Is There Any Hope for Halo?

[@TheActMan]

Thanks to Bespoke Post for sponsoring this video! New subscribers get 20% off their first box - go to www.bespokepost.com/act20 and enter code ACT20 at checkout. With the recent layoffs at Microsoft and 343 Industries, many have started to question the future of Halo Infinite and the franchise itself. Is there any hope for Halo? After so much has gone wrong? Only one way to find out...

[@PainArk]

Almost beat you

[@zerokhangaming]

First

[@vampdizzy9461]

Not halo too it’s so sad to see

[@TheVillageBeast]

Hit some calisthenics with me bruv 💪🏿💪🏿

[@Mr.NiceGuy82]

😂

[@awoo9746]

4:37 "Now is not a good time to ask when are playable elites coming back, you know the answer, its never" that hurts like energy daggers in both hearts

[@Spike2276]

I can feel the WORTWORTWORT in my soul

[@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778]

Anything that 343 removes never comes back and if it does its a botched version of it. Then you have 100 343 drones that defend the removals of features because "they had no purpose and there is no point" Its sad that people defend less detail being added in games now.

[@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778]

@Korozola They did. Removing them from matchmaking is not removal of the feature entirely, Atleast bungie bothered to actually have them in for reach, Them not being matchmaking doesn't matter. 343 removed them because they wanted to make multiplayer canon.

[@Windjammer19]

@Korozola Funny you talk about critical thinking yet fail to do any of it yourself. Bungie lowered the impact of playable elites because the caused balance issues, but they were still available in non-standard game modes and custom games. The feature was still there even if lessened. 343 just removed the whole thing then spits some nonsense about "halo is a spartan story". Nobody was complaining about elites in reach. And as for dual-wielding, Bungie never even tried to balance them. All they ever attempted was "Two gun do 2 damage" or "1 gun do half damage because 2 gun do too much damage". Never did it occur to them that they could just have single wielding do regular damage and just not spawn 2 SMG right next to each other. Make player travel across the map to find the other one. Or they could have treated DW like a power up, where you get to Dual wield for 45 sec. 343 literally added damage boost as powerup in Halo 4 which has the same effect accept it boost the damage of the entire sandbox, not just sidearms.

[@GreenEyedDazzler]

Bring them back and add playable brutes I’m begging

[@fallensaiyan4564]

Joe was the master of Halo storytelling but when the world needed him most….he vanished.

[@xaiphon7251]

My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace, where Halo lived in harmony, but then, everything changed when 343 attacked...

[@dust195]

@@xaiphon7251 Frank O’Connor*

[@SilentKnight234]

So..what you're saying is, get your pickaxes ready to dig him out of an iceberg?

[@drrobocar6459]

Oof…

[@RavagHer]

better to go out as a hero than to be there long enough to end up as the villian.

[@SyntaxWyntax]

AS a programer I can say without a shadow of a doubt that trying to fix someone else's code is fkn hard af especially when you dont have the person who worked on it to ask questions

[@brendameistar]

As a non developer, even I can see that it's fkin retarded to use contract work for a massive AAA project.

[@Patrickdaawsome]

Unless unit tests were written.

[@theoathman8188]

Sometimes I find it hard to fix my code

[@brazwen]

As a full stack developer I can confirm. Even just some basic web code made by someone else , especially old code, can be infuriating to work with.

[@Unknown-wb1bf]

@@brazwen How much easier would you think Unreal engine 5 blueprints would be compare to normal code?

[@DANTE83100]

As someone who owns a PS5 (personal preference). I have to say it's sad to see what's happening to Halo. It's such an iconic and important franchise. The legacy and inspiration it's had can't be denied.

[@ELSNightcore]

Respect to you my good sir.

[@ELSNightcore]

We rise up as United gamers and love all good games no matter the device.

[@thebadwolf3088]

@GoTi4No They have Forspoken... Maybe it'd be better if they really had no games.

[@Cheezdealer]

​@@goti4no820 I can't even remember the last time an Xbox exclusive came out that I cared about. Forza Horizon 5 maybe? Granted in the near future there will be more, Starfield and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 namely. Doesn't matter for me tho, with a PC, PS5 and Switch I can play literally any game that comes out. Take that poor people 🤣

[@dante19890]

Ye but mostly its bungies Halo games. 343 hasnt really left a mark

[@ahajordon001]

As someone who works in the film industry, I think that incompetent leadership is just everywhere in art and entertainment. A lot of people at the top have never created anything in their lives, so they just lack any perspective on what it takes to make a AAA game or billion dollar movie.

[@bobbyhillthuglife]

Yep, especially when the companies are built up inorganically and just handed a bunch of money and an IP. Bungie was an established dev with a long history of success and failure before Halo CE, they had learned their lessons the hard way. 343i is just Microsoft trying to wave a chequebook around and create a replacement. That's not how creative fields work. They would have done much better to find an already-established FPS maker that had already gone through their growing pains.

[@TsMHicks]

It's not just art and entertainment. Financial firms, tech firms, etc etc.people at director level and up are oblivious to literally everything and think so narrowly. But if the money flows in, it only re-enforces their direction

[@MJKeenan30]

It isn't incompetent leadership. It's political leadership. They would rather push their propaganda than make a profitable product. They know exactly what they are doing. Both industries can't burn down soon enough. Hopefully this recession will be their last gasp.

[@razorback9999able]

What caused incompetent leadership in the first place?

[@neinstein-says]

Remember when people were hired based on merit?

[@saintsrobbed6450]

I remember the Halo 5 days, and your older videos. I thought the worst of Halo was behind us. It's disappointing to see the state of Infinite right now. This should've been revival for the series.

[@Kriplingpowr]

Halo 5’s multiplayer was goated and we didn’t even realize it. I would still be playing like I did when it first came out to this day but there’s just not enough players.

[@saintsrobbed6450]

@@Kriplingpowr Completely agree. I loved playing Halo 5 with friends, but came to love the entire multiplayer experience during the lockdown. I played the hell out of that game in 2020 and 2021. Boy do I miss it.

[@thel8815]

343 was never gonna revive Halo

[@TheActMan]

Lol I thought it was too. Never imagined stuff like theater would be broken in Halo for over 8 years

[@thel8815]

@@TheActMan 343 never fails to disappoint.... They always come up with new innovations

[@onyxserenitatem7636]

19:56 hits hard They didn’t listen to anything the fans told them. We told them exactly what they were doing wrong, how to fix it, what to do next. And they just ignored it all.

[@mattk7865]

That clip is the culmination of the hollowness many Halo fans feel

[@alexlyster3459]

I mean it does seem like they at least tried pretty hard. Calling it lying is maybe a bit strong, but they absolutely didn't excecute on the promise as planned. Guarantee it was the switch to open world that put an end to Split Screen.

[@Cxncubine]

@@alexlyster3459 ya the open world decision was dumb as fuck imo

[@dodgsonwevegotdodgsonhere9970]

@alex lyster Why must you continue to defend garbage?

[@shashwat7089]

@@alexlyster3459 They lied, results matter. The world you're looking for is incompetent as there have been many instances where split screen has been incorporated in an open world for example, borderlands 3. There's no need to defend them.

[@CeeCee222]

Halo will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart. Halo CE-Reach was just perfection. The golden ages.

[@QueekHeadtaker]

lol so dumb, Reach was a disaster, reticle bloom anyone??

[@Disturbance42]

@@QueekHeadtaker Reach was a masterpiece, just because you're a tard with a shit opinion doesn't mean anything

[@underground5682]

@@QueekHeadtaker lol so dumb, reach was awesome. Keep your opinion to yourself clown.

[@timratliff5646]

@@QueekHeadtaker I started with reach and that game is so bad. Halo 2 is the best for me as it’s just so fast paced and competitive. I’ve realized that me being a reach kid is the reason I like COD more than halo when I was younger. Halo Reach sucks

[@Archmagos_Faber]

@@timratliff5646 nah, i remember a lot people were angry when it released same with ODST but overall they were good games and far better then anything 343 has shat out in their entire existence.

[@Lamp37820]

One of the best things 343 has done with halo, is create that scene of the Spartan looking super sad and alone. It allows everyone to express how they are feeling, as the chief.

[@MozambiqueEnjoyer6097]

That scene always made me think about a 6'8 1st Grader pouting because he got put in Time Out.

[@mix7893]

Funny how to this day we still have no acknowledgement of who that was even supposed to be or what the context surrounding that scene was 🙃🙃

[@tiredman99]

My biggest gripe with Halo Infinite was that I couldn't command Marines and even when I saved them they would just follow me around and disappear if I fast travelled. I really wish I could've assigned them to fire bases and have them defend those areas cause it's not like the banished would just ignore losing territory

[@justsomehalofan4386]

I still believe that halo infinite going open world was one of it's biggest mistakes, the entire campaign takes place on the 2% of the ring that is broken and for the most part feels like you don't really go anywhere else (considering the entire campaign is just one biome). I much would've preferred if Infinite took a more linear/semi open-world approach. Levels would still be linear, but would be more open and expansive, taking place on different areas of zeta halo. Certain areas would have side quests that you could do, secret locations, etc, and when you complete campaign, you could backtrack/fast travel to those areas.

