Halo: The Master Chief Collection launched in 2014 – a time when games were far less monetised than they are today. But while this beloved suite of Halo hits has avoided microtransactions for the last eight years, 343 Industries appears to be looking to rectify that in future.
In a new blog post, the Halo developer confirmed it was in the process of ‘exploring’ new features for the game, which included the implementation of a new microtransaction currency system known as ‘Spartan Points’.
‘For players who are new to the MCC, or who may not have dedicated much time specifically to unlocking items during the seasonal updates, or are simply completionists looking to catch the last outstanding items they need, we are internally exploring a potential new feature for the future in the form of purchasable Spartan Points,’ 343 wrote.
While players will reportedly still be able to earn items through Season Points, the new Spartan system will allow players to purchase these items outright. 343 believes this won’t change the game, but will open up an opportunity for players to nab items they may have missed.
‘We are happy with the current system of how players earn Spartan Points, by completing challenges and levelling up through play,’ 343 said.
‘This would be an optional, additive alternative for players who might find the vast scope of content to be an intimidating amount of playtime and want to get ahead on (or skip) the grind, or maybe want to grab specific items they want (we all have our favourites!)’
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As 343 made clear, this will be an additional system, rather than a replacement. Still, the temptation will be quite real for new players, who may want to fork out real life cash for a particular armour or add-on to jazz up their look while they play solo or online.
There is no release date planned for the Spartan Points upgrade, although it appears 343 is at work to deliver the new feature, and assess whether fans will be receptive to the change. Backlash is clearly anticipated, given the warning nature of 343’s blog post, but whether fans will care enough to take a stance for this near-decade old game remains to be seen.
