Video Game Sales: ‘Halo’ to the Rescue?

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Chris Morris

If all goes according to plan, the video game industry could see its first positive sales growth since March in September—but in a year that has been filled with disappointing results, game publishers and developers know any plan is tentative at best.

Analysts expect software sales to be up slightly in September, largely on the strength of Microsoft’s “Halo: Reach,” which took in $200 million in its first 24 hours. No one is expecting a blowout month, though. Wedbush Securities is forecasting a rise of just 2.4 percent compared to last year’s $649 million.

Analysis: Is Microsoft Putting Halo At Risk?

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Chris Morris

[What’s the right balance between quality and release spacing for theHalo franchise, pre- and post-Bungie? Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris examines how other franchises have been affected by more regular iteration.]

Within four days of its release, fans spend the equivalent of over 2,300 man-years playing Halo: Reach. While Bungie’s sendoff to its most famous franchise is certainly a resounding success, though, the long-term fate of Halo is starting to become more questionable.

On Wednesday, Microsoft corporate VP Phil Spencer told IGN that the company is looking to increase the frequency of Halo releases.

Halo: Reach players have been very, VERY busy

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Chris Morris

In less than four days, “Halo: Reach” made an enormous impact on Xbox Live.

Bungie Studios has put out a roundup of some “Reach” statistics from the first week of play. And if you thought that $200 million in sales in the first 24 hours was impressive, you ain’t seen nothing yet…

Why Halo: Reach’s success could be bad news for business

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Chris Morris

So now it’s official: Microsoft’s first-person behemoth Halo: Reach is the year’s biggest entertainment event,generating $200 million in sales in just 24 hours in the United States alone.

That’s two-thirds of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 took in from the North American and U.K. markets in its first day last year, but it’s still a number that’s nothing to sneeze at. The one-day take already eclipses the three-day opening weekends of “Iron Man 2,” “Toy Story 3” and “Alice in Wonderland.”

Review: Halo: Reach

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Chris Morris

Prequels rarely resonate with audiences – regardless of the medium. So when Bungie Studios decided to make its last “Halo” game a prequel, there was some cause for concern.

Thankfully, those fears were misplaced. While the final chapter of “Halo: Reach” is something well known to any fan of the franchise, the game itself is perhaps the best in “Halo’s” nine-year history. And it’s a fitting sendoff for the developer, who is responsible for creating and growing one of the biggest series in the video game industry.

Things to keep in mind as Halo: Reach hits shelves

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Chris Morris

The holiday season kicks off tonight for gamers. At 12:01am, “Halo Reach,” the first blockbuster of the fall/winter goes on sale. It will lead the charge of a densely packed 3.5-month period of major game releases that will determine how 2010 turns out for the video game industry.

Now, normally, you wait for sales numbers before calling a release a blockbuster – but when you’re dealing with a new action-based “Halo” game, you can skip the formality. The franchise has sold over 34 million copies and consumed 3.3 billion hours of gameplay (that’s over 376,000 years, if you’re keeping score at home) since its launch with the original Xbox.

Microsoft Braces for a Blockbuster With Halo Reach

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Chris Morris

When “Halo: Reach” goes on sale at 12:01 am Tuesday morning, it won’t just be the biggest gaming event of the year to date. It will likely be the entertainment industry’s biggest moment of the year.

Microsoft is betting big on the latest installment of its flagship franchise, and it has every reason to do so. Life to date, the company has sold more than 34 million ‘Halo’ games – and each major new release has shattered any Day One sales records set by the film, music or gaming industries.

Microsoft ties Windows Phone 7 to Xbox Live

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Chris Morris

As Microsoft has leaked out details of its upcoming Windows Phone 7 series, it has been pretty obviouthat the company planned to borrow heavily from its successful Xbox Live formula. Now it’s sharing more details – and it’s looking a lot more like a semi-complete integration of the service, rather than just a few elements.

The new phones will launch with Xbox Live integration, letting owners stay connected with their gaming friends when they’re away from their consoles. They’ll also be able to access leaderboards, turn-based multiplayer games, Achievements and more.

Halo’s ‘Reach’ Expands, Microsoft Preps for A Big Holiday

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Chris Morris

If there’s one truth in the videogame world, it’s this: Never bet against the sales success of a new “Halo” or “Grand Theft Auto”. But as Microsoft prepares to launch “Halo: Reach” this fall, early evidence indicates people may not be betting heavily enough.

For the past three weeks, Microsoft has given fans of the game a taste of what the series’ next installment will be like. It turns out that player appetites were even more voracious than expected.

Chris Morris: Journalist

Tag Archives: halo