Halo 3 Release to Coincide With PS3 Launch
Sequel in the works - cue MS thunder-stealing
The new issue of Time magazine goes on sale next week, and the magazine’s cover will depict Bill Gates proudly holding up an Xbox 360 console. This will be the third time the head of Microsoft has featured on the front of the mag, very possibly a record of some sort.
Of most interest to games fans will be a phrase that has been doing the rounds on the internet this morning. Unsurprisingly, it confirms that there will be a third instalment of killer app Halo, despite rumours circulating around the release of Halo 2 that Bungie had no plans to produce a third game for the series. Given the relatively recent release of Halo 2, it was always unlikely that Halo 3 would be finished in time for the Xbox 360 launch. This is confirmed by Gates, but he is just as excited about when the game will be released: to coincide with the launch of Sony’s vaunted PS3, slated for a spring 2006 release!
If it all comes together, there’s every chance that this software release will have an impact on hardware sales. New consoles are especially vulnerable at launch, and a poor launch line-up can take the shine off a new console, no matter what its capabilities. And when Halo 2 was released, not only did it help to shift hardware units, it also saw the numbers of Xbox Live! online subscribers more than double. Halo is a strong franchise, keeping hardcore fans happy and becoming a household name in the mainstream at the same time – a difficult balancing act. But if we aren’t going to see a new Halo when the Xbox 360 launches, what are we going to see? We’ll update you as soon as anything is announced, perhaps at a certain games Expo taking place in Los Angeles this week.
Of most interest to games fans will be a phrase that has been doing the rounds on the internet this morning. Unsurprisingly, it confirms that there will be a third instalment of killer app Halo, despite rumours circulating around the release of Halo 2 that Bungie had no plans to produce a third game for the series. Given the relatively recent release of Halo 2, it was always unlikely that Halo 3 would be finished in time for the Xbox 360 launch. This is confirmed by Gates, but he is just as excited about when the game will be released: to coincide with the launch of Sony’s vaunted PS3, slated for a spring 2006 release!
If it all comes together, there’s every chance that this software release will have an impact on hardware sales. New consoles are especially vulnerable at launch, and a poor launch line-up can take the shine off a new console, no matter what its capabilities. And when Halo 2 was released, not only did it help to shift hardware units, it also saw the numbers of Xbox Live! online subscribers more than double. Halo is a strong franchise, keeping hardcore fans happy and becoming a household name in the mainstream at the same time – a difficult balancing act. But if we aren’t going to see a new Halo when the Xbox 360 launches, what are we going to see? We’ll update you as soon as anything is announced, perhaps at a certain games Expo taking place in Los Angeles this week.
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Comments
Coxy 16 May 2005 17:23
1/12
I'm sorry but what a load of b*ll*cks there is no way the launch of halo 3 will hamper ps3 sales. the playstation is the worlds leading games console, and halo is just a mere game - its nothing special - when you take away the graphics its just the same as any other shooter, the playstation has sold way more than xbox and i dont really see the 360 making much of an improvement, especially when the nintendo revelution and ps3 roll around.
claudioalex 16 May 2005 17:43
2/12
HAHAH
If Bill could be in the PlayBoy cover licking his Xbox2-360 whatsoever, would improve the sells of his console, he wouldnt need to release a Halo 3.
If Bill could be in the PlayBoy cover licking his Xbox2-360 whatsoever, would improve the sells of his console, he wouldnt need to release a Halo 3.
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Pilot13 16 May 2005 18:12
3/12
Both comments here are a bit fanboyish so far. I am not sure whether it will affect PS3 sales (those that are going to buy it, are going to buy it), but imagine this, there were queues and queues for Halo 2, same for PS2 on launch days. Imagine when there are two queues coming out of the same shop. It'll be anarchy. I think most shops would end up picking one over the other.
Or you could y'know, buy it off Amazon or something...
Or you could y'know, buy it off Amazon or something...
fluffstardx 16 May 2005 22:40
4/12
OK, let me break how it works down nice and simple for you:
1. Your competitor is preparing to launch a new console. The release games, naturally, contain no real "killer apps".
2. Your ready-to-release killer app is ready to be rolled out at same time. You do so, and people look at the opposing unit and the lack of great games, and then see your killer app. It wows them, and they buy your console and the killer app with the money they were to use on the other machine. You win.
