The eighth season of Halo: The Master Chief Collection arrives this Fall and will be the last content update players get in 2021. The update will come before the launch of Halo Infinite on Dec. 8 and developers are hoping to set both The Master Chief Collection and Infinite up for success and limit any potential conflict between the titles.
The Season 8 update brings new feature additions, more games in the Custom Game Browser, and additional support for modders. Some of these features include Steam Account Linking, PC File Share, a Custom Game Browser that will support Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 3, as well as new seasonal content like mythic armors and skins. Along with these, some quality of life changes are coming to Halo 2 that include AI improvements, skull pickup cues, and some classic texture fixes that align the game more closely with its look on the original Xbox. These changes are in line with some of the improvements made to the classic iterations in The Master Chief Collection, like texture issues in Halo: CE.
343 Industries has provided free content updates for The Master Chief Collection since its release in 2014. The continuous multiplayer support demonstrates 343's dedication to the free-to-play multiplayer model. Michael Fahrny, 343’s Publishing Team Lead Producer, claims in a new entry in the Halo Waypoint blog that the new season also brings customization content that has “been turning heads internally.” However, it’s also slated to be the last large, seasonal update for the collection as 343 shifts its focus to supporting Infinite in the following year and beyond.
According to the development update posted on Sept. 15 by 343 Industries, the team still has a lot of work to do on The Master Chief Collection and will continue to support it in 2022. Although 343 will focus on smaller updates that “can land when they’re ready,” new content like the recently released map for Halo 3 may not be out of the question. Like the seasonal releases, these future updates will be free and be a continuous effort to enhance quality of life and stability. Although new content is on the agenda for the future of The Master Chief Collection, the continuity in which updates are delivered is certain to change. It’s unclear at this point what 343 has planned in this new update model for season-specific features like challenges, season points, and the Exchange.
This was a big year for The Master Chief Collection with the release of the Custom Game Browser but it has been an even bigger year for the Halo franchise altogether. Infinite’s release is approaching fast and it seems like fans will be eager to pick up the new title and sideline the rest of the franchise for a bit, even if they are dedicated to a seasonal investment. However, if fans are looking for Infinite to be a continuation on the style and gameplay of The Master Chief Collection they may be mistaken. The number of changes and new developments in Infinite echoes the controversial Halo 5: Guardians. Despite that, fans who crave that classic Halo feel will hopefully continue to enjoy what 343 Industries has planned for the collection this fall.
Source: Halo Waypoint
https://ift.tt/3CsERoN
September 20, 2021 at 12:44AM
