[Streaming-only Xbox Console Rumors Squashed By Microsoft
Christel Malden
Yesterday we reported on a rumor that Microsoft would drop a bombshell at E3 and bring Halo 5 to Windows 10 PCs. Now Remond has squashed the rumors, saying that Halo 5: Guardians won't ever be available to PC gamers. "Our approach is to deliver epic Halo experiences designed for PC gamers and Windows 10, such as Halo Wars 2 and the recently announced Halo 5: Forge. There are no plans to port Halo 5: Guardians to PC," a Microsoft rep told PC Gamer.
The rumor was substantiated by Microsoft's announcement to bring Halo 5's Forge Mode to PC, allowing gamers to build maps in 4K using the "mouse/keyboard precision of desktop PCs". The rumor gained even more momentum under Microsoft's new Project Helix strategy, which sees the Xbox platform merging with Windows 10 PCs. Under Project Helix, it's believed that all future Xbox One games would also cross-over to PC, and gamers thought that this could perhaps be applied to past games like Halo 5.
Although Halo 5: Guardians won't be coming to PC, Microsoft and 343 Industries have confirmed that Halo Wars 2 will be cross-compatible on PC and Xbox. Sure that's a huge jump from the beloved shooter that PC gamers have been clamoring for since Halo 2 Vista, but it is what it is.
Bear in mind I think Microsoft will unveil a modern Halo PC game at E3, but it won't be what we expected. I predict that the company will bring the free-to-play multiplayer-only Halo Online to the West. Right now Halo Online is exclusive to Russian PC gamers, but I strongly feel MS and 343i will announce a western release for PC players.
What's more is that Halo Online could bridge multiple Xbox platforms, including the existing Xbox One systems and the new Xbox One Mini. Sure Xbox One already has Halo 5, but Halo Online multiplayer cross-play between consoles and PC would afford much more accessibility across the ecosystem, and that's exactly what Microsoft is shooting for. Halo Online multiplayer could even be playable on the new Xbox game-streaming set-top box.
Just in case Microsoft continues to abandon Halo PC players, we still have Installation 01 to look forward to. Installation 01 is a massively ambitious fan-made project that aims to bring all the best elements from Halo CE, Halo 2 and Halo 3 into a cohesive, free-to-play package. The devs expect a playable build sometime in the next 8 months or so, and we'll be sure to keep you updated on its progress.
Derek joined the TweakTown team in 2015 and has since reviewed and played 1000s of hours of new games. Derek is absorbed with the intersection of technology and gaming, and is always looking forward to new advancements. With over six years in games journalism under his belt, Derek aims to further engage the gaming sector while taking a peek under the tech that powers it. He hopes to one day explore the stars in No Man's Sky with the magic of VR.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has announced Microsoft plans to share its "vision for the future of Xbox" in a business update event next week. While neither confirming nor denying rampant reports that multiple Xbox exclusives shall be ported to PS5 and PS4, you'd assume the speculation would be denied if it wasn't happening. All eyes turn to next week, then, to see exactly what Xbox has planned for its multi-platform future.
The full tweet from Spencer reads: "We're listening and we hear you. We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned."
For the past couple of weeks, rumours suggested Microsoft is planning to port Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves to Sony systems in the near future. However, reports have kicked into overdrive in the past 24 hours as it's suggested Starfield, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and the Gears of War series are all being considered for PS5, PS4 too. It's said PS5 devkits are on the way to Microsoft as the firm invests in them.
Liam grew up with a PlayStation controller in his hands and a love for Metal Gear Solid. Nowadays, he can be found playing the latest and greatest PS5 games as well as supporting Derby County. That last detail is his downfall.
Very exciting news. I'm actually super stoked by the prospect of Sea of Thieves on PS5. I've wanted to give that a go for a while. Maybe this means Spyro and Crash are saved as well! It's gonna be a long week.
I wonder if Microsoft are trying to get ahead of the game with this though and they consider the traditional console cycle fading out in a few generations, especially with their reported chip issues, maybe they had to jump now?
So yeah, I think this new direction makes good business sense for Microsoft. There's still a good reason to own an Xbox. Not for the exclusives, but to save money and also get early access to the exclusives.
