Has Microsoft managed to kill the Halo franchise?

I mean... nobody even remembers that we had a mainline title on the series this generations. Quite sad, honestly.

Nope, they fired Brian Reed so I expect H6 to be great.

Lol, no.

I play Halo 5 multiplayer off and on. I'm aware it exists, as I'm sure there just might be others...

I really want ms to put it a great single player campaign on 6 I felt 5 was disappointing.

Seems like the real halo killer...was halo itself.

Yup, seems like TC has no idea what he's talking about

Ever since MS let Bungie go, Halo hit rock bottom so hard, the series lost it's mojo.

Nah, millions will buy the next release. Might even get an extra bump if it's on PC

Halo 5 has a good multiplayer mode...I'm sorry that doesn't appeal to the average movie goer...I mean PS4 owner.

Halo releases aren't the cultural event that they used to be, but 5 sold well and lots of people still play it. Halo's popularity is now more in line with a typical 1st party release instead of a pop culture phenomenon.

I certainly hope so, time for a new IP. Let Halo retire before even more damage is done to the series.

@lifelessablaze: MP games are a dime a dozen.

Yeah but Bungie also created Destiny so.....

It may have sold reasonably well, due to the lack of exclusives on MS front this gen, but it was quickly forgotten and didn't make any sort of impact in the gaming industry.

The game had A LOT at stake, it needed to either revolutionize the franchise or really nail what was done right before... but wasn't able to do neither. I'm aware it wasn't a bad game, far from it... it was just unremarkable. It's MS biggest gun and it was quickly swept under the rug by everyone.

Well... Halo is MS biggest exclusive... so, if it is not the juggernaut it used to be, what will be?

It was probably a case of sinergy that enabled them to work better under MS, something similar to RARE and Nintendo.

Retire a franchise that, even at its worst, still sells in the millions and has an always thriving online community?

Yeah, that's never happening. The series needs a shot in the arm for sure but ending it would be as dumb as ending mario, zelda, or god of war.

So... it's MS smallest gun and it sits well above a rug?

Then why did everyone stop talking about it literally a month after release?

Nah. It still sells incredibly well. Halo 5 received a lot of content updates, maintains an active player base, and continues with its competitive seasons/tournaments. If there was one area for concern, it would be that the game didn't feel as accessible/easy as the older Halo games. With 343 hiring a team of ex-pros, the game was built with "e-sports" in mind. I found that a lot of my friends struggled to stick with the game this time around because they just got run over lol. I still play the game here and there and will definitely buy the next entry in the series.

Glad you acknowledge it sold well.

Lots of games do not make any sort of 'impact' in the gaming industry - does that make them dead as well?

It nailed the multiplayer - best since Halo 2. And no, it really wasn't swept under the rug by everyone.

I'm starting to question your definition of the word 'dead'...

MS already confirms Halo 6 will be heading to PC. Through Windows 10 if it doesn't bother you of course.

I meant it as the change from biggest franchise to just an okay release that sold well...

Imagine if God of War, Mario or Zelda mainline games didn't make the big cultural impact they make upon release? That would basically mean they are dying... as going from the biggest news of the year to a side note is quite concerning.

I'm not saying the game flopped, it didn't... it's that, when put on perspective, it didn't make the splash Halo used to make on the 360... it used to be an event... now it's just one more game.

Halo 5 sold very well, because there isn't much else of a reason to even own an XBox. Prepare to have sales thrown at you. For those of us in the real world, though, Halo 6 will have a lot to prove before it has system seller status. The MP in 5 is real good, but the campaign was terribad and a lot of people liked the franchise for its story and singleplayer. No one will want to bring that up if they are married to their XBox.

So sue me; some of us prefer artistic integrity, creativity, and ingenuity over rehashed profit-makers. Also, fallacy of numbers...

These so-called "AAA" titles are killing what used to be an industry of artists and craftsmen. Now it's all about cranking them out, sacrificing game quality, and so forth. I like Halo, don't get me wrong, and Microsoft and I have a relationship that spans over two decades of gaming and other products; but you know what I like more? New content. New gameplay mechanics. New heroes, villains, and characters in between. New and refreshing games.

I don't think it would be dumb, I think it would be brave and admirable, provided they actually have the capacity to come up with something better than Halo. But if Halo is the best they can do, well, that's sad.

With that said, I won't be sad if we get a new Halo and it is good :D Maybe "retire" was a bit strong of a word :P

You have to admit, they could have cranked out a few more Halo's but didn't. They've been quite conservative with only one game in the main franchise on the xbox one. That lends itself less to greed, I would think.

Your choice of adjectives are pretty hilarious.

No it would not mean they are dying, and again Halo 5 was not a side note. Please stop with the hyperbole.

Yes perspective. I'm glad you brought that up. I'm failing to see how the Halo franchise is dead (or dying) when Halo 5 was critically well received, sold millions and has an active online community years after release.

It's probably on par with, say, God of War. They are a big deal to gamers, but your aunt Stella from Connecticut is not aware of them. But she sees the Call of Duty adds while watching prime time television.

hmmm, touche.

Halo 5 MP was a lot of fun. It has been over a year since I have played it, but it was fun. The single player was a complete joke. I felt like I was fighting the same boss over and over again. I am sure Halo 6 will be a good enough game to keep its fans happy.

Its weird seeing Cows on the eve of a God of War refresh thats 95 on metacritic, a series thats been embattled with the same criticism for several years, floating the idea that there is no more room for Halo, a series who's last installment is rated higher on Metacritic than this new God of War's predecessor. Using the same retoric that even some cows would have used to describe the God of War series just 2 years ago.

There is plenty they can do with the series, and with the series rich lore, thats not even limited to just FPS games.

Umm, no. Seems pretty silly to think so.

I bet Halo 5 has sold a shit ton more than Killzone Shadow Flop, hell, I am a Killzone fan and KSF is pathetic.

It feels like it's on life support. If they don't do something soon it will become an irrelevant franchise like Gears.

I was enjoying the Halo 5 online multiplayer modes, but had to quit because of the heavy handed Ban Hammer which punished innocent normal casual players. I deleted the game and vowed to never buy another Halo game again.

sales would suggest the series is alive and well but i've completely fell out with the game since 343 took over (from a sp perspective, mind you).

i remember reading something along the lines of that when 343 were a small outfit and starting halo 4, they were hiring devs who weren't aware of the game they'd be working on, and many spoke about their dislike for halo during interviews. they were, supposedly, hired because the idea was the dislike they had would drive them to "fix" the problems with the game, or something.

then during development they struggled to gel as a team, kept disagreeing on what a halo game should play like, ran out of time and had to rush it to get it out the door.

i can believe it. it just felt different. lacking the magic of previous games. 5 did too. i still enjoy playing the mc collection though, reminds me of the good times