[@TheBlackSpartan103]

@@justsomehalofan4386 fast traveling by Pelican to different parts of the ring would've been sweet

[@ConfusedGeriatric]

@@justsomehalofan4386 oh man that would’ve been banger, imagine like god of war ragnarok but for halo. With heaps of side areas and extra lore to find, cool forerunner weapon upgrades, etc

[@ch33zyburrito36]

Dude you really thought you were going to get something like that in a halo game? 😂

[@crypticforerunner1389]

wouldnt it be hilarious that during this time that the dev heads are one by one leaving theyre actually reacquiring bungie to co develop halo again . 😄 haha .... who knows it could be happenning lol

[@bee-beargaming]

Tom French was one of my favorites at 343i, he was always enthusiastic & wanted to honor what came before & create something new. My heart goes out to those who lost their jobs too.

[@JPx115]

One of the few game devs that actually looks like he enjoys and plays the game he's working on, and doesn't act like a snob just because he has a cool job and he grew up playing classic games, he clearly does understand modern video games, he is the man behing Halo 5's forge and also multiplayer, he's an absolute genius. Wherever he goes I'm sure he will create something awesome.

[@gareth0412]

It seemed like the campaign map was designed to be opened up. There were distant islands that looked quite developed and open to exploration.

[@jonbaxter2254]

I had another rewatch of Crowbcat's "Remember Halo" video yesterday... I don't think it's possible to have that experience again. Not just because of youth and nostalgia; but online systems, mobile phones and spoilers, streamers, terrible management and messaging and the fall of the industry. It'll never bee the same again. But those days were marvellous...

[@Matanumi]

Its unreal to think we peaked with online gaming in the early 2010s

[@r.e.z9428]

Of course its possible again, just not with 343 apparently.

[@squaeman_2644]

Remember split screen? Guys I member...

[@hakanflodin4555]

Absolute spot on analyis King

[@c4sualcycl0ps48]

Check out MarcoStyle’s video too… it highlights everything leading up to Infinite

[@skully3242]

I’ve finally accepted that Halo will never be the same. Reach was supposed to be the end, and it was.

[@AzureSymbiote]

Halo 3 was supposed to be the end. But they kept milking it.

[@deafbyhiphop]

@@AzureSymbiote It was Bonnie Ross' idea to monopolize Halo after Bungie left. The TV shows, her idea, the bad books and comics that tied into halo 4 and 5, her idea, the terrible toys, her idea. She wanted to Star Wars Halo and just assumed the franchise will remain popular forever without putting priority on the quality of main thing that mattered, the games.

[@MichaelBailee]

According to Marcus there were plans for Halo beyond the battle at the Ark. As far as I know, part of the reason that didn't manifest is because Bungie felt they needed another 3 games to pace it right, and they only had time for 2 more after the ambition of Halo 2 caused cuts and the need to move some of that plot to Halo 3.

[@keilafleischbein59]

@@MichaelBailee Marcus can say whatever he wants. Jason hates sequels and wanted to make destiny. Something isn't true just because Marcus says so. And just because what Marcus says is true, doesn't mean everyone in charge agreed with him.

[@snimon5824]

@@deafbyhiphop You can monopolize a franchise and make it good if you know what your doing. Thing is, Microsoft and 343 don't know what they are doing. Halo by design from its world to its theme are very suitable to be a franchise. As opposed to say Dark Souls where its theme is just wanting it to end, so it would be weird to continue after its grand finale. Things like Star Wars or COD would work as long running franchises while things like Uncharted can only stretch itself so far. We can look at other franchise that are "milked", franchise that their fans love or hate them, franchise that still continue to this day, some work and some don't.

[@wdsyalyn]

My best memories of gaming are in halo 2 and 3 and they'll never be able to ruin that. No matter how hard they try.

[@abyss_waker1276]

You ready?

[@fearless3073]

I like the naive wishful thinking some people just can't seem to let go thinking it's all puppies, butterflies , and rainbows lmfao

[@eitherneuron4223]

@@fearless3073 I don't think He is meaning that

[@clarence2485]

I don’t even think 343 is trying to kill Halo. With Bungie Halo was their baby. There was true passion for it all the way up to the top levels for every game. But when Bungie left Microsoft put together 343 for the sole purpose of continuing to make money off of Halo. And there are passionate people at 343 but in reality they were built from the ground up to turn a profit and that’s all Microsoft wants from them so of course they’re going go with the safest “what ever is trendy” approach. Hence Halo 4’s CoD like mechanics, Halo 5’s advanced movement, and Infinite’s “live-service”

[@nicholasrusschen3743]

The tried with mcc lol

[@177SCmaro]

Infinite's art direction was one of the things they got right.

[@josiahgibson6373]

They only got it right after they reworked it following the significant backlash over the artwork shown at E3 2020.

[@alphanoodle1877]

@@josiahgibson6373 you mean over the graphics. The artwork was praised from the very beginning, as well as the gameplay

[@kestaskuliukas5296]

The campaign wasnt’ bad to be fair.. multiplayer is good too. Actually the whole game kinda slaps when you peel back the cheeto-encrusted halo 2 fanboy rage

[@kraigisboss]

@@kestaskuliukas5296 Content is the problem with very few maps and game modes to work with. Plus forge is having problems with guidelines things which there are still no official forge guidelines.

[@TheArkhamKnight1893]

True but the body proportions or something makes especially the Reach armor core look strange or off along with sizing down the commando shoulders which is weird

[@douglasmorse2124]

The thing I loved most about the old halo games was I could unlock cool armor on my own, create my own game mode, and maps. It just really felt like a community. I remember a lot of multiplayer matches ending and the whole lobby joins a custom match after. Miss those days

[@RedCommunistDragon]

Sadly that died with Halo 5😢

[@MultiRokusho]

People used to talk in voice chat.

[@lordcommandernox9197]

Your parents gave you an Xbox? Did you own Ride to Hell: Retribution? You might not like it but that is the quintessential xbox game, hands down.

[@emykus7717]

"Noooo Halo has aaaalways been competitive, sweaty, MLG focused." 🤦

[@russian_knight]

Now thr community is a toxic miserable cesspool of either blind hatred for or completely defending 343

[@PsychoKrueger]

Me then: "Halo infinite will be great, I can't wait to play it" Me now: "LIES FOR THE WEAK..... BEACONS FOR THE DELUDED"

[@IwinMahWay]

We trade one trash game for another..

[@PsychoKrueger]

@Thomas It's definitely their best campaign, that's for sure

[@JJJBunney001]

The gameplay is great all over, its just the lack of content

[@ConfusedGeriatric]

@@PsychoKrueger Halo 1, 2 and Reach all had campaigns with great plot and writing that conveyed some epic emotions. Honestly can’t say the same for Infinite

[@gtrblackhawk]

@Thomas fun!? In the way it was different? Okay. I guess but the story makes zero sense if you’ve paid attention to Halo at all.

[@schaefer76]

I feel so bad for you, Halo fans. I don't know what the future holds, but most of us who like space games; we're here for you.

[@vincetaliaferro2777]

I think they are shifting major resources to A.I. development and other things. This might be the new norm for a while.

[@maniacalcoast2742]

I gave up tbh, I straight up don’t even boot up mcc anymore

[@robosing225]

@@maniacalcoast2742 i'm an og. yes from the beginning halo combat evolved, i know i'm ancient, and even i don't play halo anymore. it's too depressing seeing what 343 did with halo. why bungie left to make destiny i'll never know. but at least destiny is still being catered to in terms of expansions and xtra content.

[@NoxTheZombie]

It's ok I still have Warhammer. But Halo the one I grew up with my first love died after Reach.

[@gravemind883]

@@NoxTheZombie Oh don't worry GW will take care of that _real_ quick. They already are.

[@TheFinalOutpost]

I will give 343 massive credit for delivering and polishing the MCC on PC over the last 3 years. When new Halo games are blundered and broken, at least we'll always have a functional MCC.

[@cdyjv118]

But the game still crashes on occasion

[@AmbientMess]

Wasn't it a collab effort with other companies?

[@pancock3820]

that's funny, I recently started a play through with my buddy and we found an awesome glitch where if you alt tabbed the game it would continue to run in the background, not being able to alt tab back into said game + it disappeared from my task menu process's but luckily steam has a kill button.

[@DillionDanisFandom]

@@pancock3820 still happens to me lmao

[@theguitarhero898]

Haha I can’t even find a match!

