LONDON: Microsoft will launch a new bundle this month featuring its standard Xbox One console and a digital copy of Halo, The Master Chief Collection. The bundle, which does not include the Kinect gaming sensor, will be available for $349, Microsoft said in a blog post. Exact availability dates will vary depending on the retailer.
Halo; The Master Chief Collection launched in November to much fanfare. The game includes re-mastered versions of Halo 1, Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 4. As soon as the game launched, however, it was criticized by gamers who fell victim to a range of bugs and technical problems. The biggest issues affected the game’s multiplayer mode, which at times prevented gamers from finding online matches.
In an effort to boost its sales during the busy holiday shopping season, Microsoft offered a range of bundles, including one that included Call of Duty, Advanced Warfare and another with Sunset Overdrive. Halo: The Master Chief Collection was conspicuously missing from the bundle line-up. Its omission was believed to be due to the game’s issues and Microsoft not wanting to bundle a buggy title with its console.
Since then, Microsoft has addressed most of the issues affecting the game, which makes it a good time for the company to bundle Master Chief with its Xbox One.
Whether the offer provides a value, however, depends on the gamer. The Master Chief Collection comprises old Halo games that many have already played. While the graphics are enhanced and the multiplayer refined, it doesn’t break new ground. Those who haven’t played through the titles or want to play them again, however, have four games in one that they can play.
For Microsoft, the offer is a no-brainer. At $349, the bundle is $50 less than the Xbox One’s top competitor, the unbundled PlayStation 4. In addition, offering a digital version of The Master Chief Collection saves Microsoft the cost of shipping discs and cases, reducing the financial impact of offering a cheap bundle.
