So 343 Studios and Microsoft have released an official Halo game on Steam. Go check it out here http://store.steampowered.com/app/277430/


To me this is a very impotent sign. Not because I think this means Halo is now coming to PC (because I don't) but rather because it means that Microsoft is starting to pay a little more attention to the PC market. I posted a thread not too long ago asking people if they think the industry is going to crash. I'm not sure it's going to crash but I think it might shift away from consoles.

There's already been news that Microsoft was looking at selling Xbox to Amazon, so the main question is "what if?" what if Microsoft games back to the PC market. It's just something worth thinking about I'd say. This new Halo game might just be that; A little Halo game for the PC. Or it could be a sign for things to come who knows.

Only cool thing about Halo is the Covenant though and their cutscenes in Halo 2 were spectacular

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIrI4FJZ0A

Wait... so the Spartans aren't assaulting Steam?

Yeah, the PC DID get ports of Halo 1 and 2 IIRC so it would be nice if they turned up on DD platforms too...

I'd like to see Halo 4 come to PC, if only so I can do Spartan Ops without having to pay for a Live Gold subscription. I was under the impression that the charge was for multiplayer, but no- still need it to play SpOps solo.

And Halo 5 PC would be nice because I kinda want to see where the series is going but wouldn't touch XBone with a ten foot barge pole.

You know as much a PC enthusiast as I am I actually don't mind the Halo games. Also GOG some how managed to get all the Halo games I think world would explode.

It's a decent sign, but unfortunately I think Microsoft is only interested in Steam.

Is that a Freudian slip?
I had actually noticed it when it went up, but quickly decided not to care because there is no co-op component.

I don't get it really. I saw quite a few people coming to the assumption MS would show some interest in the PC when they release a Halo title for PC. Fact is though that Halo Spartan Assault is an App for Windows 8 that is available on the Windows Store since about a year or so. They only rereleased it on Steam now, but in my opinion this does not show any higher interest in the PC. Games for Windows will vanish, but I highly doubt it will be replaced by Steam. Windows Store or Xbox Live seem much more likely, at least for PC-exclusive titles published directly by MS (granted though, which there are only very few at the moment).
MS announcing DX12 was a better sign they care for the PC in my opinion.

By the way, the game is still cheaper with 1,69 € on the Windows Store compared to 4,99 € on Steam. There is also a Lite-version available for free in the Windows Store if you want to try it. See here:
http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/de-de/app/2b614993-8e80-4259-ba02-98f8e7fec465


As long as MS is not here on GOG, well it does not really matter what they release and where. I take the free version from the Windows app-store of course, but they will never see money from me if they are insisting on ridiculous DRM like they did and do.

Microsoft started releasing games on Steam quite a while ago. I think Fable 3 was the first one. They have also said in interviews relatively recently that Steam basically is PC gaming, and they know that.

Well the other Halo games have been in the Steam database for at least a year now, including Halo 3. Perhaps if this one sells well enough, MS will realise that they can make a bit more cash releasing the others on Steam too. And despite what the tags might indicate on the Steam store page, Spartan Assault doesn't have micro transactions in the Steam version.

And then they released AOE3, AOE2 HD and now a revamped version of AOM is coming to Steam soon.
Doubt it. I'm pretty sure MS will keep Halo as a Xbox exclusive franchise just like GOW and Forza. Halo Spartan Assault was released originally as a mobile game (for Windows devices), not a Xbox 360/Xbox One title (these versions came later).

The Steam version has a few advantages, e.g. key remapping (and it still has touch support).

That's what people said about Fable when 2 was released. Given that they're not only in the Steam database but were also included in Nvidia drivers I wouldn't say never.