[@dayarnnaqshband8777]

As someone that fell in love with Gaming because of Halo and bought my own console to specifically play Halo after playing it for countless hours at my mate's houses.. The current state of Halo breaks my heart icl

[@xspike83able]

Try Destiny

[@lShadow426l]

@@xspike83able just don't look into Y1 D1 and Y1 D2 because both had the same problems and almost ended Bungie

[@bobbythomas6520]

Halo campaign is fire

[@Rob165x]

I had a PS5 and I bought an XBSX just for halo (gamepass helped tho lol), but halo pushed me to do it.

[@bobbythomas6520]

@@Rob165x I mean besides god of war and Spider-Man xbox> and I don’t play either I’m on PC

[@austinbauman3818]

I work as a contractor for Microsoft and have been effected by their hiring freeze ( I don't work with the gaming side of things) and yeah their relationship with contractors leads to some crappy decisions. I have been in company wide meetings where the Microsoft managers tell us things are going great and we are hitting all of our targets, only for a week later those same managers come back and tell us we are all losing our jobs and a different company was taking our contract and we were to teach the new company how to replace us. Guess how good their training was...

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

Find yourself a new job for a different company. Anyone who treats you that poorly doesn't deserve you.

[@strikeforce1500]

Ngl, that is what most companies tell managers to do. Is to avoid people jumping ship early, so the business can complete as many pending deals as possible, then ditch everyone. That is why I don't trust business' administration, they can, straightforward lie to you, consequence free.

[@boribori609]

Suuuuuure you do, just by looking at your channel and seeing who you are subscribed to anyone can tell you're not even an adult yet🤣🤣🤦‍♂️

[@CloudyNebula]

Once again, the Act Man being the most honest and upfront Halo youtuber regarding 343 and its state. Thanks for these videos, as painful as they are.

[@cosmictreason2242]

Aozolai bruh

[@TheHammerofDissidence]

No, that would be Andy - Insp. Magnum. He is the only person I've come across who actually gets it.

[@knightmare5097]

@@TheHammerofDissidence What does Act Man not get? Everything he talks about comes from verified sources

[@knightmare5097]

@illeyezcobra Because then more players get to play together? And that was just two reasons Infinite failed, which AM mentioned in previous vids

[@knightmare5097]

@illeyezcobra I’m sorry, what makes crossplay so terrible? It means more filled servers, more players, etc

[@lemmy154]

Halo 4: Is there any hope for halo? Halo5: Is there any hope for halo? Halo infinite: Is there any hope for halo?

[@gregorymirabella1423]

Don't forget MCC.

[@brosettastone7520]

@@gregorymirabella1423& anniversary

[@thegrayinthefield8764]

Halo died after ODST.

[@brosettastone7520]

@@thegrayinthefield8764 you’re trippin. Reach was lit

[@VerquiaZ]

When you said that Halo 5 came out 7 years ago, you hit me with a big old nostalgia slap

[@LordVoid576]

Man it’s been to long for such a slow effete game

[@coryjohnson2486]

That’s insane. I haven’t been a gamer for a few years now, but it feels like Halo 5 is still the latest Halo game and it came out just a couple years ago 😂. Time is flying!!!

[@inventionscreator8875]

Bruh

[@I_SuperHiro_I]

Halo 5 makes me many things. Nostalgic isn’t one of them.

[@xonerex7501]

Halo 4 was the last Halo game I played, and even then I didn't even finish the campaign. 343 has done a HORRIBLE job

[@MistahFox]

Before Halo Infinite came out, me and my friend realized how closely Halo games resembled the Star Wars movies in their quality and reception, and my friend asked if that meant Halo Infinite was going to be The Rise of Skywalker of Halo. I hoped not, but....

[@stevenborg102]

Well Infinite and RoS were slightly better than H5/TLJ but that aint saying much so i guess so.

[@ALG2691]

*Rise of Palpatine.

[@phanto6599]

Its not even close to as bad as TROS. It's not amazing but TROS is atrocious on every level. At least Halo Infinite has some good things about it

[@MistahFox]

@@phanto6599 I certainly agree, Reach is better than the prequels, but it had a similar perception to them. Infinite tried to backpedal all of 5's decisions like TROS does with TLJ.

[@Perroden]

@@stevenborg102 naw 5s story made more sense than infinites. Nothing in infinite makes since and it lacks content.

[@LukePuzzar234]

I still can't believe that after all their failures, 343 had the arrogance to think they could pull off a live service game.

[@megaman37456]

They did though, Halo 5 WAS a live service game and people loved the multiplayer.

[@ThePilleroflightning]

@@megaman37456 Halo 4 and 5 literally only got the numbers they did at first simply because “Halo” was tagged onto it. No shit it’s going to sell somewhat well, but the reception was HORRIBLE. Numbers declined fast as fuck and nobody hardly talked about them aside from maybe a forge update.

[@megaman37456]

@@ThePilleroflightning And what does that say about Infinite? Halo 4 was a fully functional, finished game upon release, the only reason it didn't quote "do well" unquote is because this community is one of the ones full of the biggest hypocritical crybabies on the internet. Halo 5's multiplayer WAS actually popular and still is the campaign is what went wrong there. Infinite pulled a reported 20 mil at launch bigger than ANY Halo game and lost it's playerbase FASTER than any other Halo game. Halo 4 may have been controversial but at the end of the day it's still a good Halo game, same with 5. Infinite is not because it's not even a game, it's a storefront with mini-games attached.

[@LukePuzzar234]

@@megaman37456 I think what I'm getting at is that since 5 and mcc, every game has not been content complete at launch. MCC took years to fix loads of its bugs. I understand that 5 has it's fans and that's fine but you can't deny that it wasn't content complete for a halo game on launch. The free to play live service that infinite tries is waaaaay more content intense than anything that 343 has done before. So with their record or struggling to just get a halo launch to have content that we've cone to expect alongside constant content updates was a massive idiotic push that the management went for. If the company hasn't been able to launch a game that fans consider content complete or not buggy as hell for almost a decade, it's a joke to try free to play. Halo isn't on top now because of 343 and no trend chasing is gonna change that. I'd suggest to put all effort into the next game being content complete and ensuring that 343 hits that target. Then and only then should 343 attempt what infinite went for. If they could actually create the content quick enough infinite would of been a sensation. But you can't just gaslight yourself as a company and aim for that when you can't even get basics right in terms of launching a finished game.

[@dTheHammerb]

Delusional Leadership* thought they could pull off a live service game.

[@malachia2888]

I grew up with Halo. When I was young, my dad used what little money we had as a family at the time to get me and my siblings an Xbox. With that Xbox, he got us a couple of games, one of them being Halo: Combat Evolved. Every day when I got back from school, I would hop on to play Halo with my brother, and we would have so much dumb fun. Halo 2 came out eventually and that was all we could think of for a long time. Late nights playing Halo 2 on Xbox Live, trashing others online and then proceeding to get no kills for the entire game... This is what dominated my life, along with my brother and many others. When the "Believe" ad campaign had rolled out for Halo 3, the excitement was at an all-time high. My brother and I would spend hours every day talking about how excited we were for Halo 3, while playing Halo 2 to prepare ourselves. Despite our attempts, nothing could've prepared us for what Halo 3 would mean for us both. We got our copy of Halo 3 and spent an entire day going through that campaign split-screen. When we got to the end of the warthog run, we both couldn't stop from sobbing. We moved a ton throughout our childhood, and could never carry many true friendships because of that. When everything would change around us, the Master Chief and Cortana were there for us. The Arbiter was there for us. Sgt Johnson was there for us. The countless nameless marines and ODSTs were there for us. Halo and its community was always still there for us. My brother and I spent so many hours online playing Halo 3, goofing off, having fun, and waiting for the news on where Halo was going to go. Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach were just as incredible to us when they came out. They only served to deepen our love for the franchise. These memories that my brother and I have made with this series will never disappear. They are part of our identities now. That being said, it does sadden me to see the state in which Halo has found itself in, these days. I truly do hope that things can get better and more people can experience Halo like my brother and I did. I think I'm done with the series. I will cherish every moment I spent with Halo and I will remember it all, but I think that's what it needs to stay as for me; a distant and bittersweet, yet core memory. P.S. Sorry for the wall of text.

[@warmfridge3320]

That’s fucking awesome man!! tho I wasn’t playing ce and 2 as early as you, the series means as much to me as it does to you :)

[@elianimationgames1327]

Only halo games I got on disc is 3 and infinite but I gotta say the memory’s were amazing!

[@stevenbaker153]

This is what happens when you have accountants running creative. They try to fit everything in a box but this isn't possible when it comes to creative endeavours

[@aldagosto1413]

343 had like 6 years to make infinite, that's a lot of creative time for your game

[@Taco486]

Do you know what an accountant is?

