Microsoft appears ready to bring its flagship Xbox game series, Halo, to rival platforms like PlayStation and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time. According to leaker NateTheHate, who also reported that the Switch 2 will be unveiled on January 16, Microsoft plans to release Halo: The Master Chief Collection on both PlayStation 5 and Switch 2. This was later confirmed by Windows Central’s Jez Corden.
Although Microsoft’s strategy of making its games available on multiple platforms is well-established, Halo was long considered the exception. But last year, Xbox head Phil Spencer hinted that there were no “red lines” for first-party titles going multiplatform, including Halo. Spencer suggested that every Xbox game could potentially be released on other platforms, emphasizing that Microsoft’s goal is to expand its reach.
While Microsoft has previously focused on older games for multiplatform releases, this trend is shifting with titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which is set to launch on PS5 shortly after its Xbox and PC release. Other Xbox games, such as Pentiment, Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush, and Sea of Thieves, have already been released on rival platforms. Microsoft also announced that Id Software’s upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages will launch on PS5 this year.Spencer has indicated that Microsoft’s multiplatform approach is driven by financial goals, particularly after the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. He noted that expanding Xbox games across different platforms could help grow revenue and strengthen Microsoft’s gaming division.
Former Xbox executive Peter Moore explained that bringing Halo to PlayStation has likely been discussed for a while, as the financial upside of making Halo a third-party game could be significant. However, this move could upset loyal Xbox fans, who are concerned about the lack of exclusivity and the potential devaluation of the Xbox console. Despite this, Moore believes Microsoft will prioritize what’s best for its business in the long run.
NateTheHate also reported that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will come to PS5 and Switch 2, and other Xbox titles like Gears of War 1 Ultimate Edition, Hellblade 2, and Age of Mythology are expected to arrive on PS5 in 2025. With Halo: The Master Chief Collection heading to PlayStation and Switch, there is speculation that future Halo games might follow suit, especially with the game’s shift to Unreal Engine 5, which would facilitate its adaptation to other platforms.
