With Microsoft expanding its multiplatform gaming strategy, speculation is mounting that some of Microsoft’s best and most recognizable exclusives, such as Halo, could one day make their way to PlayStation. Microsoft’s head of gaming, Phil Spencer, recently let slip that no games were on the table when it came to cross-platform releases, and that may mean that Halo, an Xbox game, could appear on another console.
While it has been making waves lately by bringing some of its first-party games to platforms outside of the Xbox ecosystem, the Indiana Jones game will debut on PlayStation this month, about a month after debuting on Xbox. This move follows other popular Xbox titles that have gone multiplatform, including Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, and the soon-to-be-released Doom: The Dark Ages. All of these games were Xbox exclusives but are now available on PlayStation.
Could Halo finally arrive on PlayStation? Microsoft’s latest moves spark curiosity.
Speaking to Bloomberg, the Xbox boss made interesting statements. Spencer said that Microsoft’s strategy is to boost gaming revenue, including its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year. Explaining that the bar is high for them and Xbox has to prove it in more ways than one, Spencer acknowledged that Microsoft’s significant investment in the gaming market is now paying off and needs to show that it is useful across multiple platforms. As far as we understand, no Xbox game has ever been designed to be multiplatform. Some titles may need to be ported again for a possible PlayStation version.
Gaming enthusiasts see the potential of Halo on the PlayStation, but others remain skeptical. Some industry experts believe 343 Industries’ move from Halo to Unreal Engine 5 could help the studio adapt Halo for play on all platforms, including the PS5. However, Spencer was cautious, saying it might be too early to make official announcements about Halo’s next iteration or where it may appear on PlayStation.
But at least for now, Microsoft is concentrating on bringing older Xbox games to other platforms, including Halo. Being the most iconic and arguably the most popular Halo franchise of all time, the idea of Halo coming to PlayStation signifies a big shift in Microsoft’s strategy on its most precious games. Currently, no decisions have been made, but Spencer’s comments offer a sly hint that even once the most beloved of the Xbox franchises are up for review under Microsoft’s larger expansion of the company’s gaming endeavors beyond Xbox itself.
Image credit: Halo Waypoint
