Over the last month, Halo continues to ring in headlines across the industry with the game truly delivering an experience many had hoped for years ago. And while the original demo of the game from summer 2020 did not appear to be the game everyone wanted, the final version of Halo Infinite we know now is one to properly carry the legacy forward.
However, the games that defined the Halo IP more than a decade ago is now on its deathbed this week. Announced back in December 2020, Microsoft & 343 Industries announced that legacy support for the beloved Halo games of the Xbox 360 will be no more in 2021. Now with 2022 just arriving, the final day for the servers have arrived.
On January 13th, 2021 online play for Halo 3, Halo: Spartan Assault, Halo: Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3: ODST, Halo Wars, and Halo 4 is no more.
“Xbox 360 game servers for Halo games will be turned off (sunsetting the service). This means that while these games can still be played, online services such as challenges and file share will no longer be available,” the team writes. “This only affects Xbox 360 versions of the game. Games in Halo: The Master Chief Collection will not be impacted. The Halo titles available within MCC have been rebuilt and remastered to leverage different, modernized services.”
In the overview for remaining support for the affected titles, 343 Industries explains that remaining elements of the game will not be tampered. That includes campaign, Firefight, Forge Mode, Splitscreen, LAN, and online squads. Noted, certain achievements for the respected title will not be obtainable now that the servers have been relinquished.
The team adds, “if you are using the backwards compatibility features of a newer console to play 360 games you will be affected. The underling software is still the original Xbox 360 content and relies on legacy online services for some functions.” Are you saddened by the closing of Xbox 360 Halo servers?
Source: Halo Support
