Microsoft has canceled Halo Online, a free-to-play FPS that was being tested in Russia. It was planned to be released in other regions, but it appears that the development was cut short.
Saber Interactive, who was responsible for developing Halo Online, announced the unfortunate news this morning. The reasons for the game’s cancellation was unclear, with the developer stating: “This decision was not easy for us, but we understand that there is nothing worse than uncertainty.” They said in a roughly translated blog post. “Work on the on the universe of Halo project was a real challenge that we could not take without you – Spartans from Halo Online. Thank you for your loyalty, honesty and dedication.”
The decision to cancel the game may have been influenced by Halo’s potential push to PC. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced the Play Anywhere program, which allows consumers to play the PC & Xbox One versions of a game, with just one purchase. While Halo 5: Forge will release next month, it is possible that Microsoft could be preparing to bring a full Halo title to the PC market in the coming years.
Fortunately, there may still be a way to enjoy the game, regardless of which region you are in. The game’s community have developed a solution for players to get access to the game, even if they were not part of the beta-testing in Russia. Fans wishing to get their Halo fix on PC, can download a version of the game through a download called ElDewrito. While this method is not endorsed by Microsoft, players are instructed to use this at their own risk.
Halo Online was in development for Windows-based PCs.
