The latest entry in the Halo franchise was revealed to be Halo: Fireteam Raven last Thursday on Inside Xbox. In this on-rails cooperative shooter, you and up to three friends can play as members of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST) squad called Fireteam Raven as they support the Master Chief during the events of the very first Halo game, Halo: Combat Evolved. It's planned to drop feet first into the public's hands this summer.
However, there's a catch: the game is only going to be available as a machine at the arcade. Here's why I think the title should eventually be made available on Microsoft platforms.
Location, location, location
As the medium of video games has evolved over time, and versatile gaming hardware has become a common household product, many arcades have struggled to remain afloat. Though massive companies like Dave & Busters have been able to achieve success, it doesn't have locations everywhere.
Because of the scarcity of places like this, many people will not be able to play Fireteam Raven without setting a massive chunk of time or gas money aside to visit a destination where it's located. Bringing the game to Xbox One and/or Windows 10, however, would make it possible to access the title quickly and easily.
A great Mixed Reality opportunity
While it's true that Windows Mixed Reality became compatible with SteamVR last holiday season, the fact remains that if you're someone who games a lot through the Microsoft Store, there's currently little available to you in terms of a satisfying VR experience. Fireteam Raven, though, looks like it could offer a solid one — if it came to Windows 10.
It's likely that the game would need some work done to make it work well with virtual reality, but considering the vast sea of resources at Microsoft's disposal, I think it's more than reasonable to assume it could pull it off. At the moment, Windows Mixed Reality needs all the help it can get, and Fireteam Raven is an opportunity for it that shouldn't be missed.
See Windows Mixed Reality headsets at Microsoft Store
Bringing splitscreen back
One of the biggest issues people had with Halo 5: Guardians was the fact that it did not have local splitscreen multiplayer, a first for the franchise after over a decade of the feature being present. The blowback was so fierce that it prompted 343 Industries' executive producer Bonnie Ross to promise that splitscreen would return in all future games last year.
Read: Halo 6 for Xbox One: Everything we expect so far
It has now been over two years since the release of Halo 5, and though we know the next Halo will have splitscreen, we have no idea when that game is coming. Unless it gets a surprise 2018 release, it's entirely possible that fans will be stuck waiting for another year. Due to this, I believe that Microsoft should bring Fireteam Raven to Xbox One and make splitscreen multiplayer a feature. This way, Halo fans who are dying to couch game with their friends have something new to enjoy while patiently awaiting the series' next big release.
Your thoughts
Do you think Halo: Fireteam Raven should be made available on Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs? If so, what features should it have, and how much do you think it should cost? Let me know.
If you're looking for some Halo action while waiting for Fireteam Raven, check out Halo 5, Halo Wars 2, and The Master Chief Collection.
