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[Mr Reasonable]

I was wondering where today's Halo bad news thread had got to.

The swirling vortex of bad news around the game makes me think they can't do anything about it now.

Yes, short on maps. Yes, where are the single player expansions. It's these things that 343 has failed to deliver and would be, presumably, a large part of the revenue stream - fuelling paid battle passes and campaign expansions.

Once these things are remedied, Halo Infinite should be considered a great game, what IS there is great.

In the interim, people will pour hyperbole on these threads, which I hope doesn't discourage anyone from playing a great game.

 

[M1chl]

DUDE WTF! DELETE THIS SHIT BEFORE THEY SEE AND GET IDEAS! LEAVE ID ALONE FOR DOOM AND QUAKE!

halo game != Halo. I mean something like "flagship" which can be anything, including those two franchises

 

[FalsettoVibe]

tbf, the steam number alone is already a bad sign. Not going too well for the console playerbase either.
Less players = less MTX revenue.

Exactly. With Infinite being so meh and there being so much other stuff to play on GP, why stick around?

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

With Halo Infinite, they were looking for player stickiness and engagement. Financially they would make gamers stick with their game pass sub longer and participate in Halo MTX and Season Passes. Since Halo Infinite shit the bed after launch players didn't stick around.

So basically MS gave away a $300+ million plus game to GP subscribers in hopes they'd stick around after the single player game... it seems most didn't. So they wasted a fucking ton of money on this project.

Yeah, I mean i'm sure the game's launch helped subscriber numbers in December, but no doubt a lot of people fell off after a month or so. The campaign was good, but I couldn't care less about the multiplayer. I would imagine most people do what I do with Game Pass, dip in and dip out periodically, maybe twice a year if something comes along I want to try, but don't want to risk $40-70 on.

I don't know that Infinite's content justified a budget of $300 million, if that's really what it cost. Good Lord. But it's also not really fair for one game to take the fall for not making Game Pass make sense for the entire business.

 

[STARSBarry]

Complete nonsense

Let's talk about singleplayer in relation to a comment about multiplayer being given away "for free" outside of gamepass as to avoid any one questioning why a gamepass title you are paying a subscription for is so heavily monetised.

 

[R3claimer117]

There's another thread based on the same vid but focused on personnel/HR issues. But after watching the entire Brad Sam's vid this info seems misplaced. I mean, Halo is a marquee franchise. A game that helped push this industry in terms of innovation and broadening the gaming market. Also there has been a lot of debate on the gaming web and on this forum regarding the game's success. Particularly via the gamepass model.

This info has major implications.

I know you guys are so threatened by gamepass the ability for others to play games in a service for free. Must hurt your anus everytime you pluck that 70 dollars down for Jim to stick it up there with no spit. Maybe just maybe halos financial issues have everything to do with the fact that live service games require on going monetizing of content constantly. To which halo hasn’t had any content drops of value hell they haven’t even figured out some of their store stuff yet either. Just maybe this is why and nothing to do with gamepass. There are other games in the service as well you know and we’ve heard developer after developer saying how great it is for them financially. Using halo infinite as a barometer for game pass is just stupid at this point when we know the game has no content or stuff worth buying in it for the model they chose.

 

[Warnen]

You mean trying to make Halo a live service game didn’t work?

 

[Little Chicken]

I thought the campaign was fantastic, a great proof-of-concept for open world Halo games going forward.

The rest doesn't affect me as I find Halo MP quite boring.

 

[R3claimer117]

There's another thread based on the same vid but focused on personnel/HR issues. But after watching the entire Brad Sam's vid this info seems misplaced. I mean, Halo is a marquee franchise. A game that helped push this industry in terms of innovation and broadening the gaming market. Also there has been a lot of debate on the gaming web and on this forum regarding the game's success. Particularly via the gamepass model.

This info has major implications.

