Halo: MCC's live service elements make it better, not worse

Halo: MCC Source: 343 Industries

Following the completion of all of the Primary Chief Collection's (MCC) PC ports in 2022, Halo developer 343 Industries has opted to have a live service approach with the MCC moving into the future. The game has flourished under this new management. It has get one of Microsoft's greatest hits, but some players, such as PC Gamer's Natalie Clayton, experience that 343 Industries' decision to add live service elements to the game detracts from what makes it special in the kickoff place. They argue that if the MCC is meant to stand tall as a fourth dimension sheathing for the Halo shooters of yesteryear, adding in colorful skins, armor suits from Halo Online, and new maps that were never in the original games intrudes on this vision.

I empathise where these fans are coming from, but I don't agree with their arguments. Here's why I think the MCC'southward condition as a fourth dimension capsule is however beingness preserved, and besides how the live service model 343 Industries has called is benefitting non only the game itself, but as well the entire Halo community.

Everything new is optional

Halo: MCC Source: 343 Industries Skins such every bit this i tin can be toggled off in the MCC's settings.

While it's i affair to say that many of the new skins and armor sets don't mesh well with the overall aesthetic of the older Halo games — in fact, I agree with this view — challenge that the MCC's status as a time capsule is existence infringed upon by these cosmetics is disingenuous. This is because shortly subsequently introducing these unlocks, 343 Industries added a setting that allows players to toggle the cosmetics on or off. Switching the new armors, skins, and more off makes information technology so that players using them in multiplayer announced every bit default Spartans or Elites, and information technology also makes all of the weapons and vehicles on the battlefield sport their normal wait. With this, y'all can brand it so that yous never accept to see the new cosmetics at all.

The new Halo 3 map from Halo Online, Waterfall, is also only available in Custom Games. This means that players don't accept to worry virtually it popping up in matchmaking if they're non fans of the map. It's possible that this is going to change according to 343 Industries, but considering the fact that the studio implemented a toggle for the cosmetics, I imagine they'll probably make one for Waterfall and any other maps that become added to the game in the future, besides.

Don't overlook the benefits

Halo: MCC Challenges Source: 343 Industries The Challenges system encourages players to play Halo in ways they may not have before, resulting in the games feeling more replayable.

Secondly, I think that many people focus as well much on things similar the vibrant skins and outlandish armor sets without considering some of the clear benefits of 343 Industries' live service approach. Over the class of 2022 and 2022, the developer has added (and and then improved upon) tons of new quality-of-life features that few of the games in the MCC had originally. Some examples of these include FOV sliders, 3D customization menus, in-game viewmodel adjustments, crossplay between Xbox and PC, and more. A Challenges arrangement was fifty-fifty added that encourages players to play through the Halo games using specific weapons, vehicles, or strategies. These challenges brand the games feel more than replayable overall since every bit you work to complete them, you'll probable have to try out new, fresh playstyles.

A lot of these features wouldn't exist if the developers at 343 didn't go along to support the game beyond just porting all of the games to PC. Many of them (and those coming soon, such as the custom games browser) are only there because 343 Industries has chosen to commit to the MCC long term.

It makes the wait for Halo Infinite less painful

Source: Microsoft Halo Infinite may be months away, but the oft-updated MCC gives Halo fans something to enjoy in the concurrently.

Finally, information technology's important to look beyond the MCC and remember about the franchise as a whole. Halo Infinite was originally supposed to already be in players' hands. With its delay into 2022, many Halo fans were left disappointed and frustrated that they would take to wait another year before beingness able to play the serial' next big entry. The live service elements of the MCC assistance convalesce some of that frustration by offer players new things to enjoy in the games they know and dear.

It's true that nil volition exist able to completely make the sting of Halo Infinite's delay go away, simply 343 Industries devoting some resource to requite Halo fans something to go excited well-nigh is notwithstanding pretty cool. It's something that the developers didn't accept to do, just the fact that they did shows that the studio is trying to make the wait for Halo Infinite every bit enjoyable equally it can be. I believe that benefits the Halo community greatly.

Your thoughts

What do y'all retrieve? Do you agree that the live service elements of the MCC enhance and better the quality of the game? Permit me know.

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