MS: No game is bigger than Halo

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 13 September, 2010

Predicts Star Wars: Episode 1-esque launch.

Microsoft has confidently proclaimed "no game is bigger than Halo" just hours before Bungie's last entry in the science fiction shooter series, Halo: Reach, goes on sale around the world.

The console manufacturer reckons the launch of Reach will be 2010's "biggest entertainment event", and likens it to the release of film Star Wars: Episode 1.

"When it comes to the size and scope of a franchise and especially the dedication of the fans, no game is bigger than Halo," said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios.

"With Halo: Reach we're delivering on our promise to redefine blockbuster entertainment experiences and ultimately help make this year the biggest ever in Xbox history."

Halo: Reach will go on sale at tens of thousands of retailers around the world at a minute past midnight tonight.

In the UK HMV will open 70 stores to accommodate what it expects to be intense interest.

GAME's Westfield Shopping Centre store will hold an event beginning at 9.30pm.

Buried within a gushing press release are some interesting Halo-related statistics.

More than 2.7 million players played the Halo: Reach beta, which ran earlier this year, making it the largest console videogame beta test on record and more than triple the size of the Halo 3 beta.

To date, more than 34 million copies of Halo games have been sold worldwide, driving more than 3.3 billion hours of gameplay by people connected to Xbox LIVE.

But is it any good? Yes sir soldier. Oli absolutely loved it.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (81) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Dr.Mott #1 2 years ago

    So people will buy it in their millions, and be cripplingly disappointed? Just like Episode 1.

  • IronGiant #2 2 years ago

    Fuck off MS, how about some other decent games in the pipe.

  • Fab4 #3 2 years ago

    "“Programming today is a race between software engineers stirring to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning.”

  • the_sas_man #4 2 years ago

    Falcon F-16 was a big game....the box was huge.

    Come to think of it, lots of games are bigger than Halo, especially the Amiga ones.

    Long live cardboard boxes for games.

  • jtodroc #5 2 years ago

    It would be interesting to see if Reach would sell more than Black Ops if Halo was multi-platform.

  • Bradach #6 2 years ago

    "no game has a bigger marketing budget than Halo"
    Fixed

  • retr0gamer #7 2 years ago

    I kind of doubt it will be a bigger launch than MW2 but MS will try and spin it that way.

  • phAge #8 2 years ago

    Is anyone here seriously doubting that Halo: Reach will crush all existing records of entertainment product debuts in the days and weeks after launch - just like Halo 3 did in 2007?

    I mean, really?

  • Yossarian #9 2 years ago

    I doubt it, if only because it's called Halo Reach and not Halo 4.

  • AidyD #10 2 years ago

    BS. Sales by numbers.

    Halo series = 17 million.
    Modern Warfare series = 32 million
    Final Fantasy Series = 41 million
    GTA Series = 42 million
    Gran Turismo Series = 52 million


    And Im pretty sure GTA4 and MW2 on launch were bigger sellers than any Halo game.

  • peterfll #11 2 years ago

    No ego bigger than MS more like.

  • Wheatley #12 2 years ago

    Uh-oh. So it's gonna have Jar Jar Binks in it?

  • MasterNameless #13 2 years ago

    "Uh-oh. So it's gonna have Jar Jar Binks in it?"

    I hope so.

    At least in Halo I could shoot Jar Jar Binks in the face. And then teabag him.

  • Toothball #14 2 years ago

    Well I'm about as excited by Halo Reach as I was for Episode One, which is to say not very excited at all.

  • harshahorizon #15 2 years ago

    shut-up you MS

  • lcmnick #16 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 12:48:44 14-04-2012

  • phAge #17 2 years ago

    "BS. Sales by numbers.

    Halo series = 17 million"

    Funny, the Wikipedia entry says 34 million.

    /shrugs

  • LetsGo #18 2 years ago

    COD is bigger than Halo, silly MS.

  • thomaspower0 #19 2 years ago

    After summer ' 09, almost every person that I knew between 12 and 18 years old, was going to buy MW2. After summer ' 10, almost nobody I know between 12 and 18 years old is going to buy Reach, but most of them have an X360.

    This won't be bigger, period.

  • Bleemo #20 2 years ago

    "Halo series = 17 million.
    Modern Warfare series = 32 million
    Final Fantasy Series = 41 million
    GTA Series = 42 million
    Gran Turismo Series = 52 million"

    Not to mention some of Capcom's titles (source: [link url=http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=9772)
    ]http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?...[/link]

    Resident evil - 40 million
    Mega man - 28 million
    Street Fighter - 27 million

    and...

    Mario - 222 million
    Pokemon - 207 million

    and so on and so on, infact according to wiki which admittedly is a dodgy source Halo is placed 36th in terms of franchise sales overall ..... [link url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_game_franchises
    ]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bes...[/link]
    Edited by Bleemo at 13/09/10 @ 15:03

  • phAge #21 2 years ago

    This is hysterical! :D

    I point out a factual error in a post, and out comes the negs. I mean, how much of a tosser are you if you feel the need to silence someone stating a simple fact? :)

  • Moonprince #22 2 years ago

    Talking sht like that makes me NOT want to get it.

  • Ryboy #23 2 years ago

    You won't be getting any of my money for this fucking wank franchise.

  • Freek #24 2 years ago

    No game is bigger...other then CoD......Mario....WoW......Pokemon....GTA.

  • woodnotes #25 2 years ago

    The full quote: "When it comes to the size and scope of a franchise and especially the dedication of the fans, no game is bigger than Halo,"
    Edited by woodnotes at 13/09/10 @ 15:09

  • chubster2010 #26 2 years ago

    I'm really looking forward to playing Halo: Reach (my preorder better arrive tomorrow...), but I can't say I'm expecting it to " redefine blockbuster entertainment experiences"...

