Should Halo CE and Halo 2 be ported to Steam?

Should Halo Custom Edition and Halo 2 be ported to Steam as free to play titles ? I mean just think about it , it would be a step in the right direction towards making halo popular on pc again . Not only that it would be great for newcomers to the series who would be waiting for the MCC , Halo 5 and halo 6 to release on Steam. Also lets not forget about Steam Workshop and mod friendly tools the modding community would be insane!!!

I just really hope it comes to steam in the far future if not I can always start a petition, so what do you guys think?

Halo CE may benefit from a Steam release but Halo 2 Vista was a dead game because it is an absolutely terrible PC port for a variety of reasons.

If they release MCC, they should do it through Steam. Otherwise, as mentioned, CE may benefit from a cheap re-release on Steam.

Maybe there will be another ce anniversary but as releaseing on pc via steam

The thing that set Halo apart from other series was its exclusivity to Microsoft and Xbox. A port on steam would take away from its authenticity. I think a lot of the dedicated fan base wouldn’t be happy with that move. The entire series would lose its novelty much faster than it already is in the hands of 343. An increase in accessibility would create a decrease in value.

But its up to 343 now. Halo played its part in creating a successful franchise and rocketing the Xbox into popularity. I’d still probably be just as loyal a fan even if they created a Steam port.

Releasing Halo Custom Edition with the Workshop would be awesome. As for the other games, I don’t think it’s worth it. If anything, they should port MCC to the PC. If it’s exclusive to Windows Store, it probably won’t sell very well, but if it’s through Steam or both, they’ll profit…so damn much.

> 2535446060836112;4:
> The thing that set Halo apart from other series was its exclusivity to Microsoft and Xbox. A port on steam would take away from its authenticity. I think a lot of the dedicated fan base wouldn’t be happy with that move. The entire series would lose its novelty much faster than it already is in the hands of 343. An increase in accessibility would create a decrease in value.
>
> But its up to 343 now. Halo played its part in creating a successful franchise and rocketing the Xbox into popularity. I’d still probably be just as loyal a fan even if they created a Steam port.

As a pro-consumer individual, every game should be available to as many people as possible.

Forcing someone to buy multiple pieces of hardware in order to play each of the games they want is scummy. If you want people to buy your hardware, then give users the best possible experience on it.

I don’t see it happening. MCC is pretty great. The next Halo game to be on PC is Halo 6. I highly doubt we’ll see older titles pop up in Steam any time soon

> 2546678360738636;7:
> I don’t see it happening. MCC is pretty great. The next Halo game to be on PC is Halo 6. I highly doubt we’ll see older titles pop up in Steam any time soon

Well, we got Halo Wars that sold less than Halo CE.

> 2533275010817669;8:
> > 2546678360738636;7:
> > I don’t see it happening. MCC is pretty great. The next Halo game to be on PC is Halo 6. I highly doubt we’ll see older titles pop up in Steam any time soon
>
> Well, we got Halo Wars that sold less than Halo CE.

Yep, to be expected though.

Why buy Halo Wars on PC - an overly simplified, console RTS, when you have the choice of so many in-depth RTS games for PC? Starcraft immediately springs to mind as an example, Total War etc.

That, and Halo Wars released in 2009. It was released on PC in 2017, 8 years after its initial Xbox 360 release. Interest in the game will have declined, something that is again, to be expected.

Not saying Halo Wars is a bad game, it’s just not the best choice or representation of interest in Halo on PC. Halo Wars 2 also is not a good example for similar reasons stated above but also because the PC market has a general distaste for the Windows Store, which until Microsoft can improve the games that are on there and bring them in line with regular PC releases as well as not locking you out of playing with other PC users, then any game released on the Windows Store only will likely under perform sales wise.

The best option for Halo on PC would be the FPS games. Generally speaking, Halo is an Arena shooter and it can work on PC - Halo PC has shown this as well as its free add on, Custom Edition. What would impact Halo’s sales performance on PC will more than likely be down to how Microsoft approaches this.

Halo 6 on PC will either end up being like this:

Scenario 1 - Good sales performance- Released on Windows Store and Steam. Windows version will allow cross platform co-op and social playlists like Gears 4 (if planned) whilst the Steam version will be more like a traditional PC game. Microsoft will not abandon the Windows store so a best case scenario would be for a Steam release as well and even better, allow the Steam version to play with the Windows Store version.