[@charlesmartiniii1405]

it would be financial advisors and shareholders, but I agree with you besides that.

[@aldagosto1413]

@@Taco486 more then you do

[@JMasterXP]

@@aldagosto1413 probably spent 5 years trying to fix halo 5’s mistakes in pre production and building there broken ass engine

[@cameronward9443]

The fact that Halo infinite was an open world game that could EASILY have incorporated coop and an almost free canvas to pump out content on top of and they didn't take advantage of that is astounding. I would love to be a fly in the wall on those board room meetings where those idiots through out those ideas....

[@SpinningSideKick9000]

"Sometimes, dead is better" summarized it pretty well. I'll always have the memories of the Bungie days

[@jethrodark2372]

Halo is never dead just play Halo 1-3, i only consider them canon.

[@50cal80]

@@jethrodark2372 I feel like reach deserves it’s spot in there

[@mrcaboosevg6089]

@@jethrodark2372 There's plenty of good times to be had playing other Halo games that aren't just the original trilogy

[@jethrodark2372]

Srry guys...when i said i only consider Halo 1-3 story canon i meant its lore, which only changed when 343 took over with Halo 4 ect. Halo ODST and Reach are not included in that and are good games, but Reach's prequel stort was friged up intentionally by Bungie as a big middle finger to Microsoft because they didnt want to make it in the first place but Microsoft forced them so they fuked its story lol(still goods games tho and i also replay ODST and Reach). Again srry i forgot to include them. Now Halo Wars i dont consider canon either tho they have better stories than what 343 did(and for those don't know 343 didn't make Halo Wars neither did Bungie).

[@hachelyd_i3232]

@@jethrodark2372 Yeah Halo Reach’s story conflicted with Fall of Reach, unfortunately.

[@diosama6659]

You know, when I first heard of the 10 year service that Infinite promised I thought that perhaps they will expand the campaign in chapters. Tbh I wish they did that even if it was dlc because one of the main things about Halo is the story itself. Shame that it's probably never going to happen 😞.

[@alexanderstordeur9434]

I think that line from pet seminary. "Some times, dead is better." best sumed up why some good franchises should not be over milked for profit.

[@JamieC_94]

Agree. Halo had a very clear story that basically ended with Halo 3. It wasn't a narrative that can be constantly reinvented like Zelda, or a series with barely any narrative at all like Mario. It didn't really need anything more added to it. Refusing to let popular media tell their story and then conclude is the bane of so many franchises, and in the end stifles innovation because studios and producers would rather play it say and keep making content for a popular series than take a risk and commission something new. But I do kind of get that, from Xbox's perspective, they couldn't just let Halo die. It was one of their only flagship titles and their USP in the early years of Xbox. Maybe they felt that if there was no commitment to continuing the Halo series, the Xbox One wouldn't have anything to make it stand out against the PS4. But, if that was going to be the case, I don't get why they didn't go in the direction of prequels rather than sequels. Prequels offer essentially boundless possibilities to explore the Human-Covenant War in basically any direction. The sequels seemed doomed to never tell a story as interesting as the Human-Covenant War, and to eventually be forced to jump the shark to mix things up.

[@aidanlorenz9697]

Also who wouldn’t want more Halo multiplayer…. If it’s done right

[@SoloDoloToker]

Like the matrix... with that horrible cash grab resurrections

[@TheActMan]

Hopefully I get more chances to use it 😂

[@Muraqqi]

Not just Halo, i think Gears also have the same problem. I think they like use the same pattern, character and enemy. Not respecting the legacy of the classic one. Halo and gears main title is telling a story from one of war perspective, from one of soldiers. I always wondering how about another soldier in different battlefield. Thats what Bungie try with Reach and ODST and it succed.

[@SmolJordan]

Hey just wanna throw this out there, I worked at Experis and was on Infinite for a few years up until just after it released. Microsoft outsources a lot of testing from Experis for a whole bunch of titles, not just Halo, so seeing that in the credits of MS games is very typical. QA is always doing the best we can, but at a certain point there isn't much we can do and it comes down to developers not having the bandwidth to actually take care of every problem QA is aware of and reporting.

[@anthonypittman6443]

What makes this downfall the even more heartbreaking is the fact of how close they were to making a great game, the gameplay felt great, and pvp was fun the hard part was finished, and at the FUCKING finish line they fumbled it, it was THIS close man.

[@AntiJewluminatiDwarf]

Stop perpetuating this along with the "solid CORE game/play"..... it amounts to nothing the game managed to....get the controls right.....and nothing else....it wasn't almost good and it didn't have potential it was and always will be a PoS. All I see done with forge is people playing anything BUT HALO and the irony is lost on everyone.....rofl

[@thel8815]

It was never close. No forge, no splitscreen, broken custom games, broken theatre, desync, btb that wasn't working for months, a mediocre campaign with yet another new storyline. After 6 years they made a couple maps and a mediocre campaign, wow dude it was so close...

[@anthonypittman6443]

@@thel8815 well with games coming out barely playable nowadays it at least functioned, I never said it wasn’t still shit ESPECIALLY compared to reach which infinite can’t even get close toZ.

[@thel8815]

@@anthonypittman6443 It didn't tho. Btb was unplayable, customs too, theatre was broken. And even if it was, if you only have 5 playlists or so it doesn't matter much when it's playable imo.

[@anthonypittman6443]

@@thel8815 no no you got a good point, I nearly forgot the infinite loading screens for BTB, it’s sad that we are in this state of gaming, at least we still got indie devs and armored core down the line to breathe some well deserved quality back.

[@5stargrim]

Watching this happen to halo over the last decade has been like watching a part of my childhood die

[@Just_a_commenter]

I want to believe the franchise can recover... I want halo fans to have a good time :c

[@phurion.]

that's called cope

[@thatguysixx]

The Franchise is dead, and Microsoft and 343 are to blame. It’s been a fun run

[@Dan_Kanerva]

this is what you all get for choosing FPS games on a damn console... At least we the Half Life bros will forever have games that weren't tainted by mor0n writters. Even if it means be left on the biggest cliffhanger of all time

[@ia19753]

That's called a cope, enough with that false hope mentality. You're the problem if you keep believing that the franchise could recover and get better. News flash, it won't as long as 343 is in charge. Halo is dead. Let it rest.

[@benjitheman]

I played the multiplayer just the other day and it wasn't letting me invite ANY of my friends, even though 4 of them were online. Come on 343...

[@-Chunky-]

They could do so much stuff with this franchise. Movies about the big wars (Human/Forerunner, Forerunner/Flood), side games about Banished characters or maybe the Swords of Sangheilios, a TV series that isn’t a weird fanfic, but nah

[@andrewmeyer3599]

Please no more television shows or movies. They already proved they can't get anything fucking right with Halo

[@Wywern291]

And just like Warhammer 40k like a decade ago, they release a completely putrid movie or game, think that games and action movies normally sell, so therefore the problem is the IP, and they axe the whole thing. We will not get a better halo show or movie in a long time, if ever.

[@Monolithinteal]

Halo 1-3 were simple and what made it even better back then which I have never ever seen since was how Bungie engaged with the community, weekly updates, playlist updates, holiday events. All of that was key

[@c4sualcycl0ps48]

Bungie still engages with its community on a semi-regular basis.

[@Funewter]

Destiny 2's community outreach from them is possibly the CLOSEST we could get to the old days

[@RiverrMD]

Yeah I don’t think halo was ever this extraordinary ground breaking game lol, it was just a good game during the glory days of gaming. back in early Xbox live there really wasn’t that much, you were either playing cod 4, halo 3 or gears of war. The series has run its course imo. Hearing the name master chief doesn’t hold the same weight to the kids today as it did back in 2007 when I was a kid. The biggest audience of gaming doesn’t care about halo

[@juanjox2006]

@@Funewter i mean ... a TWAB every week its better than silence for almost 5 years

[@lukepoe1140]

All 343i had to do was let Bungie's Halo hold its own against their content. Instead of rehashing Covenant vs. UNSC, the Master Chief could have fought against the Prometheans, San'Shyuum, and new parasite species. Halo without a flood-like enemy isn't Halo. It's just not. Although the Prometheans were new and interesting, 343i made them so boring and irritable to fight against.

[@jfitz6517]

It feels like what’s carrying Halo right now is the community with 343 supporting as much as they can & as much as Microsoft is willing, not the other way around.

[@hiro_cuhh5672]

It hurts so much to be a halo fan rn. Halo is the reason why I got into gaming in the first place and the fact that it’s sunk this low is just painful. I always had hope that halo would return in some way with a big comeback and give players a game that we would enjoy but were it so easy.😔

[@Helperbot-2000]

Think positively! You COULD have been a fallout fan, watching bethesda out bid troika for the ip and proceed to kill and then kick the corpse of fallout, letting obsidian revive the series before killing it a second time and then burning it

[@Azure9577]

@@Helperbot-2000 the difference between the two fanbases is that Bethesda doesn't have a unique game If you are a fallout/Skyrim fan then other companies RPGs, Crpgs are far better then Bethesda RPGs Halo is unique, there's nothing else like it

[@jakewheeler6014]

@@Helperbot-2000 Nah fallout 3 is great.