I know you guys are so threatened by gamepass the ability for others to play games in a service for free. Must hurt your anus everytime you pluck that 70 dollars down for Jim to stick it up there with no spit. Maybe just maybe halos financial issues have everything to do with the fact that live service games require on going monetizing of content constantly. To which halo hasn’t had any content drops of value hell they haven’t even figured out some of their store stuff yet either. Just maybe this is why and nothing to do with gamepass. There are other games in the service as well you know and we’ve heard developer after developer saying how great it is for them financially. Using halo infinite as a barometer for game pass is just stupid at this point when we know the game has no content or stuff worth buying in it for the model they chose.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

This was to one I was searching for:

 

[Kokoloko85]

Obviously its not a model that can support loads of AAA games. When people like my brother and friend are paying like £1. In reality Nintendo and Playstation aren’t able to support something like Gamepass, let alone Xbox which makes less money.

Luckily Xbox has MS money, otherwise they probably would of bowed out by now. So because they have loads of money to Burn and invest doesn’t mean its sustainable or successful.
Xbox can just bleed out money for 10 years and it wouldn’t make a dent in there trillions. But that isn’t exactly a reason why we should think its a good idea.

This is why its stupid to support this model for the future of the industry when clearly it hasn’t proved it can work. Whereas the old model of selling games has been going on for 3+ decades and companies like Nintendo and Playstation are selling more games then ever. 10+20+30+million sales for certain games

 

[Skifi28]

Maybe we just didn't need another Halo game after 3.

Reach was fucking awesome.

 

[Chukhopops]

Brad Sams’ track record isn’t that great overall:

- claimed XSX would be 599 USD;

However, Brad Sams of Thurrottclaims that the Xbox Series X’s pricing could also be as high as $599.

- claimed GP was going to be merged with Gold;

- claimed a smaller XSX revision was coming in 2022, which would have been announced by now;

- claimed there was a XOS revision with a disc drive in the works in 2019, which never came out.

But of course:

 

[SlimySnake]

Maybe dont release campaign day one on gamepass while making the MP F2P.

Just an idea.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

What you mean? It got the GAMEPASS monies.

 

[Sosokrates]

Complete nonsense

Let's talk about singleplayer in relation to a comment about multiplayer being given away "for free" outside of gamepass as to avoid any one questioning why a gamepass title you are paying a subscription for is so heavily monetised.

You dont even mention MP..

At the end of the day Halo Infinite was a failed experiment for game pass. How can we monetise a game we have to put on gamepass because we made it? The answer is not very well at all.

 

[STARSBarry]

You dont even mention MP..

Really that's my fault, I forgot how heavily monetised the single player was... super easy to make that mistake.

 

[Magic Carpet]

343 million dollars spent.

 

[R3claimer117]

Obviously its not a model that can support loads of AAA games. When people like my brother and friend are paying like £1. In reality Nintendo and Playstation aren’t able to support something like Gamepass, let alone Xbox which makes less money.

Luckily Xbox has MS money, otherwise they probably would of bowed out by now. So because they have loads of money to Burn and invest doesn’t mean its sustainable or successful.
Xbox can just bleed out money for 10 years and it wouldn’t make a dent in there trillions. But that isn’t exactly a reason why we should think its a good idea.

This is why its stupid to support this model for the future of the industry when clearly it hasn’t proved it can work. Whereas the old model of selling games has been going on for 3+ decades and companies like Nintendo and Playstation are selling more games then ever. 10+20+30+million sales for certain games

lol thank God for Xbox and pushing the industry forward. Yeah Nintendo can’t even do online right Sony just started doing time exclusive releases for their first party games on pc something Microsoft stated in the 360 generation. Without Xbox PS5 is probably 800 dollars I know some of you will take anything from Sony up the shitter with no lube but some of us like sensible competition and different idea and models more choices doesn’t hurt. I get to play on gamepass and you get to buy 70 dollar games we are both happy !

 

[Skifi28]

I know some of you will take anything from Sony up the shitter with no lube

I'd take that dualsense alarm clock any day of the week. I challenge you to do the same with the Xbox fridge.

 

[JLB]

Good, get someone like ID Soft to create some new MS "halo" game

please no. If something Halo is much better than almost anyone and specially Doom is gunplay.

