Since the IP's initial conception, it's been the standard for Halo titles to be released for Microsoft's line of Xbox consoles. The tech giant has a strong connection with Halo, and to see one of these games have the potential to be released on a console outside of Microsoft's ecosphere would have been impossible in the 2000s or 2010s. Even for those who aren't Halo fans, this move by Microsoft highlights something bigger. By giving players the choice to decide where they want to play their favorite titles, this could be the start of something revolutionary in gaming, in addition to opening the doors to allow console-exclusive titles to implement cross-platform play.

Halo On PlayStation Would Be A New Era In Gaming

Easier Access To First-Party Games

The Halo fanbase is partly biased towards the Xbox line of consoles, with some players enjoying the IP on PC. Is this bias because some Xbox fans enjoy Halo, or because it's the only console Halo is available on? This has been a long-running strategy with industry players: by making a game exclusive, fans will remain loyal to a console to enjoy the franchise. The most notable company that comes to mind is Nintendo with Mario, Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda.

In reality, everybody wins besides the consumer. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are able to keep fans playing on their consoles by providing them with the games they love, and it can make other console features obsolete or overlooked. But if an Xbox is the only console a person own, then they don't have the opportunity to play games like the Silent Hill 2 remake and The Last Of Us. Equally, a console lacking in exclusive titles in the current market could suffer with lower sales volumes than expected. The rumored Halo: Combat Evolved remaster could demonstrate this standard can be broken, and it might happen sooner than anticipated.

Traditionally, market competition sees product standards increasing in order to make products successfully thrive within the industry. A lack of market competition can result in a monopoly, which discourages a shift in standards. The competition between Microsoft and Sony could be seen as breaking down, due to the possibility of a Halo title on the PS5. However, it's more reasonable to consider that the market competition in games is transforming as opposed to breaking down. This could also be part of Microsoft's big change in strategy for the next Xbox console, which leaks claim is ushering in a new generation early.

It's notable that Xbox exclusives have already begun to appear on other consoles, seemingly as part of Microsoft's refocused strategy in gaming; Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, and Pentiment have all recently lost their exclusivity. As the Xbox's flagship franchise, however, the potential for Halo on PlayStation is a much bigger deal. If any series could be considered a system seller for Xbox, it's Halo. While porting only a remaster of the original Combat Evolved to PS5 isn't as big as a simultaneous release of a new entry would be, it opens the door to a path that leads to Xbox having no exclusives at all.

There Are Possible Consequences Of Halo On PS5

There Could Be More Gaming Innovation In The Future

For the entirety of home console gaming's history, exclusive titles have been a major selling point for all consoles. It can be argued that it has been the biggest selling point for the eighth and ninth generations of consoles. If Sony and Microsoft begin to share titles between their systems, then this could indicate a shift in focus. The two gaming giants could begin to utilize their impressive history with technology to implement more immersive and innovative experiences for players by introducing stronger hardware, more options for inputs, and software that fully taps into hardware capabilities.

Furthermore, with numerous companies such as Bethesda and Activision Blizzard being acquired, Microsoft is in full control of multiple AAA studios. However, analyst Paul Tassi at Forbes notes that the "PS5 outsold Xbox almost 5 to 1 this past quarter." If the platform exclusivity standard doesn't shift, then there could be a high number of Sony fans left with a number of inaccessible titles. Equally, if the PS5 receives a Halo title in the future, then this could be the start of Xbox titles launching on the PS5. This would also inherently solve the low player retention problem that the previous title, Halo Infinite, has been facing since launch.

Although it's currently only speculation and rumors, the concept of Halo releasing on the PlayStation 5 has more to it than simply enjoying one of the best first-person shooters of all time. Any claims of playing a Microsoft title on a Sony console 10 years ago would have been disregarded as conjecture. If the rumors are correct, then Sony and Microsoft ing hands to provide high-quality gameplay is a real possibility taht could come to . PlayStation and Xbox fans could experience a broader range of cross-platform experiences, and the hardware players purchase could be drastically improved.

Sources: Forbes

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Halo: Combat Evolved

FPS

Systems

9.0/10

Released

November 15, 2001

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Violence

Developer(s)

Gearbox Software

Publisher(s)

Microsoft Game Studios

Engine

Blam Engine

Franchise

Halo

Platform(s)

Xbox One

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