[@Helperbot-2000]

@@Azure9577 oh im not talking about the bethesda community, im talking about the fallout community, the ones of us who like the 3 actually good games in the series; fallout 1, fallout 2, fallout new vegas, the true third game.

[@Helperbot-2000]

@@jakewheeler6014 if by great you mean completely and utterly garbage, then indeed. it is great

[@nescaudrummer]

Well boys, even though things look dire, I still feel gratitude for Halo MCC. No matter what happens with Halo in the future, I will be playing H3 customs or social every week. Never stopped playing Halo since 2007.

[@Peron1-MC]

yeah they shot themselves in the foot by making MCC. its easily the best way to play halo games. HALO CE with a bunch of skulls like sputnik and catch and grunt funeral is so much fun. skulls never existed on CE but they added them and its fantastic :)

[@-Monad-]

H3 customs is the bomb! Fat Kid all day

[@megaman37456]

@@Peron1-MC To be fair MCC customs and MM can only last for so long before the playerbase craves something new. It's a great way to get the community to be patient for sure but it's not an indefinite solution long term.

[@ThatDooDGino]

@@megaman37456 True but if ppl can still play a game from 2001 I'm sure they'll have no problem sticking with it if there's no hope for infinite.

[@michealmurphy8985]

They runied that aswell sure 343 were just trash

[@thatoneinasuit6404]

I think the damage has been done and it's now a franchise running on dwindling nostalgia factor, it's a shame to see it happen but if it somehow gets flipped around I would be seriously shocked

[@lilyluhtwizzy]

Me too bro.. I'd be utterly surprised. But we know that won't happen. I'm actually kind of happy that won't happen though, 'cause I just want Halo to be over. Let it rest in peace ffs

[@themadsuika3909]

"The problem was you have 3 AI companions from start to finish" Halo 5 gave me Gears of War PTSD of AI teammates going from Brick intelligence to Sub-Brick when you go down and they try to reanimate you. Just to get executed or die of sadness and cringe

[@mimik6775]

These are truly the dark times. I don't think the franchise has ever been in worse than it is right now.

[@DarthVaderTheSithLord]

And I used to think the Halo drought post-Halo 5 was as bad as it could get.

[@CRIMSON-FLAME1]

@Darth Vader so did I but at this current moment it looks like it might be worse this time around. I will never lose hope for halo but I won't stay so naive that I think that it will get better from here. I'm already at the point where I don't think halo will ever return to how good it used to be. I grew up with halo so in a way it's like watching one of your heroes just slowly die.

[@thetode]

Crazy how Bonnie Ross was allowed to retire just as all of this shit goes down.

[@Ghost_Command04]

And it's unfortunate to say that about any franchise, but it just feels like that's all franchises at this point for at least the past 3 years, and it's not getting any better yet. You'd think when the pilot realizes the plane is nosediving they would at least try to pull up out of survival instinct

[@JAIMEGARCIA-gw9re]

Yes. The problem that I see is that Microsoft handed over the reins to a development company who disliked the original Halo games. Therefore, they couldn't give a shit about keeping true to the vision of Halo. It's apparent with Halo 4 and 5. Even Halo Infinite.

[@CargoShorts7]

I think another core issue with 343 is that they’ve literally never accurately identified their audience. Time and time again they targeted and pursued the wrong audience when really they just needed to tend to the longtime, dedicated Halo fans who love the franchise for community and casual fun. 343 has never realized this key aspect imo

[@Kikker861]

They always turn to the fans last, because they know the fans will eat anything. If 343 made a big oopsie on timing the deadline, you best believe this release "is for the fans." Fuck 343 and all that it stands for.

[@deriznohappehquite]

Halo 4: “let’s go after CoD fans.” Halo 5: “Titanfall will be the future of Gaming!” Halo Infinite: “Maybe we could try to go after Halo fans?”

[@JacobTyler1776]

The concept of accurately identifying and catering to the actual fanbase of an IP seems to be all but lost to most modern executives. It's mind-boggling.

[@DeltaDanner]

@@JacobTyler1776entertainment giants want to broaden the audience because obviously more fans means more money. What they end up doing is alienating their loyal fans and selling a product that no audience is going to get hooked on. Instead of pulling in both Halo fans and COD fans they just lost most of the Halo fans.

[@deriznohappehquite]

@@DeltaDanner I think the main thing they fail to account for is the idea that one consumer can actually desire two different products. I used to play both Halo and CoD for different reasons. Halo was popular because it was not like other shooters. In trying to make Halo play more like CoD, they don’t pull people from CoD to Halo, they just make Halo redundant.

[@mikemacmillan5437]

Remember when they listened to criticism about how the needler sounded and fixed it? Gave me so much hope for the game man.

[@rayquaza1245]

Looking back it makes no sense why they listened to that in particular, considering they disregarded everything else.

[@ConfusedGeriatric]

@@rayquaza1245 easy and cheap way to win some PR while doing nothing that requires creativity or hard work

[@yureiunbound8441]

Them fixing a gun audio gave you hope? Jeez you must have been injecting that copium straight to your veins

[@mikemacmillan5437]

@@yureiunbound8441 fair enough lol, hindsight is 20/20. After the brute meme came out and they decided to pushback the release my initial impressions were hopeful. The needler was obviously a minor change but responding to fan feedback persuaded me to “believe” like that halo 3 ad back in the day lmfao

[@NobleRooster]

When you started listing all the contracted work that was done on Infinite, something interesting clicked to me. The utility industry has a very similar trend, most of them do not have engineering departments anymore. Why? Because it's cheaper to hire out contracted work from a consultant than employee a full team of engineers. Maybe not front, but if you look at the long term (paying for benefits, pensions, etc.) it comes down to a numbers game.

[@NobleRooster]

Furthermore, one of your final statements, about how the breakdown happens at the top and trickles down, 100% agree. And I think my above statement stands true on the front. Microsoft is trying to make money off an established name, without doing justice to what built that establishment. I don't think that's necessarily a fault of 343i, but maybe those that are pushing the higher level in senior people there. This could also explain why so many left - their creative vision was stifled by the chase of a dollar sign.

[@dawesome_sauce]

As sad a state as the Halo franchise is in, it's still refreshing to have your videos so thoroughly breaking things down, Act Man. Don't ever stop doing what you're doing.

[@revolverswitch]

Meanwhile mcc is having a modding Renaissance no one in the community couldn't even dreamed of having.

[@gregorymirabella1423]

@@revolverswitch what kind of mods?

[@revolverswitch]

@@gregorymirabella1423 there all kinds of campaign mods for each mcc game that re-imagines the sandbox and offers new features like weapons and even AI behavior. Another incredible mod project is someone recreating the entirety of CE with Halo 3's engine.

[@jetsetatrophy67]

"Let's cut our losses and start over" and "we need a new batch of contractors" are basically the same mentality deployed at the end of each game

[@ValentinoMarino11]

They don’t bother learning from their past games, they literally just wipe the slate clean and build from the ground up.

[@Forkinthemud]

I was a kid in highschool when Liquid Development was working on halo 4's Armor, I got a sneak peak into the design change and was appalled. Not their fault of course but seeing you mention them brought back that memory.

[@Wofulrumble4893]

Some of the designs were really neat, but too much changed at once

[@fivestarman5130]

I've been following the state of the franchise fairly closely and good lord the section of the video with the list of all of the Senior Developers and Executives at 343 Industries who have left in the last 4 years was incredibly depressing to watch

[@jgamez106]

Honestly wish Bungie and Microsoft could’ve worked things out (mainly Microsoft since they were the issue) so that Bungie could stay on and given us a halo equivalent to destiny

[@AtomicDre]

Its crazy to hear the amount of people that left and how long they were with the company. Sounds like the foundation gave way and this skyscraper doesn't have the support to stand straight for much longer without it.

[@dinkleberg7731]

Even though it’s usually because of something bad, I love it when the actman talks about Halo

[@elderweeb1834]

same!

[@MrDiddlesGaming]

"Where is Infection?" I couldn't help but laugh when that question was brought up. The undeniable truth is making a flagship title successful can be very challenging, and it seemed like there were too many uncooked eggs in the basket. Microsoft's incompetent leadership has led 343 and the community to struggle

[@Windjammer19]

"Uncooked eggs"? lol 343 doesn't even have the basket. they're just chasing the hen around the field.

