Microsoft Looking to Release Halo Games More Frequently? [Microsoft VP: One Halo Game Every 3 Years Not Frequent Enough, Iconic Franchise to Get Call of Duty Treatment?]

Posted on TFTS by Jeff Baker on Friday, 24. September 2010 under: Computer/Console Gaming

Popular video game titles have been known to put up massive sales numbers. Hard hitting titles that are released years apart such as Grand Theft Auto manage to put up record breaking sales numbers just about every time. However, games with massive followings that have yearly releases like Madden and Call of Duty manage to sell like hot cakes too.

Some have argued that just a year of development isn’t enough to merit another standalone title, but don’t tell that to Activision. If you’ve been paying attention you’ll know that Guitar Hero has seen an immense number of releases spanning pretty much every console on the market. However, seeing how the gameplay doesn’t change much if at all, many have complained that Activision should just be releasing song packs and not another $60 title.

Call of Duty, on the other hand, has seen yearly releases for the past couple of years all with generally positive reception. Modern Warfare 2 put up the highest sales numbers as we told you last year and the forthcoming Black Ops is shaping up to do the same.

So, with titles like Call of Duty coming out every year and still selling mass amounts, why don’t other game developers do the same? Bungie, for example, generally takes about 3 years to develop a new Halo title. While the Xbox 360 exclusive manages to impress time and time again, it doesn’t seem enough for Microsoft VP Phil Spencer.

During a sit down with IGN, Spencer went on record as saying one Halo game every 3 years “is probably not frequent enough” to keep users engaged and wanting more. While he didn’t expand on the company’s future plans for the franchise, one would be led to believe that once another studio is tasked with future Halo titles we will be seeing releases much more frequently.

If this is the case, let’s just hope we don’t see new titles with minuscule improvements over the previous years as such would surely dessimate the game’s loyal fan base.

Then again, is a Halo game without Bungie really a Halo game at all?

Source

UnknownStranger
I think three years are about right, actually I think Reach should be the last one and the new team instead of making a new halo game, they can just add DLC. Halo reach is already popular so why not just add onto it instead of making a new one and hoping it turns out to be as good. half of the work is already done…