  • In-depth PC support options that allow users to fully customise their experience much like Halo PC/CE. Support for higher refresh rates is a must.

  • Proper mouse and keyboard support like Halo PC. Halo 2 Vista and Halo 5 Forge have butchered this with input lag and mouse acceleration. They need to make it play like a PC game and not a console game.

  • Mod support would be a bonus and encourage long time fans of Halo Custom Edition, past and present to create content for the game. Forge would greatly benefit and console players would also benefit as they could access the maps created.

  • Dedicated Servers and the ability to host them ourselves would be awesome. Allow console users to join dedicated servers if they wish (keep competitive MM separate).

Scenario 2 - Poor sales performance- Windows Store only. Most PC players will avoid Windows Store versions of games because they do not work like traditional PC games. In addition, the Windows Store is buggy and has a lot of issues itself. My personal example includes being unable to update any games (apps as they’re called) and my friends Windows Store version of Shadow of War will not launch yet the Steam version has no issues whatsoever.

  • Butchered PC support like Halo 2 Vista and Halo 5: Forge. Mouse and Keyboard support suffers from input lag and aim acceleration, making the Xbox One controller the only way to play. This will put off many FPS fans on PC.

The above is what I believe will make or break Halo 6 on PC. That, and whether the game actually IS good as well of course. Halo has proven it can work as seen with Halo PC but Microsoft has also shown that they do not understand the PC market with Halo 2 Vista and Halo 5: Forge and the Windows Store. At the end of the day, Halo 6’s performance on PC will be entirely down to Microsofts strategy that they use for the PC release.

Sorry for the long post.

Answer: Yes

Will it happen: Probably not

> 2574155679901782;9:
> > 2533275010817669;8:
> > > 2546678360738636;7:
> > > I don’t see it happening. MCC is pretty great. The next Halo game to be on PC is Halo 6. I highly doubt we’ll see older titles pop up in Steam any time soon
> >
> > Well, we got Halo Wars that sold less than Halo CE.
>
> Yep, to be expected though.
>
> Why buy Halo Wars on PC - an overly simplified, console RTS, when you have the choice of so many in-depth RTS games for PC? Starcraft immediately springs to mind as an example, Total War etc.
>
> That, and Halo Wars released in 2009. It was released on PC in 2017, 8 years after its initial Xbox 360 release. Interest in the game will have declined, something that is again, to be expected.
>
> Not saying Halo Wars is a bad game, it’s just not the best choice or representation of interest in Halo on PC. Halo Wars 2 also is not a good example for similar reasons stated above but also because the PC market has a general distaste for the Windows Store, which until Microsoft can improve the games that are on there and bring them in line with regular PC releases as well as not locking you out of playing with other PC users, then any game released on the Windows Store only will likely under perform sales wise.
>
> The best option for Halo on PC would be the FPS games. Generally speaking, Halo is an Arena shooter and it can work on PC - Halo PC has shown this as well as its free add on, Custom Edition. What would impact Halo’s sales performance on PC will more than likely be down to how Microsoft approaches this.
>
> Halo 6 on PC will either end up being like this:
>
> Scenario 1 - Good sales performance- Released on Windows Store and Steam. Windows version will allow cross platform co-op and social playlists like Gears 4 (if planned) whilst the Steam version will be more like a traditional PC game. Microsoft will not abandon the Windows store so a best case scenario would be for a Steam release as well and even better, allow the Steam version to play with the Windows Store version.
>
> - In-depth PC support options that allow users to fully customise their experience much like Halo PC/CE. Support for higher refresh rates is a must.
>
> - Proper mouse and keyboard support like Halo PC. Halo 2 Vista and Halo 5 Forge have butchered this with input lag and mouse acceleration. They need to make it play like a PC game and not a console game.
>
> - Mod support would be a bonus and encourage long time fans of Halo Custom Edition, past and present to create content for the game. Forge would greatly benefit and console players would also benefit as they could access the maps created.
>
> - Dedicated Servers and the ability to host them ourselves would be awesome. Allow console users to join dedicated servers if they wish (keep competitive MM separate).
>
> Scenario 2 - Poor sales performance- Windows Store only. Most PC players will avoid Windows Store versions of games because they do not work like traditional PC games. In addition, the Windows Store is buggy and has a lot of issues itself. My personal example includes being unable to update any games (apps as they’re called) and my friends Windows Store version of Shadow of War will not launch yet the Steam version has no issues whatsoever.
>
> - Butchered PC support like Halo 2 Vista and Halo 5: Forge. Mouse and Keyboard support suffers from input lag and aim acceleration, making the Xbox One controller the only way to play. This will put off many FPS fans on PC.
>
> The above is what I believe will make or break Halo 6 on PC. That, and whether the game actually IS good as well of course. Halo has proven it can work as seen with Halo PC but Microsoft has also shown that they do not understand the PC market with Halo 2 Vista and Halo 5: Forge and the Windows Store. At the end of the day, Halo 6’s performance on PC will be entirely down to Microsofts strategy that they use for the PC release.
>
> Sorry for the long post.