[@sosososniperss4486]

@@Windjammer19 Microsoft watches the barn collapse🗿

[@jimbothegymbro7086]

I feel bad for 343 because Microsofts management is giving them a bad wrap

[@JacobTyler1776]

That apparently Undead Labs was involved in the project on some level and yet still no infection mode is kind of comical.

[@H4ymaker]

Infection and grifball will make me happy for 12 months at least. I'd stfu

[@Glep440]

12:35 my man was struggling to maintain eye contact

[@abbiedoobie]

I worked QA through Experis and knew a whole bunch of Insight Globalites personally too. Some work in studio, others work at external sites. Depended on what kind of QA was needed, and the experience level of the tester. Contract culture is incredibly frustrating, and it's been the standard for over a decade. I would love to see this change, but I am not very hopeful.

[@fellowkrieger457]

I have worked as a contractor for 3 different companies. I just came to the conclusion, contractors is mostly a transition phase. The only evolutions are, be picked directly by the firm, and stop being a contractor, to do basically the same job but paid better with better advantages from the company (trips, better participation, etc etc). Or the only other option is to actually like the contactor business, and become a salesman in the contractor company. Even if I kind I think you need to be a bit of dick to be in these shoes. And then your schedule is completely full and you sale human ressources like pieces of meat to look appealing to the big companies, and be as compliant as possible. So, a dick to your own subalterns. There are exceptions...but I really think the contractor market is most of time like this. They mostly sell people as adjustable variables.

[@Moose_97]

Dual wielding weapons should have made a comeback, its one of the things that made the older games fun

[@alexanderrobins7497]

Dual wielding was generally inefficient given the garbage weapons, but I still loved doing it anyway because I can.

[@Casey5291]

@@alexanderrobins7497 spoken like someone who has never used the Spiker/SMG combo.

[@kestaskuliukas5296]

Thank god infinite did a reset and didnt listen to you plebs..

[@moosemusicofficial]

@@kestaskuliukas5296 Yeah, thank God the franchise died.

[@manz7860]

​@@Casey5291 i remember absolutely wrecking kids with the dual magnums. Even magnum plasma pistol was nice.

[@lastremain7867]

It's just crazy that the people who grow up with Halo might have to be in their forties if Halo actually becomes good again.

[@bobbyhillthuglife]

I'm 36, and at this rate I will be in my 40s by the time infinite hits season 3

[@riptmangleshank4286]

too late

[@yyyhhh8481]

all the halo dads are playing dadstiny 2

[@bunjier4041]

The glory days are long over, it's just that it's become increasingly clear to everyone that they won't be returning. At least MCC is really good now, that's all I would play in terms of Halo anymore.

[@globalpotaoto6681]

I like to point out that 343 genuinely did have a lot of talent at the studio it sucks to see such talent so poorly mishandled Microsoft after the activision acquisition ( if it even goes through) they need to stop and focus on games it’s getting ridiculous how many good series they have and all of them never get to see the light of day until 10 years later

[@Themalusdarkblade]

It’s a sad day for the halo franchise indeed, Halo in its current state is like modern art always tries to be different but forgets where it came from, forgets what the basics are, the basics are what made it good! You improve from there

[@DrachonaTheWolf]

What they need, which seems less and less common in all forms of media, is planning. Think beyond just the next game. Know where you plan to land, and have a parachute, before you actually do anything. Don't just jump out of the plane and hope.

[@brodiemorris2081]

Just like fortnite

[@brodiemorris2081]

Do you like fortnite

[@brodiemorris2081]

I like fortnite

[@brodiemorris2081]

Add me on fortnite AmongUsFan2016

[@gunterthekaiser6190]

Halo should have a parachute plus 3 more in backup. They have the resources, talent, and passion.

[@theia1653]

I think there's a lot of untapped potential in the unused Halo 2 storyboard where the Arbiter finds the Forerunner tomb with a human skeleton, that an ODST 2 could've been built around, the direction that Halo should've went and staying true to original lore that Forerunners are humans. Set during the height of the Covenant war, they discover a Forerunner tomb and knowing the human remains found held such significance that it threatens the Covenant faith, the Prophet(s) order it be destroyed along with all forces in the area to contain and silence the discovery, while betraying and blaming a disillusioned Sangheili commander who tried to raise the alarm of heresy and blasphemy. In the end, their ship makes a blind slipspace jump to avoid capture, their fate unknown, with databases erased per Cole Protocol. Aboard it is the artifact they secured, a Forerunner data vault.

[@blaniac6591]

There was more than enough potential for a hundreds things all great, and they completely squandered it. As a child, these people seemed like some of the smartest to exist. Now they hardly seem intelligent.

[@mario-k.]

I thought bungie themselves made forerunners alien in Halo 3 Terminals? 🤔

[@theia1653]

@ Mario K That was the fault of Frank O'Connor and the terminals contradicted the fact every antagonist in Halo 3 recognizes that humanity are descendants of the Forerunner. Should have never made it in, in the way they were written. 343GS got in Chief's face and yelled "you are Forerunner!" and his last words were screaming at him to accept their inheritance and not destroy their legacy.

[@Mohroka]

@@theia1653 The Halo Bible would like a word with you.

[@rufousthefox9766]

I don't know how much more of this my heart can handle.

[@rangledangle3371]

A lot of times Contractors are working in the same building, eating the same food, working on the same work. Contractors are not inherently worse, but this dynamic creates workers who are doing the same amount of work at the same degree of difficulty for a quarter of the pay (and they know it) it creates a disgruntled, jaded workforce.

[@HirineN]

It's about the lack of a vision for the franchise that's why they are "worse" not that they are inherently worse coders/devs. There's also what you said about the payment...

[@AmericanZergling]

Individual contractors, yes, but a lot of the 'team' seemed to be outsourced studios, which does create a communication problem. WC3 Reforged is an example of this, where so many assets of that game were not made by Blizzard themselves, which makes a lot of the inconsistent art direction make sense.

[@deriznohappehquite]

The problem comes when you’re working with a proprietary toolkit on a 6 year project and get fired automatically after 18 months.

[@QueekHeadtaker]

They also have no control over the creative direction of the product because they aren't really part of the team, just a compilation of under-paid mercenaries creating a nonsensical hodge-podge game before they move on to the next gig.

[@rangledangle3371]

@@QueekHeadtaker I think there’s a misunderstanding of what contractors are. There are two types. Vendors and Contingents. A lot of times, Vendors can work at a company for years alongside normal Employees. They’re just underpaid and easy to fire. The other kind are short term and on time limits. Whether or not they’re local is another story, but those details usually don’t surface to the media. The reality is it’s like 60/40 split, with vendors at 60. When media talks about them they’re just “contractors” though. All the same, it’s a bad dynamic for success either way.

[@willthelemon5681]

As someone who works in big tech I wanna touch on the knowledge gap when senior folks leave. As far as knowledge goes you would be shocked how little is documented. The work I do requires me to document if I find a fix especially if it's a new fix. It's tedious but if it's not done then you run into the same issue forgetting how you did it so now you spend time correcting that while also fixing the issue. That's a simplification but I'd bet my next paycheck that the newer folks that got hired on are not only having to learn but also need to document problems that could have already been solved but it hasn't been documented so your up the creek without a paddle. To me this struggle to get stuff out the door seems like a classic example of that issue. I don't work at 343i so I can't pretend I get it but hey according to my first hand experience it sounds like that's the case. No the devs aren't lazy they are just holding on for dear life. Also HOLY SHIT Expiris is our contractor 💀

[@TheActMan]

LOL Expiris is your contractor too? Funny world we live in

[@willthelemon5681]

@@TheActMan whew luckily I am in a full time Engineer position so I dodged the contracting bullet. I did work as a contractor at a different company and yeah you are basically a second class employee. I have had people literally look at my badge to see if I'm a contractor or not it's wild! I mean jobs a job but damn.

[@joeykeilholz925]

And M$ doesn't think halo is worth the investment to avoid these problems? Insanity, truly worthless scum running the business. If there were any accountability it wouldn't be mishandled for a full decade, but clearly the people on top never get thrown out for their horrible decisions, and when they do, it's a golden parachute

[@bobbyhillthuglife]

Not just big tech, anything tech or mechanical related. I've known guys who were experts on, like, steam heating systems in historic protected properties, where literally only they knew how they had jury-rigged things for like the last 30 years. Then they retire and the new guy has ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how anything works. It's commonplace.

[@jordangreen9527]

I really just miss feeling like your apart of a war that's going on with or without you, I just don't like feeling like I'm the only person fighting a war, ik it may sound confusing but I hope you guys understand it

[@vissermatt1058]

100% agree. it was a SPECIES wide fight for existance massive battles with millions dead on both sides, Master Chief was just surviving and making a differene where and when he was involved. too many lore/cannon mistakes over the years to fix it at this point. moronic writing teams cant seem to write a war to save their lives, but they can make an overpowered over important super powered savior that no one gives a fuck about ( Master Chief before and after 4. if the games 4+ were 1, no one would give a frick about master chief, the ip wouldnt exist)

[@nickthepick8043]

Nah, I get you man. An odd comparison is Sarge from the Army Men games. The Plastic Green Army can't just rely on you to stop the Tan Army. I have a hard time thinking that Humanity will recover after the loss at Zeta Halo.

