A Thank You from Bonnie Ross (343 Studio Head) to Halo Fans

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This is a reblog from Halo Waypoint:

Last month, I promised the Halo and Xbox community that addressing the matchmaking issues and other bugs impacting players’ experience with Halo: The Master Chief Collection was our #1 priority.  We’ve been working around the clock deploying weekly content updates and numerous server-side adjustments that have shown good results and we’re encouraged by the feedback we’re hearing from you.  Another big challenge was met when we added fan-favorite playlists, such as SWAT and Halo: CE, back to our matchmaking menu and we plan to add more soon.  Next week, we’ll release a content update that will add all 10 episodes of the cooperative experience “Spartan Ops” for Halo 4, and will address other issues.  I assure you that the team will continue to work on additional content updates to further improve the all-up gameplay experience.

HFFL: Wait, Spartan Ops back in? YES! Okay, I know not many people played this, but man, I LOVED it. (READ ON!!!)

This has been a humbling experience and highlighted how we as a studio can – and need – to do better for Xbox fans around the world.  We are so grateful to our fans who have stood by our side and we appreciate all of your patience as we worked through these issues.  As a token of our appreciation and to thank fans for the continued support and understanding, we will be offering the following items, for free, to anyone who has played Halo: The Master Chief Collection online since launch (11.11.14) through today (12.19.14).*

  • 1 Month of Xbox Live Gold
  • Exclusive In-Game Nameplate
  • Exclusive In-Game Avatar

* For specifics on eligibility and further details on the offer, visit the FAQ here.

HFFL: Okay, nice little add-ons and a month of LIVE is always welcomed. READ ON!!!

H3 ODST

Additionally, you’ve told us that you want more Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer map content and Halo 3: ODST on Xbox One.  As a future bonus, we’re going to make these happen and give them to you for free.  We are just now starting work with our partners to bring both to Halo: The Master Chief Collection and will share more specific details on timing in the coming months.  But for now, here’s what you can expect:

H3 ODST squad

  • Halo 3: ODST Campaign – Development has just started on the campaign for Halo 3: ODST, which will be available within Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and upgraded to 1080p resolution, running at 60fps. It will be available for free to anyone who has played Halo: The Master Chief Collection since launch (11.11.14) through today (12.19.14).* Thanks to our friends at Bungie for creating the original “Halo 3: ODST” campaign.

  • “Relic” Halo 2: Anniversary Multiplayer Map – Available via a free content update to Halo: The Master Chief Collection, we will reimagine the fan-favorite map “Relic,” fully remastered and running at 1080p resolution and 60fps. We chose this map based on its suitability for Slayer and Objective modes and its ability to support teams of varying sizes. And you can trust that Certain Affinity will tune and tweak the map to make it even better than you remember.

The satisfaction and joy of our fans is absolutely critical to everyone at 343 Industries and we regret the issues and the frustration you have endured.  We are truly sorry and thank you for your continued patience and support of the Halo franchise.

Sincerely,
Bonnie Ross
Head of 343 Industries

HFFL: Okay, now THAT is a great apology to fans! Hmm, now I wonder if Reach will come to the XBOX One?? As well, with ODST, will that mean yet MORE achievements for the HMCC??  I don’t know about you folks, but I’m VERY happy with this. I loved ODST’s campaign. I’m a little surprised that it’s being ported into the HMCC instead of a stand alone title, since it’s not “Master Chief”. But that’s only a curiosity and in no way a complaint. If anyone complains about this apology/reward from Bonnie Ross, well, let me just say that I can’t say what I really want to hear as this is a family friendly website…

-Sal

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About Sal

I’ve got tons of experience with Halo gaming and collecting. I feel I have something to offer to the greater Halo fan community. Posts along the way will be about tips and tricks in the games as well as collecting and many more Halo related things. I’ll also repost interesting articles from the official site, Halowaypoint.com, or from fellow Halo fan sites. As I continue this blog, I hope to help gamers who want advice on the games, as well as any collectors with regards to where to find collectibles as well as deals, coupons and so on. You can also follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/HaloFanForLife or Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/halofanforlife11. Welcome to my blog and I hope you’ll come back again and again. -Sal

10 thoughts on “A Thank You from Bonnie Ross (343 Studio Head) to Halo Fans”

  1. I got extremely excited when I heard about ODST being added to TMCC!

  2. Wow… that’s amazing! I must shamefully admit that ODST is the only campaign other than Halo Wars I haven’t played yet, so this is SUPER exciting for me! At this point I don’t know what they’re going to do for Halo 3’s anniversary. It’s just going to have to be the “Ultimate Halo Collection”, with every single game from CEA to 5, plus ODST, Reach and Wars, with everything past H2A remastered and given Blur cutscenes.

    • Heh. I dunno. Hard to think of what they’d do for Halo 3 as they’ve already released the game via HMCC for the XBOX One. The only thing I can think of that would make sense would be to have a special map pack for Halo 5 Guardians that has some of the best maps from Halo 3 remade?

  3. Im a little bit disappointed because i miss out on the deal, getting the collection for Christmas so a few days late of this.

    This really surprises me thought that 343 would do this, its really nice of them. Im just hoping for a 1080p Halo Reach.

    Also, would be cool if another halo wars was made, with better graphics. I really enjoyed its storyline, and blur studios worked wonder’s with its high quality cut scenes, and its multiplayer was incredibly fun.

    • I wouldn’t hang up my hopes of Reach just yet. With ODST coming to the One, I’m going to make a guess that Reach will happen eventually too. Regarding Halo Wars 2…I think that one is going to be something we’ll see in 2016. The current head of XBOX has already stated something to the effect of liking the original Halo Wars very much.

  4. When will Halo 3: ODST arrive for the Xbox one? Is it just the campaign or will we get firefight as well?

    • Spring next year is the expected release of ODST through the Halo Master Chief Collection. For now, it’s just the campaign. No plans of Firefight. That arguably is one of the best parts of ODST. Hopefully later on though. People are starting to ask about Reach’s campaign and Firefight too now.

  5. That is a pretty good apology. I’m surprised that people want all the Halo games on Xbox One though. I mean, they’re all games you’ve played before! Halo 2: Anniversary made sense since it was remastered but Halo: CE, Halo 3, Halo 4, and now Halo 3: ODST just got a little update with 1080p and 60 FPS (and some other minor stuff like lighting). Is there really a significant difference between the games on Xbox 360 and Xbox One? I don’t know, that’s just how I feel with the Halo re-releases.

    • The biggest reason for wanting these on the One is being able to game with your friends over LIVE. Eventually the 360’s servers will be shut down for good. When that happens, those games would have been gone for good co-op over live as well. Bringing them to the One keeps them active.

      • I suppose. I do wish they would “remaster” the games before bringing them over to the Xbox One though instead of just the minor improvements.

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