I’m aware of the problem about it being Halo Wars and it didn’t sell much, but the reviews say it’s a really good game. Steam says it got “Very Positive Reviews”. The community is active and have made alot of epic stuff in the page… and 343 have said they would like to expand Halo into Steam. I bought Halo Wars because

  • It’s Halo; - It’s another Halo game officially released on Steam (Spartan Assault and Strike we’re there already); - Dem modz.So the possibility of older Halo titles coming to PC, especially with fan-games such as Installation 01, Project Contingency, SPV3 and the unnoficial version of Halo Online (6.0) is still quite high. MCC on PC = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (Yes, this amount)

Tho, the problems shown in, as you said, Halo 2 and Halo 5 Forge, makes me believe that Halo… has a weird taste on PC gaming.
However, when I played Halo 2 and Halo 5 Forge, my experience was phenomenal. In Halo 2, the game didn’t stutter from having over 60 FPS, while in Halo 5, I could use M&K just as well as with controller (but I prefer controller because of Halo’s nature). The only problem I had with Halo 5 we’re the random crashes. I can’t tell how many times I crashed after a game.
Still Halo 5 Forge introduced me to the world of Halo 5, and when I finally get it in my future Xbox One, I mostly know what I will face. I was even the host of a super sweaty game of Super Gun Game. I had to kill anyone with EVERY weapon (except attachments) available in the game, basically, kill over 106 people. There was someone who was rivaling me, almost came out victorious, but I still managed to turn the tide to my favor, all this while I used M&K. It didn’t feel strange to use it, it felt just like every other M&K shooter.

In order to make FPS Halo games playable on PC, Microsoft and 343 will need to look back at the mistakes of Halo 2 and Halo 5 and correct them, maybe even look at other games.

Don’t worry about the long post. You just forgot the food nipple :stuck_out_tongue:

> 2533275010817669;8:
> > 2546678360738636;7:
> > I don’t see it happening. MCC is pretty great. The next Halo game to be on PC is Halo 6. I highly doubt we’ll see older titles pop up in Steam any time soon
>
> Well, we got Halo Wars that sold less than Halo CE.

Yeah but Halo Wars is an RTS which was almost exclusively a PC game type. RTS games don’t usually work well on consoles nor do many console gamers like RTS type games

> 2546678360738636;12:
> > 2533275010817669;8:
> > > 2546678360738636;7:
> > > I don’t see it happening. MCC is pretty great. The next Halo game to be on PC is Halo 6. I highly doubt we’ll see older titles pop up in Steam any time soon
> >
> > Well, we got Halo Wars that sold less than Halo CE.
>
> Yeah but Halo Wars is an RTS which was almost exclusively a PC game type. RTS games don’t usually work well on consoles nor do many console gamers like RTS type games

Still, they gave us that, so, as said in my last comment, the possibility of classic Halo games coming to PC, especially because of Installation 01, Project Contingency, SPV3 and the Unofficial Halo Online that encourage Halo to be released on PC, is still quite high. MCC means loads of money for Microsoft, I say this time and time again and I won’t stop. Maybe after Halo 6 as many people speculate is when 343 may start working on an official MCC PC port. We just need have to hope.

> 2533275010817669;13:
> > 2546678360738636;12:
> > > 2533275010817669;8:
> > > > 2546678360738636;7:
> > > > I don’t see it happening. MCC is pretty great. The next Halo game to be on PC is Halo 6. I highly doubt we’ll see older titles pop up in Steam any time soon
> > >
> > > Well, we got Halo Wars that sold less than Halo CE.
> >
> > Yeah but Halo Wars is an RTS which was almost exclusively a PC game type. RTS games don’t usually work well on consoles nor do many console gamers like RTS type games
>
> . Maybe after Halo 6 as many people speculate is when 343 may start working on an official MCC PC port. We just need have to hope.