[@eweeb4937]

That's why OG cod felt so good

[@mistahss9612]

We can always tell the story how one man brought us back from the brink of extinction 🫡

[@masterkenobi7x7]

I worked in one of the three Microsoft Global HR shared service centers. It's not only the sheer number of contracting companies. Microsoft also has a policy for orange badges called "18x6", this consists of a contractor being able to work 18 months straight, and then they have to "rest" for 6 months. This is a global policy and affects all subsidiaries and products, from LinkedIn to office, azure, etc. That perhaps could explain a lot

[@friznutzs]

As someone that works exclusively on corporate technology projects, this is exactly how they go like 90% of the time. Using contractors, cycling through new management every few years, and lack of direction

[@josiahteller7556]

"You're on your own Noble, Staten out."

[@TheActMan]

[@TeamGreenBurrito]

We truly live in a dark age of entertainment, which is a reflection of society as a whole being very sick at the moment. I’ve learned to be grateful for as much as you can in life; so I will say, that I was lucky to grow up during the best time in video game history. The hype around Halo 3 can never be topped, and you simply had to be there to understand why.

[@MatiasFeliciano1]

Beautiful words

[@TheJackmilla]

Id say that's also why survival horror and the horror genre as a whole keeps itself alive and healthy. When times are dark, horror media becomes an art form

[@TheHammerofDissidence]

Unbridled decadence (such as living in the golden age of video games) is more indicative of a sick society than simply the quality of entertainment.

[@riggidynail7228]

Dark age for halo

[@lulhighman3428]

@@TheHammerofDissidence A time where master craftsmen are able to perfect their art is a time that I’m grateful to have lived in, and a sickness I wouldn’t mind society catching again

[@ThatFletcherGuy.]

The thing that hurts the most is all the abandoned story threads they gave up on and then off screen killing off characters. Remember in halo 4 when master chief’s evolution was accelerated by the librarian?? Nothing since 😢

[@Taocnrut]

It’s sad thinking of what Infinite is compared to what 3 and Reach were. The difference in features and modes makes the latter 2 feel like they’re years and years ahead of the former, especially given the state of triple A games.

[@r.d.9399]

In game chat is silent = dead game.

[@NickJR528]

@@r.d.9399 In game chat has been mostly silent since the release of the 8th gen consoles

[@gabrielcoventry4586]

The funny thing about hiring contractors in the tech industry is that it's more expensive than just hiring someone. Microsoft thinks it's being stingy but they're just stupid. They think they're saving money but all they do is consolidate knowledge in temporary employees which have to be kept on for longer than expected which ends up costing them a lot more. - I'm a software dev contracted to a large company, I see a lot of similarities.

[@gelrd2120]

This franchise has so much potential still, its so sad to see this happening when the story felt like it was just getting started again

[@vissermatt1058]

a lot of people think their story/cannon changes since 4 have derailed any give a frick for the lore 343 is pretty much a trainwreck on multiple fronts, not sure what they SHOULD have done... but they didn't do what NEEDED to be done

[@jethrodark2372]

@@vissermatt1058 story was crap, cause in bungie's story humans were forerunner descendants. Halo 4 didact was BS how did he survive the halo rings?( i know how) What i mean is why didnt the other forerunners leave the galaxy out of halo range. Its all wrote like shit, Microsoft did the same thing to Gears of War. Instead of making sequels those 2 games had a shit ton of lore they could of made prequels for the next 40 years after the originals. But no lets fuk the game up because reasons.

[@BubblenutMcMuffin]

When did the story feel like it was getting started again?

[@gelrd2120]

@@BubblenutMcMuffin the ending of infinite literary sets up the endless which is supposed to be a new enemy

[@BubblenutMcMuffin]

@@gelrd2120 I haven't seen anything about the story for Infinite. I honestly think whatever potential it might've had wasn't met at all, it died when 4 released.

[@vishaalmalolan4428]

I don't get why Microsoft wouldn't try a different studio for halo and let 343 work on a smaller project of their own it is clear they can't handle a project of this scale

[@randybutternubs4647]

I keep imagining 343 begging Microsoft to give them one more chance. Then Microsoft saying "Ok, because I like you, I'll give you another chance."

[@thataintfalco7106]

It always felt like they were using Joe as a shield to deliver bad news, kind of glad that everyone is sensible enough to know it’s all 343’s management’s fault

[@gtrblackhawk]

100% they brought him in only to be a pin cushion. If it weren’t just for his face delivering the news the disgust with 343i would be actually where it should be but because he was around he took some of the heat off of them.

[@bobbyhillthuglife]

343 in general is incompetent. They did not grow organically because they were good at their jobs, they were built up by MS and handed the Halo franchise. I don't want to come across as attacking the little guy here, but goddamn it seems like there is a lot of incompetence over there, at all levels. They just don't produce a lot of work. The productivity per person at 343 is absolutely cataclysmic. This is what happens when you try to just spend a bunch of money and create a AAA studio out of whole cloth, rather than working with Devs that have earned their success.

[@bigt4135]

It’s top management at Xbox. They need to go.

[@ValentinoMarino11]

@@bigt4135 I think the whole gaming industry needs some kind of factory reset.

[@SaintsFan09-z3s]

​@Bigt413 nah bro, it was the 343 leaders. Have you not heard some of the shit these guys wanted to do to Halo? Shocker, look how many studio heads have either jumped ship or been fired. Kiki wolfkill the bitch in charge of the halo show got fired today as well.

[@lilshortkid100]

For us, the storm has passed... the game is over. But let us never forget those developers who journeyed into the howling dark and did not remain employed. For their dedication to Halo required courage beyond measure; sacrifice, and unshakable conviction that their game... our game, was worth working on. As we start to move forward, this games future will remain barren, a memorial to heroes fallen. They ennobled all of us, and they shall not be forgotten.

[@IAMNOTRANA]

F

[@Utrechtborn]

F

[@deankruse2891]

how is it over? playin ranked is as fun as ever

[@ch33zyburrito36]

@@deankruse2891 y’all hear some? 🥱

[@rocos6915]

@@deankruse2891 were it so easy….

[@KiafryKyle]

I feel so bad for the Halo community. It was and still is one of the most passionate, creative and hilarious communities full of people who grew up playing games that gave them happy memories and deep inspirations. And it has been let down time and time again for the past decade.

[@rylandw6130]

@Dillon Kirk The problem with Halo 4 and 5 was that they set out trying to pull audiences from other shooters like COD. In doing so 343 failed to grab their "wider audience", and just wound up alienating fans who play Halo for Halo. They weren't awful games but as you said, 343 changed the formula into something Halo wasn't.

[@ANG3LOFDAD3AD]

@@rylandw6130 Exactly.

[@gravemind883]

​@Dillon Kirk No we really aren't lol the fact that after 15 years of failure and now infinites failure you _still_ hold this mindset. This rhetoric of "oh halo fans angy cant please" is fuckin stupid especially cause you literally then proceed to say "343 tried to change the formula too much" Which was what people were complaining about, but I suppose that doesn't matter unless its specifically from the people that liked 343's games, right? Hey can we get a halo that is halo and maybe stop trying to constantly attain a "broader audience?" >Oh your so hard to please. Hey can we have basic game modes and features that have been in all previous titles on release? >Oh your so entitled making games is hard, halo fans are so hard to please Wheres infection?? >WHY CANT YOU JUST BE PATIENT?!?!?!?! HALO FANS ARE SO TOXIC!1!11 We've waited nearly 6 years including a delay and now we still pretty much have little to nothing while constantly being antagonized by the few that do enjoy the game while they then scratch their heads and wonder why the older fanbase is incredibly bitter towards the newer fanbase. Must be all that entitlement.

[@hkn9723]

343i halo games all feel like separate games. The stories aren't directly connected to eachother because of the stuff they built up gets solved in the books and comics. Infinite while being the visually the best halo also had that problem. It's like missing an entire previous game and also kept the story unfinished.

[@ibuildshelves]

This is exactly what happened to DICE. Way too many leads left because they knew where the franchise was going before it was announced to the public, so they all took off and pursued better opportunities. So good on them, but dice may as well not be dice anymore.

[@jacksonmulville2200]

Bingo

[@zeedude8026]

DICE sealed thier fate the moment they dared to tell thier fanbase “DoNt LiKe It DoNt BuY”. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer dev team.

