Halo veterans may remember a time when Halo was also a name on the PC side of gaming. The last Halo title to release on PC was Halo 2 Vista, which, while mostly insignificant now still has a tiny player base and offers online play for classic Halo 2, MCC aside. Yesterday, 343 announced Halo Online: a heavily modified version of Halo 3 designed to run on lower-end computers. The game is an effort between 343 Industries, Saber Interactive and Innova Systems that will have a closed beta in Russia this spring through Innova’s 4game platform. There’s no word on whether this will release in other parts of the world after the beta.
Here’s a little Q&A from Waypoint about Halo Online:
Q: What type of game is Halo Online?
A: Halo Online is a free multiplayer-only PC experience that we’re launching as a closed beta test in Russia.
Q: Does Halo Online represent your future plans for the franchise on PC?
A: Halo Online is a learning opportunity for us as we explore ways to welcome new fans to the “Halo” universe. We’re excited to release a “Halo” multiplayer-only PC experience tailored for Russian gamers.
Q: When will Halo Online be available?
A: The closed beta period will begin in Russia later this spring. There is no definitive launch date at this time.
Q: Are you planning on bringing Halo Online to the Xbox One?
A: Halo Online was built from the ground up specifically for the PC. There are no plans to bring Halo Online to the Xbox One.
Q: Will gamers in other regions like North America and Europe be able to play Halo Online?
A: Right now our focus is on learning as much as we can from the closed beta period in Russia. Theoretically, any expansion outside of Russia would have to go through region-specific changes to address player expectations.
Q: Are you planning to officially launch this year?
A: There is no definitive launch date at this time as we proceed in our closed beta period in Russia.
What do you think about Halo Online? Discuss in our forums!
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