Look, guys; it's not hard. PS3 games are currently rumoured to be around £60 each due to the Blu-Ray technology and new development costs of such high-end systems. The console is rumoured between £250-300. If the 360 is £200 and the games £40, and Halo 3 looks a better game than the PS3 launch titles, it is a very real possibility people will get the cheaper unit and its cheaper, more attractive game.
Would you spend £360 on a games system and a pants game, or on the rival system and the great game for £240? If you were the average punter, would you spend £120 extra for no gain and a possible loss due to the poor quality title and cost?
If you can't see the sense there, you should stay away from criticism of it.
1. Your competitor is preparing to launch a new console. The release games, naturally, contain no real "killer apps".
2. Your ready-to-release killer app is ready to be rolled out at same time. You do so, and people look at the opposing unit and the lack of great games, and then see your killer app. It wows them, and they buy your console and the killer app with the money they were to use on the other machine. You win.
Look, guys; it's not hard. PS3 games are currently rumoured to be around £60 each due to the Blu-Ray technology and new development costs of such high-end systems. The console is rumoured between £250-300. If the 360 is £200 and the games £40, and Halo 3 looks a better game than the PS3 launch titles, it is a very real possibility people will get the cheaper unit and its cheaper, more attractive game.
Would you spend £360 on a games system and a pants game, or on the rival system and the great game for £240? If you were the average punter, would you spend £120 extra for no gain and a possible loss due to the poor quality title and cost?
If you can't see the sense there, you should stay away from criticism of it.
auzdafluff 16 May 2005 23:22
5/12
fluffstardx wrote:
OK, let me break how it works down nice and simple for you:
1. Your competitor is preparing to launch a new console. The release games, naturally, contain no real "killer apps".
2. Your ready-to-release killer app is ready to be rolled out at same time. You do so, and people look at the opposing unit and the lack of great games, and then see your killer app. It wows them, and they buy your console and the killer app with the money they were to use on the other machine. You win.
Look, guys; it's not hard. PS3 games are currently rumoured to be around £60 each due to the Blu-Ray technology and new development costs of such high-end systems. The console is rumoured between £250-300. If the 360 is £200 and the games £40, and Halo 3 looks a better game than the PS3 launch titles, it is a very real possibility people will get the cheaper unit and its cheaper, more attractive game.
Would you spend £360 on a games system and a pants game, or on the rival system and the great game for £240? If you were the average punter, would you spend £120 extra for no gain and a possible loss due to the poor quality title and cost?
If you can't see the sense there, you should stay away from criticism of it.
Yep, and thats not even taking into account the rumour that Microsoft have set aside a worldwide $200 million dollar budget, not for advertising, but for buy up all the POS (point of sale) space in all major retail and supermarkets.1. Your competitor is preparing to launch a new console. The release games, naturally, contain no real "killer apps".
2. Your ready-to-release killer app is ready to be rolled out at same time. You do so, and people look at the opposing unit and the lack of great games, and then see your killer app. It wows them, and they buy your console and the killer app with the money they were to use on the other machine. You win.
Look, guys; it's not hard. PS3 games are currently rumoured to be around £60 each due to the Blu-Ray technology and new development costs of such high-end systems. The console is rumoured between £250-300. If the 360 is £200 and the games £40, and Halo 3 looks a better game than the PS3 launch titles, it is a very real possibility people will get the cheaper unit and its cheaper, more attractive game.
Would you spend £360 on a games system and a pants game, or on the rival system and the great game for £240? If you were the average punter, would you spend £120 extra for no gain and a possible loss due to the poor quality title and cost?
If you can't see the sense there, you should stay away from criticism of it.
Now that might seem like a bit of pointless thing to do, you might say that money is better spent advertising on TV but imagine for a second that you walking to your local Game/Gamestation/Gamestop/EB/ASDA-Walmart/Tesco on PS3/Halo 3 launch night to find the only clue to the PS3 launching is a couple of PS3 boxes and games on the PS3 shelf and a small hand written poster saying Halo 3 available here.
Oh and its being called Halo 3 launch night...
