What would MS gain from a PC port?

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

From what we know, Halo 5: Guardians will be an Xbox One exclusive set to release in Fall 2015 (probably 9/22) and will be the next chapter in the Reclaimer Saga. Clearly, Microsoft is going to use this game to further boost Xbox One sales. However, in terms of sales, the Xbox One isn’t the only Microsoft product that’s a bit iffy in the profit department:

Windows 8.

Although I, myself, am user of Ubuntu 14.04 and do not want nor enjoy using Windows 8, Windows is doing horrible right now. Both Windows 8 and 8.1 have yet to surpass 7% of the market share, and Microsoft’s attempts to force the OS on the market have resulted in multiple anti-trust violations.

If Microsoft wants to boost the sales of Windows 8, what better way to do it than to port their largest triple-A title in existence to the operating system?

Imagine playing Halo 5 on your PC (and watching me both envy and pity all of those who are using Windows 8) with a full-blown Custom Edition, dedicated servers, and graphics that aren’t restricted to the soon-to-be ancient hardware of the Xbox One. Imagine enjoying the combat of Halo with a keyboard and a mouse and not being confined to the claustrophobic prison known as a console controller. Imagine being spied on through your webcam (I had to) as you spend years each day gaining carpal tunnel syndrome and permanent nerve damage playing the Living Time out of Halo 5.

If Microsoft has PC AND Xbox One support for Halo 5: Guardians, they’ll be boosting sales for both platforms. It’s an evil win-win.

However, of course, it should be considered that there’s a pretty big difference in terms of price between Windows 8 and the Xbox One, and obviously, there’s the possibility that the consumer market will predominately buy Halo 5 on the PC rather than the Xbox. Luckily, though, Microsoft can combat that by giving the Xbox One a boost:

Fall 2015: Halo 5 for Xbox One only.
Spring 2016: Halo 5 ported to W8.
Fall 2016 (wishful thinking): Halo 5 ported to Mac, SteamOS, and Linux.

That right there^ would cause the use of Windows 8 PC’s to explode and if the third event doesn’t exist by its projected time, I might just get Windows 8.

And now, I ask all of you after knowing the statistics if, just if, Microsoft should have PC support for Halo 5.

2

The best way for Microsoft to sell Windows is to go back to the original Start menu. I’m telling you, that one change will do more for Windows than any exclusive programs or other user-friendly features.

3

Halo 5 is making me grab and Xbox one.

But Windows 8?

Nothing will make me get that. Windows 7 is so much better.

At the end of the day, If Microsoft were to release Halo onto the PC, Might as well do it via Steam. It’s the most popular gaming hub for the PC and it would make way more sense.

But I don’t think we will be seeing a Halo PC release for a long time…

4

> The best way for Microsoft to sell Windows is to go back to the original Start menu. I’m telling you, that one change will do more for Windows than any exclusive programs or other user-friendly features.

This.

I still use XP. Can’t stand the Vista/7/8 menu changes.

5

> The best way for Microsoft to sell Windows is to go back to the original Start menu. I’m telling you, that one change will do more for Windows than any exclusive programs or other user-friendly features.

You can. That isn’t the problem.

The problem with W8 is that Windows 7 was such a great OS most people bought that. Why upgrade to W8 for a lot of money when you can just use the W7 that most people have?

6

> You can. That isn’t the problem.
>
> The problem with W8 is that Windows 7 was such a great OS most people bought that. Why upgrade to W8 for a lot of money when you can just use the W7 that most people have?

That’s a reason not to upgrade the OS for an existing computer that doesn’t need it. That doesn’t explain why Windows 8 is actively avoided.

When Windows 7 came out, it came preinstalled on new computers, and that was fine. That’s how Windows 7 became the adopted standard and how XP and Vista started phasing out of existence. It’s completely different with Windows 8. Many people deliberately avoid machines preinstalled with Windows 8 in favor of machines preinstalled with Windows 7. We ought to see Windows 8’s adoption rate be at least the same as Windows 7’s in its early years, but it’s slower, not because people don’t need it, but because they are deliberately avoiding it.

