The end of an era for Halo comes at last.
Halo has been an Icon for Microsoft for almost two decades; the two companies have spent much of their time creating for the stellar universe known for its unique combat and excellent level design.
But now, the time to truly reflect on Halo as a whole has come. 343 Industries first mentioned in October of 2021 that the final days of multiplayer Halo on Xbox 360 would be upon us all. This was posted on Twitter on the same day:
We will see the end of old-school Halo Multiplayer on January 13th, 2022. That day has finally come. This information also applies to those who play these games on Xbox One/Series X via backward compatibility.
But here is the real question that is dogging much of the Fanbase that did not move to the Master Chief Collection. What is being affected? Well, it depends on the game in question. First, regardless of the game, each one will lose Matchmaking. However, some of the games lose more than others.
Halo: Reach, first released in 2010, will suffer the most from the lack of multiplayer support. The game will lose many features such as Fileshare, Service Record, and, to me, what is most important, Player Customisation. Yes, if you play Reach on Xbox 360 to this day, unfortunately, Noble Six will not be as you want them to be. Halo 4 will lose the same Multiplayer features as Reach.
Halo 3 and ODST will maintain the service record and Player Customization, so it is not all bad. The Last few Halo games that remain on 360 are Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Spartan Assault, and the original Halo Wars, each of which will remain unaffected by the server shutdown.
Of course, players will still be able to experience the incredible campaigns that each of these games has to offer. If you wish to go old school, split screen is always an option and something that these games have been known for.
Yet, it remains somewhat sad; these incredible games are ultimately attached to my and many others’ childhoods; most fans can recall hopping into a game of Slayer on Sandtrap and running across the ancient ruins. Or wandering between the spires on Valhalla, hoping to capture the flag before the enemy team, hearing the sounds of blistering warthogs combined with the shrill of a dodging banshee, forcing you to scream in terror as you hope it doesn’t kill you.
Or head to Forge World on Reach to see what wonders many phenomenal creators could do with the tools given to them. There are so many memories that, whilst yes, they can now be played on the Master Chief Collection, there is still something special about the 360 variants, which is inevitably why fans still cling to these games.
This announcement is bittersweet. Despite this, the franchise will stand tall as it always has. This may be the end of an era in one way, but it may also just be the beginning of a new one.
Halo Infinite has only just been released to universal acclaim from both critics and fans alike. We’re not even out of the first battle pass yet, so there is still much to be gained from 343’s new outing. I, for one, could not be more excited to see the next stages of this franchise’s journey. I hope that the next stage of Halo is as exciting as it was almost a decade ago.
Have you checked out our Halo Infinite on Pc Review? If not, then you really should. Or if you’re in the mood for a hit of Nostalgia on the go, here’s some news about Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection, heading to the Switch.
