Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s finally happened! Most of us probably thought this day would never come but it finally has! This week, Microsoft has announced that Halo is coming to the PlayStation 5!
I repeat because this bears repeating: HALO IS COMING TO THE PLAYSTATION 5!
Imagine telling yourself that over 25 years ago, around the time where SEGA was failing in the console business and would eventually be forced to put Sonic on Nintendo consoles! Xbox and Microsoft fans all around the world got to experience just that this week when Microsoft announced Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the campaign for Halo: Combat Evolved, for the PlayStation 5, set to come out in 2026, alongside the PC and Xbox Series S/X!
To say this announcement is big news would be a MASSIVE understatement! This was not only an announcement of a new remake of a beloved classic but this was the announcement that Microsoft has finally thrown in the white flag in the console war!
They have acknowledged that they are no longer serious about convincing others that their console is the best of them all! They have acknowledged they are no longer at the top of the game at what they do in regards to console making! They have acknowledged that their once beloved exclusive IPs such as Halo are better off being shared with their neighbors rather than staying strictly at home where they previously belonged! Above all, they have acknowledged that the console war is now officially over, and both Sony and Nintendo have won!
For those that have been following the gaming world for the past few years, you probably saw this coming from a mile away! It was just last year where Microsoft was considering the idea of moving their well-known IPs and prior exclusive franchises to other consoles in response to the lackluster sales of the Xbox Series S/X! (Something which I did write about and will leave a link for at the end). And for the most part, we are starting to see that in action!
First came Sea of Thieves, which made it’s way onto the PS5 on April 30th, 2024! Next, came Indiana Jones & The Great Circle, which was previously an Xbox exclusive that eventually made it’s way to the PS5 around Spring time of this year! Then, came Gear of Wars: Reloaded, a remaster of 2015’s Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, came to the PS5 in August of this year! And finally, for the final nail on the coffin, Halo, perhaps Xbox’s biggest and most beloved gaming franchise, is set to come out on the PS5 next year!
Not gonna lie, a big part of me is sad about this! The console wars was among the most fun things about pop culture and entertainment throughout the 21st century! It made for a nice distraction for all the political chaos that was going on from around the world, going back and forth on who is delivering the best among video games! Sure, there might’ve been a bit too much name calling and obnoxious fanboy behavior but to most people, it was mostly all tongue-and-cheek and felt it was always encouraging the likes of Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo to deliver the best possible product imaginable for players and gamers all around the world!
However, things have changed! Now, Microsoft more than likely has slammed the door shut on being serious on participating in any future consoles wars! They no longer se themselves as being enough to compete with Sony or even Nintendo! Those two companies have their consoles, exclusives, and overall brand pretty much logged in for the foreseeable future with no momentum slowing them down! Sure, they might’ve made their mistakes in the past with the likes of the disastrous handlings of the PlayStation 3 (at least at launch) and the Wii U but they were at least able to bounce back from those missteps and come back stronger than ever with the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch! It doesn’t seem like Microsoft will be able to have that kind of redemption arc in the near future!
And you know what, they literally have NO ONE to blame but THEMSELVES! Everyone has been calling our their bulls**t ever since the Xbox One reveal back in May of 2013! And not only did they not improve from their mistakes of that but they basically doubled down on it! From confusing console titles to severe lack of exclusives to absurd prices to the killing of physical media to the focus on anything but the actual gaming experience, Microsoft brought down the downfall of the Xbox on themselves! Despite having over the past 12+ years of getting a chance at redeeming themselves, they have only dig themselves further and further down! And it’s now gotten to the point where they have no choice but to share their exclusives onto other consoles for the foreseeable future!
While Microsoft has gotten on record in saying that they are in preparation for their next gaming console, I don’t think anybody will ever take them seriously as being a legit threat to Sony and Nintendo ever again! Unless they are able to complete the biggest comeback arc in the history of gaming with their next console (assuming that even gets made), the days of Microsoft being an absolute dominate force in gaming and entertainment are long gone! So much so that they shouldn’t even bother with a new console because that will likely do even worse numbers than the DreamCast, especially if the rumors of it being over a thousand dollars is true!
Once again, Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remaster of the campaign of the original Xbox exclusive, Halo: Combat Evolved, will be coming to the PlayStation 5 in 2026, alongside the PC and Xbox Series S/X!
The console war is officially over!
RIP Xbox (2001-2025)
Also, Microsoft, if you are seriously considering shipping your prior exclusives onto other consoles, would you be willing to get together with another certain gaming studio that once partnered with you but are now with Sony for a remaster of a certain gem of game from over a decade ago?!
*Hinty hint hint*
PLEASE MAKE IT HAPPEN!
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