Well I think we all know now that the narrative "Gamepass is profitable" was a bit of a porkie although I think we all suspected it.
Anyway sad day as competition is needed although Sony hasn't had competition for quite some time, and it shows.
@Neither_scene
Yeah. I'm a PlayStation guy but I also like Xbox and MS dropping out of the console race will not be a good thing. As much as I like Nintendo, it doesn't compete in the high-end market, so basically there's only going to be one real option now. Hope I'm wrong but people are probably right that if there was no truth to the rumors, they would've been shut down by now.
Here's more food for thought: what if Microsoft is doing all of this because they realise that if they want to keep acquiring studios, there's no chance in hell that's going to happen after the whole ordeal they went through with the ActiBlizz acquisition. So in order to be able to keep acquiring studios, they need to show that they won't keep their games locked to one platform.
I have both series x and ps5 but the most fun to play due to Sony remaster hell and Spiderman being the same game rehashed for the last few years has consistently been the series x with gamepass. While it's good playstation only players are getting some new games to play, I can't see it being tit for tat and Sony will keep their exclusives (if they ever make any more in their own studios) at premium price and they won't ever reach Xbox. The way Sony relies on third party Microsoft will just be further third party so they don't have to make any effort and continue overcharging. This will make me buy less games on PlayStation if anything.
Pretty stuffed up on the gaming news front this week and the week after. We'll have quarterly financial reports from Nintendo etc. tomorrow or so (plus probably a Nintendo Direct next week) and now Microsoft will probably confirm (at least some of) the 3rd party rumors next week as well.
The only thing we're now missing out on is some actually exciting/interesting games to play or look forward too that aren't remasters or remakes. Very exciting times ahead when it comes to information about the future of gaming on a whole.
My personal prediction on the future is that in 4-5 years there will be Nintendo, PC and streaming on the hardware front.
On the software front it will only be Nintendo that publishes 1st party software. PlayStation and Microsoft will be 3rd party publishers and maybe host some streaming channels.
Plot twist: Xbox never planned to go multiplat. They purposely spread fake infos about becoming third party hoping the insiders would leak it, so MS can pretend that they "heard and listened" to the fans and act accordingly and appearing as a pro fans listening company.
Phil Spencer is the master at PR.
@colonelkilgore The crazy thing is that without ABK this new strategy might not be happening, possibly.
And to think that Jim was really trying to save XBox from themselves.
Again, possibly.
@Neither_scene Could there be another compeitor if Microsoft bow out? Been rumblings for years that Tencent is interested in entering the market - they already have a solid number of studios under their belt
Joke is on me for buying a Series S to play Starfield in September, and then falling in love with BG3 and spending the next 4 months playing that and only that. Tried Starfield last week and it just feels weird playing on Xbox, like what I would imagine it would be like to drive in a country where it's the opposite lane. Hopefully it comes to PS5 and I'll just play it there, where it feels like home lol
I think that Ms could be donig this becuse it could increase the revenue of their game business basically not for some ohter reson. Which I think make senare in this era of live service games which makes gameing competive space hehe
Well I can for see some current circumstances. For one theirs going to be alot of xboxs traded in at gamestop and sold on ebay. For two alot of upset xbox fanboys. Cause what I'm figuring and I'm sure alot is expecting is their going to faze out existing xbox hardware over time and that's going to be the last of hardware.
btw I'm not worried that Sony will become arrogant again. It's not for nothing that Sony is investing in South Korea, China, India and most recently South Africa. They want the PlayStation brand to get bigger.
If the console market is going to become a one horse race then I will sell both the ps5 and series X while I can still get something for them and switch to PC as it will have everything from both sides, guess it will save me paying for both subs and drop down to just pc gamepass.
I think that this is a smart move - it makes Gamepass look like a much more attractive value proposition - pay full price for Indiana Jones (or whatever) on PlayStation or get it for no extra cost with your GP subscription.
What if Sony's terms to Microsoft putting gamepass onto PlayStation consoles is that they must also have a native version that can be installed, and not just cloud versions, hence why Microsoft is going to be putting their games onto playstation. Microsoft get the full cut from gamepass subs whilst in return Sony get 30% from game sales.
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