 

[Lasha]

Gamepass is not to blame. Multiplayer is the star attraction for Halo and Microsoft gave the crown jewels away for free. You can play without buying anything or being subscribed to any service. The game has no monetization. Battlepasses never expire and renew themselves so you can just keep churning them. 343i gives away so many nice free items through events that its hard to stomach spending 20$ to have a slightly different looking Spartan. The gameplay is excellent and keeps a fan like me engaged but the casual big spenders need constant updates and changes to stick around. Microsoft tried to be Fortnite without any ability to be a live service.

 

[Jennings]

Halo Infinite barely came out 10 months ago. There's still the rest of eternity to make money off the game, and there's a fantastic foundation there to build up from. Video games will still be popular by the time 343i generates ample new content and re-releases the game, and eager gamers and detractors the world over will all be there to bear witness to the inevitable Halo Infinite renaissance.

 

[Banjo64]

No shit Sherlock. They delivered a GAAS without the service. Nice to have it confirmed by MS though.

 

[Sosokrates]

Really that's my fault, I forgot how heavily monetised the single player was... super easy to make that mistake.

Its monetised through gamepass and retail.

 

[peronmls]

I mean, I don't know about anyone else but I stopped playing after 3.

 

[Punished Miku]

No shit Sherlock. They delivered a GAAS without the service. Nice to have it confirmed by MS though.

It's a "GAAS" without the "AAS."

 

[Sabotage]

Bro, if you would have just given us what MCC multiplayer already has...

 

[Mr Moose]

Isn't this Brad guy known for being full of shit?

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Luckily Xbox has MS money, otherwise they probably would of bowed out by now. So because they have loads of money to Burn and invest doesn’t mean its sustainable or successful.

No need to spread lies. The CEO of Microsoft gaming has confirmed that they're not burning money and that Gamepass is indeed very sustainable. If you're talking about Xbox, we know that they were profitable in 2019, which was at the same time one of their worst years ever. They've only massively grown since then.

 

[SLB1904]

Good, get someone like ID Soft to create some new MS "halo" game

So you just want doom

 

[MALpractice311]

It's tough to meet sales expectations when you spend $500 million on development.

Yup. Just look at Warner Bros. and Batman v. Superman and the Justice League.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Brad Sams’ track record isn’t that great overall:

- claimed XSX would be 599 USD;



- claimed GP was going to be merged with Gold;

- claimed a smaller XSX revision was coming in 2022, which would have been announced by now;

- claimed there was a XOS revision with a disc drive in the works in 2019, which never came out.

But of course:

Goes to show these insiders know nothing.

With things like pricing or release dates, these are things more set in stone which everyone from video game employees to store managers to store head office people to whomever prints the weekly Best Buy flyer would know. Not saying every person knows, but there's going to be a giant subset of people who know basic info like this.

We have new products that launch every year at my company, if someone was an insider every person on my floor would either know the price range or at least easily find the pricing file and spill the beans on recommended retail pricing. Its even easier for video games because consoles are sold at the same price everywhere. There's one price to know. The retail price for most stuff in life varies where Walmart might be $5 but a drug store is $7.

So it shows he knows nothing, or has nobody he knows trusts him so they dont tell him anything. So he's not a good insider.

When my buddies and I all talk work, we tell each other all kinds of details about each company's stuff. But since none of us say anything online, nobody cares.

 

[STARSBarry]

Its monetised through gamepass and retail.

That's why I said

At the end of the day Halo Infinite was a failed experiment for game pass. How can we monetise a game we have to put on gamepass because we made it? The answer is not very well at all.

It's no coincidence that one of the first games Microsoft slices off its multiplayer and calls it "free" also happens to be one of the worst monetised for that section. Make no mistake had this paid off I can guarantee more and more titles would follow this format of "free" multiplayer gamepassed single player. It's similair to when they sacrificed Halo 2 and Shadowrun titles to try and force PC players to pay for Online gaming way back in the day.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Everyone needs a kick up the arse at some point, it’s their turn .

 

[MHubert]

Not meeting financial expectations as in MS stopped wiring gamepass dough? Not possible, my neighbour just bought a month of GP for 1$. Unless this business model relies on microtransactions to make sense, that is..

