F2P Halo online coming

[XtremelyBaneful]

courtesy of gaf

Breakdown:
4-16 players
Graphics on par with Halo 4 based on Halo 3 engine
Power-ups and weapons pick-ups on the battlefield
Rich visual and gameplay customization of weapons and armor
There will be vehicles.
f2p is about weapons, armor and power-ups
Right now developers said nothing about story mode and there is likely the game will be MP-PVP only.

Few more details:
Game was presented by 343 themselves
Closed Beta will start "very soon"
Team Slayer and Assassinations modes confirmed
Backstabbing confirmed
There will be trials and missions like "kill 30 enemies today". Typical f2p fashion.
Microsoft is co-distributing the game here in Russia
One of the game locations is Russian city

http://kanobu.ru/news/343-studios-anonsirovali-multipleernyij-shuter-halo-online-dlya-pc-375925/

according to them it's coming only to russia but... that doesn't really make sense to me

 

[TX85]

I was thinking Hmm..until you mentioned Russia exclusive

 

[zenith16]

I was thinking Hmm..until you mentioned Russia exclusive

yup as it states below

• 
  Want To Play The New Halo Online? Move To Russia
  
  News
  on Mar 25, 2015 at 01:35 PM
  5,890 Views
  
  11
  Microsoft is creating an experience specifically for the Russian market.
  ... More

source: GI

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

but...why?

 

[Benstamania]

In Russia Halo F2P's YOU!

 

[TX85]

A gift for Mother Russia!

 

[Tron Bonne]

I believe there is something similar with Call of Duty in China. It probably has roots in a similar situation where the government has a heavy stake in things such as internet access or consoles aren't common (I don't know much about Russia, I'm only speculating but that would be my guess). It's a way to extend the brand and tap into markets that aren't accessible by the regular means.

Besides, there's no real reason for this to come Stateside. Why would it? People pay to play this on Xbox consoles, and will still buy DLC and expansions when they come out. Like COD, putting effort into F2P of Halo is counterproductive more than anything outside this region.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

 

[zenith16]

• 
• [YT]61QfaRjv89I[/YT]
  Watch Some Gameplay From The Russia-Only Free-To-Play Halo Online (While You Still Can)
  
  News
  
  
  
  on Apr 12, 2015 at 01:46 PM
  10,128 Views
  
  12
  Modders have managed to obtain a version of the planned-for-Russia, free-to-play Halo Online and have captured video of the game in action.
  ... More

source: GI