Microsoft made their entire OS revolve around using that button, and then they remove it. wtf?

7

Honestly, pushing windows 8 is not a good reason to port Halo 5. Games just don’t push operating systems. The problem with Win8 is that no one wants to use it with general. No one wants it to use it for work and no one wants to use it for casual use either.

Its not increasing the value of Win8, it is essentially holding it hostage, which is not a brilliant strategy. It didn’t work for Halo 2 Vista and it would not work now. The vast majority of users don’t get an OS based on the games that are available.

By the time H5 comes out next year and a(most likely) delayed PC port, I would not be surprised if the next OS was just around the corner based on the reception to Win8.

There are plenty of good reasons to see an eventual PC port, but pushing an OS is not among them.

8

> Halo 5 is making me grab and Xbox one.
>
> But Windows 8?
>
> Nothing will make me get that. Windows 7 is so much better.
>
> At the end of the day, If Microsoft were to release Halo onto the PC, Might as well do it via <mark>Steam</mark>. It’s the most popular gaming hub for the PC and it would make way more sense.
>
> But I don’t think we will be seeing a Halo PC release for a long time…

Question: Then why doesn’t EA use Steam?

Answer: Because Valve want 50% min of the sale.

So basically Microsoft will have to distribute it. Microsoft Doesn’t have an established method to download it in the first place; that cost money. The only option i see for PC would be in stores. Having it in stores would cost less and be a lot simpler. Beside people on steam are kinda-um… how you say, you know. Dislike everything consoles/microsoft/xbox ect. That would include any “unoriginal” games and no one on steam buys something for more than 10$.

9

That would be a good plan, but unlikely.
In making it an Xbox One exclusive, MS makes WAY more money than they would with Win8.

10

If Halo 5 were to go for PC, it would need to come with an apology package and include a way to revert windows 8 to windows 7.

Besides that, I doubt they’ll do it to try to encourage sales of windows 8.

11

The answer is very little. PC gamers have too many built in alternatives. Console gamers are already forced to adopt the new generation, so individual exclusives have more impact on purchasing decisions.

12

I still dont get why people hate windows 8. I got it for 25$ when it launched thanks to being part of msdn (microsoft developers network) other than the start menu being different its pretty much the same thing. Though start works just fine since the beginning, you literally just click start and type what you want and it shows up. Also better performance than windows 7.

13

> I still dont get why people hate windows 8.

UI is annoying a lot of the time.
Also have occasional compatibility issues.

When I bought my latest PC about a year ago I chose to install Windows 8 over Windows 7 because I figured everything would start being designed for Windows 8 and that everyone else would make the shift as well. Boy was I wrong.

From what I’ve heard version 8.1 is even worse. It’s annoying getting the constant “do you want to update” notifications, but I’m not risking it.

Windows 8 isn’t that bad, but Windows 7 is unarguably more user friendly.

Slightly Off Topic why is the Windows 8 version of Spartan Assault quite different from the Xbox version? That’s not very fair either.

> Beside people on steam are kinda-um… how you say, you know. Dislike everything consoles/microsoft/xbox ect

My steam library probably has thirty-something games. Sure I dislike Microsoft, doesn’t mean I would be opposed to Halo being on steam.

> what better way to do it than to port their largest triple-A title in existence to the operating system?

By fixing the OS itself, starting with the interface. Apps and sliding screens are all fine and good for a tablet. My PC isn’t a tablet.

The UI wouldn’t be so bad if any of it was even remotely explained. To switch between multiple…how should I put it…“screens”…you have to go to the bottom left corner of the current screen, then move your mouse upwards across the side of the screen to get the screen selection bar to appear, then click which screen you want.

How is someone supposed to know this right off the bat with no explanation?