 

[Sosokrates]

That's why I said



It's no coincidence that one of the first games Microsoft slices off its multiplayer and calls it "free" also happens to be one of the worst monetised for that section. Make no mistake had this paid off I can guarantee more and more titles would follow this format of "free" multiplayer gamepassed single player. It's similair to when they sacrificed Halo 2 and Shadowrun titles to try and force PC players to pay for Online gaming way back in the day.

To sum up halo infinite in its entirety as a failed experiment is the nonsense part. It was not clear that you were only talking about the MP in your first sentence.

 

[GymWolf]

My halo is ruined and my disappointment is infinite.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

I was watching this documentary about the history of Netflix, and how hey had to change/adapt through the years to no fail. And despite achieving massive growth and success things are never granted.

I wonder it there was this mentality at 343i:

"Is Halo, no matter what, is always going to be successful".

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Halo Infinite barely came out 10 months ago. There's still the rest of eternity to make money off the game, and there's a fantastic foundation there to build up from. Video games will still be popular by the time 343i generates ample new content and re-releases the game, and eager gamers and detractors the world over will all be there to bear witness to the inevitable Halo Infinite renaissance.

God bless GaaS.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

a half a billion dollar game

Thats Been debunked.

I don't know the figure given publicly but on more than one occasion while gaming with a few people before Infinite launch was told it was actually much more, and he would know

Sadly being over voice I don't have the receipts to show a mod here for this

 

[Clear]

GP is at 25 million subs at the last count prior to Halo's launch.

Good looking figure except that its spread across both PC and Console.

 

[Zok310]

Fuck em MS clearly have the money

 

[MikeM]

Easy to see why.

-f2p with terrible battle pass progression and rewards
- Day 1 on GP (no $70 purchases from the hardcore fanbase).
- Halo Series X console bundle

 

[Chukhopops]

Goes to show these insiders know nothing.

With things like pricing or release dates, these are things more set in stone which everyone from video game employees to store managers to store head office people to whomever prints the weekly Best Buy flyer would know. Not saying every person knows, but there's going to be a giant subset of people who know basic info like this.

We have new products that launch every year at my company, if someone was an insider every person on my floor would either know the price range or at least easily find the pricing file and spill the beans on recommended retail pricing. Its even easier for video games because consoles are sold at the same price everywhere. There's one price to know. The retail price for most stuff in life varies where Walmart might be $5 but a drug store is $7.

So it shows he knows nothing, or has nobody he knows trusts him so they dont tell him anything. So he's not a good insider.

When my buddies and I all talk work, we tell each other all kinds of details about each company's stuff. But since none of us say anything online, nobody cares.

Yeah a lot of his rumors are educated guesses and I think this one is no different. With the one year delay the game most likely cost more than expected. With the content roadmap going slower BP sales are likely to be lower than expected.

So it’s plausible but I doubt he has any insider info about it, especially when it comes to business targets.

 

[Graciaus]

They gave the multiplayer away for free which is what people play for years and it was shit. Why would I want to pay for the single player when the company hasn't produced a single good one? They messed up.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

I would like a lot more emphasis on single-player Halo. Like, even if it’s a spin-off, make a bad-ass AAA traditional single-player Halo game and don’t worry about marrying it with a live-service multiplayer game. Let each go and do their own thing.

 

[STARSBarry]

To sum up halo infinite its entirely as a failed experiment is the nonsense part. It was not clear that you were only talking about the MP in your first sentence.

My bad on that, I guess I'm looking at it from a business perspective rather than a game, Microsoft wanted something big they could test this with just like they had Halo 2 back in the day to try and force PC gamers to pay for Microsoft Gold to play multiplayer. In that regard it's anouther failed experiment from the suits.

But yeah I had my fun on my legendary run, I kind of missed the better level designs of Halo 2 and 3 for the mission segments but it was a solid 7-8/10.

 

[SlimySnake]

Isn't this Brad guy known for being full of shit?

Nah, he was 100% right about the xsx and xss specs.

 

[Captain Toad]

Well, when you can't get content out for a GAAS, of course, it's going to falter.