Microsoft’s bold decision to keep Halo 4 off PC
Halo is without any doubt one of the most popular franchises when it comes to first-person shooters.
Microsoft is well aware of this fact and thus keeping it restricted to its own consoles, thus increasing their appeal among gamers and fans of the franchise.
A couple of Halo titles had made their way to PC in the past, it has been quite some time since the game has arrived on anything other than a console that is not an Xbox.
While many regard this decision as a bold one as it keeps the brand from becoming even more popular, Microsoft seems to think of it as a solid strategic decision.
The latest title in the sci-fi first-person shooter, Halo 4, had been in development for quite some time before getting released world-wide on November 6, except for Japan where it is scheduled to arrive in the market on November 8.
PC gamers would have surely been keeping their fingers crossed, silently praying for a PC version of the latest offering by Microsoft to head their way.
The expectation was not without merit, as the brand had graced the platform in the past and also because of the fact that catering to PC users has been part of the company’s business for decades.
However, a Microsoft representative confirmed while talking to The Penny Arcade that the company has no plans of bringing the latest game to the PC irrespective of the popular belief that prevailed in the community.
He explained that while the publisher is really committed to increasing the popularity of the game and making it accessible to as many fans as possible, it does not consider a PC port to be the best way of achieving that goal.
"Halo 4 was designed specifically for Xbox 360, and while we're always exploring new ways to expand the franchise and share the Halo experience with as many fans as possible, we do not currently have any plans to port Halo 4 to PC," said the Microsoft representative.
This does seem like a rather bold decision by Microsoft, since the brand has a huge potential of doing good on a platform as powerful as the PC. Its massive graphical and performance capabilities can make Halo look even more outstanding than the console
version, whereas a mouse and keyboard come off as a much better way to control the guns and vehicles.
With that being said, one cannot argue with the fact that Microsoft has some excellent strategists and therefore while some of their decisions may come off as rather confusing and even wrong, there is a strong possibility of them bringing desirable results
somewhere down the road.
The best explanation that one can think of for the publisher to keep the latest instalment in the Halo series restricted to the console is for driving sales of the console and also making gamers hooked to the new story that is being kicked-off in the first
title of the “Reclaimer Trilogy.”
Some analysts believe that Microsoft will be releasing the final two games in the “Reclaimer Trilogy” on its high-end console, which is expected to hit the shelves in the holiday season at the next of next year.
Let us just wait and see how the decision to keep Halo 4 off PC turns out for the company.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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