Having been a fan of the series since CE and keeping myself current with gaming trends from then until now, some things come and go, others are here to stay. Halo always has been an influential series that sets various trends in the gaming social space. CE in the way of console shooters and LAN, Halo 2 setting the golden standard for online play and matchmaking, Halo 3 with community made content and so on. While the series may have fell behind in the way of initial influence, it is still held dear by many and respected for what it’s accomplished along the way. Finally approaching PC as first class citizens is a long overdue step for the series and one that has to get it right out of the gate, but it’ll ultimately affect the series longevity and success for all involved, not just PC players. The population increase Halo is about to see is nothing short of a miracle for the series, this is a movement for the franchise.
Browsing the community, there are far too many close minded topics in regards to cross play. It is to the point I felt the need to create a topic in regards to it because I, like all of you, want what is best for Halo. Whether you desire it or not, having cross play will push the series forward in ways it hasn’t been in nearly a decade. The solution is very easy. Include crossplay for every element of the game, have all users opted in by default for fastest matching times with the option to disable if they so choose. Everyone can play as they choose, however the population would be healthier than it’s been in a decade.
Many users are afraid of disadvantages playing with controller versus KBM, however this is where many are simply thinking of the input methods without considering the game at hand. I’m not here to argue this case, hence the ability to turn off cross play if you so choose, but I do think many players would be pleasantly surprised at how much less of a disadvantage they have than originally thought (especially if veterans to the series). This isn’t CS:GO, this is a console first title that has been this way for 18 years. There absolutely is a difference. Having played H2 Vista, H5 PC and <mark>REDACTED</mark> on both input methods against high level competition, either input method feels viable. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, it’s about the way the game balances for it. A better example of a PC first class experience, but a worse game, would be Bungie’s own Destiny 2 PC. Going from D1 (0.01% skirmish player) as a console exclusive to D2 PC and using a controller as a main input method, statistically we hovered around the same against a better overall playerbase. There was even dialogue about controller being too strong at medium range due to it’s aim assist in both D2 PC and Halo’s <mark>REDACTED</mark>, despite KBM’s advantage in movement, actual precision, etc. It absolutely has to do with how the game balances the advantages and disadvantages and considering this is Halo, a console first shooter for 18 years, I’d say controller players have much less to worry about than they think. This is not to say KBM isn’t superior in the right hands, it is, but the gap is highly dependent on the game and how it is built and Halo is a game that is designed around controller first at its core.
To lose something as important and advantageous as playerbase. along with future proofing via cross play, all for the fear of getting out shot time to time would be a sin. This not only sets up the future of MCC to be in line with current and future gaming standards, it also lays the groundwork for Infinite so it launches in the most smooth state possible.