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A remastered version of Halo 3: ODST’s campaign is to be offered for free to owners of Halo: The Master Chief Collection as compensation for the game’s troubled launch.
Coming to Xbox One in spring 2015, the upgraded campaign will run at 1080p/60fps and be free to anyone who has played Halo: The Master Chief Collection while connected to Xbox Live between the game’s launch and December 19.
Eligible players will also receive an additional month of Xbox Live Gold, a re-imagined version of Halo 2’s Relic multiplayer map, and an exclusive in-game nameplate and avatar for free as compensation for the ongoing trouble.
“Last month, I promised the Halo and Xbox community that addressing the matchmaking issues and other bugs impacting players’ experience with Halo: The Master Chief Collection was our #1 priority,” said 343 Industries studio head Bonnie Ross. “We’ve been working around the clock deploying weekly content updates and numerous server-side adjustments that have shown good results and we’re encouraged by the feedback we’re hearing from you.”
She continued: “This has been a humbling experience and highlighted how we as a studio can – and need – to do better for Xbox fans around the world. We are so grateful to our fans who have stood by our side and we appreciate all of your patience as we worked through these issues. As a token of our appreciation and to thank fans for the continued support and understanding, we will be offering the following items, for free, to anyone who has played Halo: The Master Chief Collection online since launch (11.11.14) through today (12.19.14).”
343 says that neither the remastered version of the Halo 3: ODST campaign or Halo 2: Anniversary version of Relic were “part of our original development plans, but as a result of community feedback, and to do something special for our fans, both are now in development”.
The developer has yet to confirm whether ODST will be available to download separately as DLC, but says that it “may share more details in the future regarding the potential availability of the campaign for “Halo 3: ODST” within “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” other than as part of this offer.”
It currently has no plans to include ODST’s popular wave-based mode Firefight.
“The satisfaction and joy of our fans is absolutely critical to everyone at 343 Industries and we regret the issues and the frustration you have endured,” added Ross. “We are truly sorry and thank you for your continued patience and support of the Halo franchise.”
Source: news.xbox.com, halowaypoint.com
