I'm already grieving Halo's announcement on October 24th

There's a good chance we'll see a big announcement at this year's Halo World Championship on October 24th, and I can't say I'm particularly excited about it. The Halo event will cover what Halo Studios, formerly known as 343 Industries, has been “working on” since Halo infinites controversial release, and while there's no point in being pessimistic, this upcoming project could signal the end of an era for the franchise.

Halo is inseparable from the Xbox in many ways. When Microsoft first entered the console space in 2001, it faced an uphill battle: its main competitors, SEGA, Nintendo and Sony, had all entered the home gaming market earlier and had thus established much stronger brand identities. At this point, SEGA already had SonicNintendo had long pumped out Mario games, and Sony went hand in hand Final Fantasy, Metal Gearand Tekkennot to mention bonafide first-party titles like Crash Bandicoot.

In other words, Microsoft had to make a name for itself in this new and strange world of interactive entertainment, and so it took a chance on a little game called Halo: Combat Evolved. As we know today, this game would go on to define first-person shooters and multiplayer gaming for the foreseeable future, slingshotting Microsoft toward the top of the gaming ecosystem and perhaps even saving it from early defeat.

Halo Studios is rumored to reveal a Halo PS5 game on October 24th

halo studios reveals big news coming in October

Halo on PlayStation Rumors, Explained

Anyone who has subscribed to Microsoft news over the past few years is likely more than familiar with its controversial decision to effectively bow out of the exclusive business. First, the company had graced the PlayStation with the likes of Sea of Thieves and Pentium— beloved and well-made games, sure, but not exactly system sellers. Then, long-awaited and platform-defining releases like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Forza Horizon 5 migrated to the PS5, raising more pressing questions about Microsoft's commitment to exclusive products. For many, the port of the first Gears of War to PlayStation earlier this year was the final nail in the coffin for Xbox's exclusivity ambitions.

This track record alone is enough to make one Halo PS5 release is likely, but the prospect seems even more credible in the wake of a cryptic tweet from a long time ago Halo dataminer grunt.api, with little more than a PS5 logo and a subsequent post discussing the Halo World Championship this month. Industry insider Rebs Gaming eventually chimed in and clarified that grunt.api implied a new one Halo The game is coming to PS5. This new game could be a remake of Halo: Combat Evolvedwhich has been rumored for quite some time.

Master Chief's design in the first game - Halo Combat Evolved

The alt text for grunt.api's PS5 logo image reads “Switch” with a red X next to it, suggesting that Nintendo's console may not be getting this rumored multi-platform Halo game.

As a PlayStation owner, the possibility of Halo coming to PS5 makes me sad

I switched to the PS3 when I was, if memory serves, about thirteen years old. I had previously had the Xbox 360, but in the wake of the PlayStation exclusive that Uncharted 2, InFamous 2and The last of usI began to feel Sony's pull stronger than ever. Years later, I'm happy with my decision to prioritize my digital footprint on PlayStation, which has proven to be an ecosystem much richer in exclusive games.

But still, I have a fondness for Xbox, and I've never wanted the company to fail. The reality is that I grew up with Halo just like everyone else my age: it wasn't a perfect franchise, but a new one Halo always felt like an event, a big, triumphant swing of the Xbox. At least each modern Halo would make me dust off my Xbox 360 and eventually my Xbox One; I've always had a decent time with the franchise, at least. But if it comes to Sony, it won't be Xbox's crown jewel anymore. Rather, it will just be another platformer that now competes directly with Call of Dutypp. and Fortnites of the world. If this happens, I'm not entirely sure Halo will survive, which would be a great tragedy regardless of your side in the Console Wars.