That’s what I can agree with. I think all the 343 resources are split between this final patch for MCC and Halo 6. Once Halo 6 comes out, there might be 12 to 15 months worth of DLC planned out then either we’ll get an announcement of a new Halo series or maybe Halo will take some down time and 343 will focus on bringing MCC to PC so they can basically bring all the Halo games to PC status. I would be completely fine with this. Halo gets a break for a while then maybe Bungie and 343 can work together on a new series once Bungie is done with Activision and Destiny

Great thread guys, many valid points made. Microsoft listens but does not hear. They know better. Future dwells in uniting the players from all around the places and not splitting them between mutually alienated communities. It is not about abandoning WindowsStore, it is about making things work together. Especially if you think about the multiplayer. Make it casual if that is the only way but make it popular. Multiplayer needs people, otherwise it is dead. Microsoft apparently ceases to see clearly that if they cut themselves away from STEAM, they cut off the tree from the branch they are sitting on in the world of PC gaming. Just figure out the way to connect WindowsStore fanbase with STEAM fanbase, let everyone play together. Furthermore, put your games places where they can be reached for, for your own benefit. I know what you say, that it is not about the money, it is about exclusivity of Halo, then about the money. But it is untrue. It is about your ego and your ambitions. You will survive, Halo unnecessarily, so think twice whether you want to make it a victim of the situation, as WindowsStore solely will not do for the PC market the moment present and you will see Halo failing to magically enchant it and reverse the trend, like it did to XBOX.

> 2535446060836112;4:
> The thing that set Halo apart from other series was its exclusivity to Microsoft and Xbox. A port on steam would take away from its authenticity. I think a lot of the dedicated fan base wouldn’t be happy with that move. The entire series would lose its novelty much faster than it already is in the hands of 343. An increase in accessibility would create a decrease in value.
>
> But its up to 343 now. Halo played its part in creating a successful franchise and rocketing the Xbox into popularity. I’d still probably be just as loyal a fan even if they created a Steam port.

Hey you probably dont recall that Halo CE did pretty well on PC and at least 17,000 people that play on steam would love to play it again on pc over steam servers. Also, halo 2 was dead on PC on launch because it was completely broken but it can be fixed by porting MCC

The existing PC gaming ditribution network should be considered an opportunity instead of an obstacle. Too much ambition on part of the Microsoft, along with lack of feasible options to make their stand as what they would wish to be - at least maintaining financial balance and lack of extravagant risk taking, doubleclassing current market giants - tangles their paths and makes them look very undecided as to what are they up to with Halo, once stating some Halo does come to PC, otherwise that it is an XBOX exclusive forever. Microsoft should accept the role of a publisher doing their best to simply allow people to pick up their games via most popular channels, with as liitle spoiling and segregating of the community as possible, accepting humbly the good enough income, but already a better income than solely the XBOX exclusive plans allow.

What is the danger of releasing Halo on PC is that Halo could underscore, dismantling the charm of the franchise as something special, next to loosing the appeal of exclusivity in the XBOX world, making Halo just another shooter thing, not even one of the very best few, sharing too much technical compromise as a console port, unless at the cost of greater investment in the range of production.

That is why I think the first what should come moderndays to PC are the Halo titles which already have some PC legacy, posing minor threat to general exclusivity aura in public franchise reception, without also putting the newer Halo productions at hazard of falling to meagre review scores - what they can only achieve themselves. But to make the franchise look evolving, dynamic and promising, Microsoft should do some steps towards the PC gaming. Furthermore, Halo is unlikely to do the trick for WindowsStore that it did in favour to XBOX years back. WindowsStore only distribution is just throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I do not say get rid of the WindowsStore, I say do not let it hinder your thinking straight.

Microsoft, your Halo is not Jesus Christ of all gaming, especially nowadays and you already know that. Slowly start adapting Halo to becoming a common caliber franchise, especially on the PC market, earning the deserved money you can, while there is still good spontaneous PR around. Instead of being a superstar - that you are used to, unfortunately - do your job the best you can, bestow the results as openly as you can and I am sure it will be good. Start with what provides most reliable results, that is the Halo classics, which have audience granted. Not a big bussiness nor any major cash jump of the grandest sort, but it is decent enough. Small steps for the proper beginning are allright, minding Halo mainline after all this time of absence is a newcomer to the PC world.

No at all

> 2533274807786657;18:
> No at all

I would ask that you kindly elaborate more on this.