Thanks to the Xbox Play Anywhere program, it seems Halo 6 will be coming to PC

[midian182]

It was reported last month that Halo 5’s custom map toolset, Forge, would be arriving on Windows 10 as a free release sometime later this year. It was thought that this could signal Microsoft’s intention to bring the full game to the PC, but that now seems unlikely. However, one thing that looks almost certain is that the next installment of the franchise, Halo 6, will be available on Windows 10.

Microsoft announced the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative at E3 this week, which allows participating games to be played on both Xbox One and PC at no extra cost when bought digitally. Some of the titles taking part in the program include Gears of War 4, State of Decay 2, and Scalebound. Many of them, including GOW 4, allow cross-platform play.

One question that’s been thrown up by the initiative is whether it means certain franchises that were previously only available on the console will now come to PC. According to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, yes it does.

In an interview with PC Gamer, Spencer said he's "not about putting content only on console to manipulate Windows gamers to go buy an Xbox."

Spencer suggests the reason why a complete version of Halo 5 likely won’t be coming to Windows 10 is because rather than have Halo developer 343 industries update the game for PC, it is focusing on what's possible with Halo 6. “I can go take last year’s game, rework it to go on PC, or I can have 343 look forward in what they’re going to go do," he said.

Spencer went on to compare Forge’s PC release to Forza: Apex, the heavily cut-down, free-to-play Windows 10 version of Xbox One title Forza Motorsport 6. He said that future Forza titles would arrive on the PC as full games, and it seems the same will happen with the Halo franchise - complete with cross-platform multiplayer.

As a way of all but confirming Halo's return to Windows, PC Gamer asked Spencer if there would be any ideological reason Microsoft might not release the next Halo on Windows 10, to which he replied: “not at all.”

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/65233-xbox-play-anywhere-program-halo-6-coming-pc.html

 

[Uncle Al]

Perhaps they have finally discovered how large a market the PC users represent. Too many are foolish enough to plant all their decisions on the "number of PC's sold this year" and not realize that there are a lot of people that don't do a major upgrade but once every 5 or so years. Upgrade of memory, a graphic's card, or even a processor seem to be left out of the total users and that can be a significant market!

 

[Axiarus]

As long as games come on UWP I will not be touching them.

 

[davislane1]

Perhaps they have finally discovered how large a market the PC users represent.

They're tying to compensate for the Xbox One's performance against the PS4 thus far. It's a smart move that will boost game sales and brand rep.

Though, detailing the exact specs of the Project Scorpion may undermine that if the PS Neo isn't finalized.

 

[ChuckyDhaBeast]

Indeed, it's a good idea to not spend time making halo 5 on PC and put all ressources on halo 6, just like how they never wasted time doing remasters of the older games in order to make halo 5.

WAIT, WHAT?

 

[TBonez]

Perhaps they have finally discovered how large a market the PC users represent. Too many are foolish enough to plant all their decisions on the "number of PC's sold this year" and not realize that there are a lot of people that don't do a major upgrade but once every 5 or so years. Upgrade of memory, a graphic's card, or even a processor seem to be left out of the total users and that can be a significant market!

Agree. My PC is 10 years old this year. I have upgraded every component over the years, including 3 or 4 generations of graphics cards. Showing some age, but it still handles the latest games at 2560 and I play regularly.

 

[mbrowne5061]

Indeed, it's a good idea to not spend time making halo 5 on PC and put all ressources on halo 6, just like how they never wasted time doing remasters of the older games in order to make halo 5.

WAIT, WHAT?

A remaster is not even on the same level as port. A remaster is updating shaders, textures, maybe tweaking the engine a little (mostly to account for controller changes). Simple stuff, compared to cross-platform port. While Halo 5 would be relatively "easy" to port because it was already built to run on x86 architecture, it would still be a massive undertaking. Halo 3, ODST, Reach, and 4 would all need to full-blown ports to get to run on the PC. Halo 1 and 2 both had PC releases. Both were ported by outside studios: Gearbox for Halo 1, and Hired Gun for Halo 2.

It sounds like PC will get Halo 6. Based on how well it sells, PC may later get the 'missing' Halo games as well. But I'm not holding my breath. I held it far too long for the release of Halo 3 on PC when it was still being teased.