that the game is unfair because they don't buy the DLC (e.g. P2W models), then don't play the game entirely.

[Anarchyz11]

Do it. I will join you out of shire fun!

Find your own goats!

[Syntaxvgm]

Or they could just bring halo 3 and reach to PC

dicks

[Delphi1662]

About time there is a plan for a halo pc game ...

I'd rather see the actual games themselves get ported but...one thing at a time I suppose

 

[MrCthuntoo]

Someone at the Microsoft games division must be trolling here.

[Victorious Secret]

Baby steps. I'm sure launching out of Russia is strategic, the market for Free to Play and Free to Pay games is huge, probably rivalling what China can offer. Russia is very big on PC gaming, Saber has offices in Russia to help things along. 

 

Russia also pirates like mad. Why would they charge for something when instead they could give the base game for free and make revenue elsewhere? What better way to test if your game is worth selling for $$$ elsewhere than to make F2P, put it in Russia where they wouldn't pay for this crap in the first place, and see how it does? 

 

If it works, they might roll it out. IF it doesn't, they won't. Why not Halo 3 or Reach? Who knows. Maybe easier to just simply make a brand new game than to rewrite old things. 

 

If it plays like Halo, whats to whine about? Oh wait, gamers. Whining about games more than playing the games. 

 

MS isn't killing Halo here. They are saying "we're going to pay someone else far removed from the core of this franchise to go make the game". Low risk, high reward. 

 

Also, 343 confirmed that the closed beta starts in Russia. Its still on the table to be launched elsewhere. 

https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/halo-online-closed-beta-launching-in-russia

[TopWargamer]

As a Halo fan myself, I must say, I GOTTA PLAY IT! Russian or not, I will find some way to play this game!

[brownninja97]

As a Halo fan myself, I must say, I GOTTA PLAY IT! Russian or not, I will find some way to play this game!

wont be a problem after about a week or so, call of duty online was one of the games to play here, it got cracked like 2 days after chinese got it, 3 months later a large majority of the game is translated to british english, close to american english but better of course.

[TopWargamer]

wont be a problem after about a week or so, call of duty online was one of the games to play here, it got cracked like 2 days after chinese got it, 3 months later a large majority of the game is translated to british english, close to american english but better of course.

After hearing this, I'm tempted to try it... I think I will.

[Victorious Secret]

As a Halo fan myself, I must say, I GOTTA PLAY IT! Russian or not, I will find some way to play this game!

 

It'll get a local release. MS isn't going to put mainstream titles on the PC, nothing to stop them from making a PC specific version however. 

[azurezeed]

just port the other Halo games to PC!!

[zacRupnow]

Make them go away by not partaking.  Not sure why this is hard for people to grasp.

It breaks the game. People buy OP weapons or armour and those who just play are at unfair disadvantage, even if its equipment available through playing it'll require 500+hours of play to unlock.