[@okenai2408]

What sucks is that Halo Infinite is a super fun game I started replaying it over the weekend and it just feels so smooth and the pacing is near perfect but I just cant play for longer than an hour because it is essentially the same game it was at launch there is nothing to play for other than challenges which you can complete in a couple hours and the rewards aren't really even worth playing for.

[@legendp2011]

the new forge mode looks incredible though. for me halo was all about playing custom forge maps with friends. I feel like this could still work

[@heretopissyouoff8439]

@Mark not if you spend about 60$+ on the damn thing lol

[@legendp2011]

@@heretopissyouoff8439 the multiplayer is free though

[@sosososniperss4486]

Remember back in the day when people just used to just enjoy the gameplay? Halo CE had no progression system and went strong for years. Halo Reach had a progression/cosmetic system and most people left because of bad gameplay.

[@willywalnuts]

@@sosososniperss4486 People didn't leave Reach lol it had great gameplay

[@kopperhed4472]

That 'Master Chief lost in space' ending looks like it should have been the real end every year.

[@biolinkstudios]

na halo 4 story was on point and was leading to something amazing that got lost in halo 5

[@DeltaDanner]

@@biolinkstudioshumans are forerunners

[@ianhoolihan2396]

Halo 4 5 and infinite is all just master chief's fever dream in cryo sleep

[@biolinkstudios]

@Ian Hoolihan feels like that everything is all over the place but I would say its fever dream after 4, cortana dying probably put him in some mental break down

[@fulcrum6760]

@@ianhoolihan2396 Then Chief must have a really weird imagination and has psychic powers if he knows about The Banished who have existed in the war.

[@allaltitudeproductions454]

i think the whole "advertise and then years of silence" is a business strategy to not stem too much hype, or let hype die down incase the game doesnt perform aswell as the business wanted, or as well as the customer was expecting, i mean we know what happened to no mans sky

[@sikufox]

TBH I started to play halo2 and 3 online again for the first time in what seems like a decade and I absolutely am content with these two masterpieces being my halo fix

[@roddydykes7053]

Yeah there’s still a solid Halo 3 community, no need for a new one

[@yureiunbound8441]

Yup. MCC is way better and more enjoyable than Infinite. I just wish coop campaign wasnt so buggy. I get a lot of frames drop and start lagging. It's playable(ish) but could be better.

[@otto_von]

cringe furry

[@DrewSkiVideos]

Man halo 2,3 campaigns are so good too!

[@eat4food888]

I've tempered my expectations for the series and it's done wonders for me. Not giving up on it, just realizing that my irritation changes nothing about it.

[@jdquairoli]

Amen

[@INeedSleepBad]

Amen

[@Tookieslam]

Amen

[@Perroden]

Iv moved on.

[@djvax]

Very healthy approach

[@samuelsherman5513]

I remember how excited I was as a kid waiting for Halo 3 ODST to come out. I had just gotten my first console shortly before it was announced, and constantly watching trailers and development videos trying to convince my parents to let me get it even though it was rated M… good times. Halo was (and still is) one of my favorite series and pretty much helped get me into gaming in the first place playing the CE campaign on splitscreen with my uncle on the original Xbox when I was like 7, reading the books as a teenager, getting back into the series again before Halo 4 came out. It’s sad to see it fall to this point

[@DavidConant]

Been noticing more brands using the term “bespoke” for marketing when the product is not bespoke. Bespoke means custom made.

[@justanotheryoutuber3532]

All they have to do to fix it is do minor updates to fix little bugs and the UI. Add better playlist, ability to team up and get friends and ranking system and then focus on updating forge UI and content that allows the community to make special armor and then upload it for everyone by making forge more accessible and easy to find and get uploaded content and a forge playlist.

[@mitchellschuett5968]

I think this would be an awesome way to move forward for Halo: Since we didn't really get much of a story in Infinite, and we end off still on Zeta Halo, I think they should pick up where they left off (something 343 doesnt know how to do) and continue with the open world concept that they started and fine tune it to perfection. The main story should still be about Chief and the endless, but they need to add an Arbiter element. They should have side quests (kind of like flashbacks/memory fragments) of you playing a small, special unit of Elites (main player being Arbiter) as they stealthfully uncover the secrets of Zeta Halo during the Infinite campaigns timeline (which will fill in the gaps that were left from Infinite's lack of storytelling). In doing so, they will be tying in where Halo 5 left off with Chief and Arbiters' relationship and adding a sexy new stealth/co-op element to spice things up a bit. So, the main, open world campaign can be with the UNSC and Chief fighting off the endless while having a side campaign basically having a main purpose of filling in the gaps that 343 left behind in their last three entries, through the eyes of the Arbiter and the handful of Spartans that survived from Infinite's crash. So, in essence, they should make the REAL Infinite game next. Thoughts??

[@AssasynCounterExtrem]

You're right. But will they listen?

[@mr.stealyourgrill1190]

343 needs to see this.

[@bane9951]

I had no idea so many people and companies worked on infinite. What did they do? Did each get a turn to write their own line of code?

[@ddsjgvk]

I do agree but I also don't agree with saying for 4 and 5 bad Games the fun in a way. I've leaned Halo reach for the way 4 because unless they went back to the original trilogy way of gameplay what most people didn't like because of Halo reach 343 was kind of backed into a corner as a people who played Halo reach wouldn't like the original trilogy as if you go anywhere everybody says that game is the best game. Also five had some awesome action stack games

[@benstanfill363]

@@ddsjgvk maybe English isn't your first language, which is fine, but that comment is impossible to understand.

[@ConfusedGeriatric]

@@ddsjgvk this sounds like it’s written by a literal alien not in the “moved from another country” sense, but “moved from another galaxy” sense

[@bobbyhillthuglife]

Yeah, given the amount of people involved, they should be steadily churning out live service content. That they're not makes me honestly wonder what people at 343 spend their work days doing. It really seems like thousands of people are employed to produce nothing whatsoever. Honestly... Is the amount of content produced since launch in line with the amount of people working on it? Hell no. These guys are nearly on a Valve level of non-productivity.

[@alaskanyeti907]

Management has been killer across the industry. I feel that management focusing solely in profits is what's hurting them, as chasing the dollar signs is hurting the creative process/making not a fun game/product. Whereas if they focused on making a good, fun, playable product then the profits will follow.

[@AnimeLover-pf8ub]

I can't believe 343 has owned the franchise longer than bungie... crazy to reflect on what happened since then

[@Lucky_9705]

They ruined everything

[@SkylarTrahan]

Thanks Phil spencer

[@chrisa8863]

Their best game(whatever it is) isn't even as good as Bungie's worst

[@agentnukaz1715]

From the Golden age of halo to the dookie age

[@WonderMePartyStrip]

@@SkylarTrahan Specer is a clown thinking 343i is the heart of Halo. The man must have some dementia.

[@CmdrBrannick]

343's biggest problem in my opinion, is they don't want to make a Halo game, or at least a Halo game that the fans want.

[@bastenthemaker2455]

Frank o Connor: ‘We hired developers who hate Halo’

[@gtrblackhawk]

@@bastenthemaker2455 This 100% the fact that the idiots out there just glaze over that quote is just blatant stupidity

[@CmdrBrannick]

@@bastenthemaker2455 It's amazing when you go back and look at past interviews and ViDocs and realise how much they hated Halo and just wanted the IP and fans but nothing of what made Halo, Halo.

[@joeykeilholz925]

They know better. That's why they mismanaged and destroyed one of the best gaming IPs known to man

[@gtrblackhawk]

They did their job, bring in a whole new generation of “fans” that don’t know jack all about the franchise, play the game for two weeks and move on to the next game just like that entire generation does… And then shill for 343i and all their terrible decisions

[@robertquinlan8063]

MCC was made for a reason. Because they knew they’d crash and burn. At least they made MCC good now, and is enough to keep our nostalgia alive. That is truly the “great journey” for us Halo fans.

[@deater_ski]

Assasinations were the most rewarding mechanic in any halo game honestly.. Sucha shame they didnt bring em over.

[@SamSpade903]

A lot of the people who left seemed to have done so towards the end of the dev cycle, which could also mean pushed out. Bonnie Ross, the one there for 15 years, was most certainly responsible for the terrible dev cycle, overall franchise direction, and most missteps 343 took while she was head honcho. I’m pretty sure she was pushed out.

[@Perroden]

Bonnie and kiki were two of the biggest ones pushing wokeness, kiki is a large reason the halo show was so bad.

[@CriticalNobody]

343 had so many chances to get it right and just couldn’t for whatever reason. Unless another studio is given a chance with the series and Microsoft takes a more hands off approach behind the scenes (both of which seem unlikely), Halo will continue to be a shell of what it once was.

[@JamescMichel]

Brain drain is a real big issue in US big businesses. Many companies reward new employees more than long term employees. This always causes companies to limp along until they turn into a purely management studio.

[@tomcoop9750]

Yup. Bloated administration and not enough good employees.