Look...I'm not even trying to be mean when I say this, even giving it to me for free wouldn't have me play it. Those days are over.
I've said this many times, cheaper or FREE isn't some magical answer to such things as if the PRICE ALONE was the real issue with that title, I said this about BF 2042. Everyone's argument about "derrr make it da free 2 playz EAz, da PAZZ" I felt was flawed. I value my time more then anything else, I can't get more of it folks, the game still needs to be good, of great quality and I believe the issue with Halo and with BF 2042 is design and function.
Free or cheaper won't change that cause i just don't buy that alone was the real issue or something. So I've pretty much given up on the IP and I'll just move on. Its too many generations past when i liked it and even to do some Sonic Mania type reboot or something maybe wouldn't be enough. I loved that when I was younger, I don't think I'll like that exact concept when I'm older, as in.....that time has pasted and they just missed the mark.
Maybe a reboot is needed with a darker tone, feel, weighter like Killzone, smaller maps, an origin story about Master Chief , i don't know, but what i do know is that maybe....maybe 343 and MS need some time to let Halo rest man. If its not working out, its not working out and we continue to devalue the IP like this? Let it rest for a bit, see if another team is a good fit and only return with an idea that makes sense for Halo and leave the new shit to new IPs. I've love it more for that series to have some God Of War type reboot revival that is bigger then the past games, but as each entry comes out and does poorly, I realize maybe people are done with Halo or 343 doesn't care anymore or something. Its hard to pin point exactly where the wrong is here too. Could be MS, could be 343, could be COD and Fortnite, could be jaded gamers, could be a combination of all of that.