Halo: The Master Chief Collection’s 20GB content update makes most sense on Xbox One this year

It “simply wasn’t practical” to offer Halo: The Master Chief Collection on more than one disc – avoiding the need for a 20GB day one content update – Halo Franchise development director Frank O’Connor has told fans.

O’Connor has been on NeoGAF defending 343 Industries’ decision to offer the bulk of the multiplayer component via a 20GB download.

“The game is designed to run as a single, unified product, digital is seamless obviously, but we also wanted disc users to have the same experience, without swapping discs,” wrote O’Connor. “Since the bulk of it is MP or MP related, the logic is sound. There will ALSO be a TU in there, but that in itself is a tiny fraction of the content.

“We realize that this isn’t ideal for everyone, but it’s the path to the smoothest eventual experience.”

O’Connor said he does understand why some gamers will find it difficult to download the 20GB update and for that he apologises, but says a disc-based solution wasn’t practical at this point in the Xbox One timeline.

“It simply wasn’t practical for this product, this year in this timeline. The Xbox One platform continues to improve and mature, arguably faster and more meaningfully than others and maybe next year two discs or some other method would have been the right approach, but this year it’s the option we have available that on balance, makes the most sense for this giant, ambitious project,” he wrote.

He added that the team is “continuing to look at ways to reduce that inconvenience”.

Remember that all four campaigns will run directly off the disc without the need for the 20GB download, which can be downloading in the background whilst you play.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection launches November 11.

Is the 20GB download a big problem for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: NeoGAF