Newtynho 17 May 2005 00:26
6/12
I think this news is worse for Halo fans than it is for Sony. Bungie worked on Halo 2 for more than 3 years, and the game felt incomplete. I can see a lot of people being disappointed if Halo 3 is released in mid-2006.
As for it affecting PS3 sales, it probably will. But not considerably. Especially if the PS3 has some killer apps of similar magnitude as Halo's at launch. Even if it doesn't, It will still sell a lot. This is a new Playstation we're talking about here. Halo may be big, but the Playstation brand is Huge.
As for it affecting PS3 sales, it probably will. But not considerably. Especially if the PS3 has some killer apps of similar magnitude as Halo's at launch. Even if it doesn't, It will still sell a lot. This is a new Playstation we're talking about here. Halo may be big, but the Playstation brand is Huge.
SPInGSPOnG 17 May 2005 06:44
7/12
SPOnG wrote:
This will be the third time the head of Microsoft has featured on the front of the mag, very possibly a record of some sort.
Dude, the only record that might be is record for most times someone called Bill Gates has been on the cover.
Richard M Nixon was on the coover of Tiime magazine 55 times. Your own Princess whinging meDia whore was on their eight times.
But then Time Magazine made George W(e're going to bomb you) Bush its Person (ne man) of the Year on Dec 27th 2004. So why would anyone give a flying finger-diddle what they think.
Ditto 17 May 2005 08:04
8/12
fluffstardx wrote:
If you can't see the sense there, you should stay away from criticism of it.
I can see your point, and I do think that this strategy will cause Sony some loss of sales PROVIDED that Halo 3 actually has something different to Halo 1/2.
However you need to remember that based on the previous generation where there were continual shortages of Playstation units and GAME posted a reduction in profits due to a problem obtaining PS2 stock, the retailers will wise to caution and give the PS3 the big fanfare.
Also, you really cannot support your argument using figures as of yet. We have no prices for anything. Sony are sensible people and will subsidise their console down to MS level. As for games costing £60 - Sony own the standard, they have the kit and the technology to create the discs at a cheap price. We have no idea of development costs for either PS3 or Xbox or Revolution. If developers are saying that the PS3 is easy to develop for then costs could be LOWER on the PS3 than the Xbox 2. Microsoft have lost the "recompile for Xbox" option by using a PowerPC processor, and they won't rewrite Windows just for the console (or will they?!).
BustyKrusty 17 May 2005 11:04
9/12
On the day of the PS3 launch you might be one of these people if you happen to wait in queue(i know i will),
Person1:I'm in the line but dont know what day it's today!
P2:I'm waiting for my baby and boomerang for my lady!
P3:I walked half the earth to get my Halo3!
P4:I'm a coward and an ignorant fool, i want the game I see herenow,NOW!!
p5:I want to buy but need an advice!
p6:Actually,I don't give a s**t, i'm just a scout waiting for a Revolution
Plus let's not forget Sonys 1st and 2nd party games. so i think you,ll have 98% of p2 & p3 with 99,9% of 'em decided or so.hurray! to that day!
Person1:I'm in the line but dont know what day it's today!
P2:I'm waiting for my baby and boomerang for my lady!
P3:I walked half the earth to get my Halo3!
P4:I'm a coward and an ignorant fool, i want the game I see herenow,NOW!!
p5:I want to buy but need an advice!
p6:Actually,I don't give a s**t, i'm just a scout waiting for a Revolution
Plus let's not forget Sonys 1st and 2nd party games. so i think you,ll have 98% of p2 & p3 with 99,9% of 'em decided or so.hurray! to that day!
Pilot13 17 May 2005 22:02
10/12
I saw some PS3 videos today. Unbelievable. I think, for once, Sony might actually have the most technically superior hardware. Finally.
Newtynho 18 May 2005 07:35
11/12
Pilot13 wrote:
I saw some PS3 videos today. Unbelievable. I think, for once, Sony might actually have the most technically superior hardware. Finally.
If that Killzone 2 video is in-game, it's the most impressive thing I've ever seen!
Pilot13 18 May 2005 12:12
12/12
Yeah thats one of the trailers I saw too. I was sitting there with my mouth on the floor I was blown away. I just wish it won't cost about 400 pounds, as I've heard. :(