    I'm simply expecting a more polished version of the previous games in the series.

    MS really are masters of the overblown comment.

  • Daeltaja #27 2 years ago

    Oh my god are they going over the top with this. Really trying to keep that hype wheel spinning as fast as possible. Your game is horribly outdated, I've played far more epic titles over the last few years. This doesn't have a patch on the likes of ME2 (although a different genre, same kind of space Opera). Starcraft 2 campaign was far more enjoyable too.

    Going off point here.. but just getting a bit annoyed by this MS ego trip.. wouldn't even mind if there was some truth to it. And biggest name out there? Last I checked, Mario and Co. were still rather popular.

    Edited by Daeltaja at 13/09/10 @ 15:08

  • Freek #28 2 years ago

    Also by that definition, CoD, Mario and pokemon are still bigger. And Starcraft is pretty much the default game of an entire country, whole TV channels dedicated to it. Are you that big Halo? No you're not.
    Edited by Freek at 13/09/10 @ 15:08

  • JediMasterMalik #29 2 years ago

    @woodnotes - That's the kind of context in which anything you say can be true.
    Edited by JediMasterMalik at 13/09/10 @ 15:17

  • speedjack #30 2 years ago

    I'm sure Bungie read these MS exec's comments and just wish they'd STFU.

  • JayKwon #31 2 years ago

    For a single platform, it's a damn big franchise. PR people always exaggerate, we already knew that.

  • menage #32 2 years ago

    Redefining doesn't mean making another one with some added shit.

  • LazyDan #33 2 years ago

    I sort of disagree with the quote even in its proper context. No game is bigger in size and scope? As popular as it is to bandwagon on Modern Warfare 2 hate, I felt ducking and diving around trenches placed around The White House while Russian soldiers and bombers utterly shag the place was pretty damn massive in size and scope - you actually felt like an (admittedly ridiculous) war was being fought all over the country.

    Alright, Halo takes place across multiple planets and Halos, but it never felt that massive to me. It always felt more like a few hectic sorties fought over key locations in otherwise totally barren planets/Halos/bits of space. Is that size and scope? What the hell is size and scope?

    Mario Galaxy also felt like it had bigger size and scope. Shadow of the Colossus and certainly the latter God of War games too. Maybe Viva Pinata has scope too? Cooking Mama?!

    I could just accept this as PR-twaddle, but then I'd have nothing left to think about but work.
    Edited by LazyDan at 13/09/10 @ 15:23

  • miiiguel #34 2 years ago

    After summer ' 09, almost every person that I knew between 12 and 18 years old, was going to buy MW2. After summer ' 10, almost nobody I know between 12 and 18 years old is going to buy Reach, but most of them have an X360.

    I think this is funny. The world in a sentence. At the age of 15.

  • the_dudefather #35 2 years ago

    /master chief removes his helmet
    Redletter media: 'What's wrong with your faaaacccceeee?'

  • sanctusmortis #36 2 years ago

    Y'know, sometimes I think EG should just switch off commenting.

    For the sake of everyone.

  • NorUraeus #37 2 years ago

    So just like Star Wars Episode 1 we are going to hate the characters and bad acting, and almost get turned of from seeing anything else in the franchise ever again? ;)

  • Spydy #38 2 years ago

    The biggest franchise....that MS have lost.

    Funny. Bungie could create the exact same game, call it something different and release it multi-platform.

  • Negotiator #39 2 years ago

    Just for all the Halo nobhead haters, Reach has 12 perfect scores so far, only the shit gamer sites have gave it less than a 9. For some pathetic reason it's become cool to hate Halo, every single Halo game has been superb yet you have the muppets saying its shit or nothing special. Well guess what Halo is gonna steamroll the competition once again, because quality always wins out.

  • Geordiemp #40 2 years ago

    Will buy it eventually and will enjoy it.

    However, like Halo 3, I did not have super high expectations and so it will be enjoyable, as Halo does get hyped beyond what it is, a good shooter.

    Best thing about any Halo is the coop campaign and system link....

  • Bradach #41 2 years ago

    yeah, you're right Negotiator. people are so naive thinking if you throw tens of missions of dollars are marketing an average FPS you'll get big sales...

  • mcmonkeyplc #42 2 years ago

    SDF is strong in this one.

  • retr0gamer #43 2 years ago

    Halo 2 got perfect scores and then got released on PC when the hype died down and got thrashed for the poor game it was. Review scores mean nothing especially when the review sites seem to be giving the Halo games to be reviewed by fanboys of the series so it's hardly an impartial review.

  • phAge #44 2 years ago

    "SDF is strong in this one".
    Think it's more of a general nerd rage, tbh.

    I wonder what would happen if MS or Sony released a statement that their game was only so-so, and that they expected average to poor sales? Would the ANGRY NERDS be mollified and come to their rescue - or would they simply not comment?

  • jag10 #45 2 years ago

    mafia 2, 3 weeks at number 1 in the charts. must be an amazing game.

  • JHuxley #46 2 years ago

    @the_sas_man

    You should see the original Neo Geo games. They were massive. The cartridge alone was bigger than Halo.

  • miiiguel #47 2 years ago

    I also expect Reach to have sales similar to Mafia II. It's an IP with about the same popularity and fan base. And if we count the ppl here with this opinion we can easily see that me and jag10 are right.

    Halo is not big.

  • DJMC2412 #48 2 years ago

    I think halo has to be one of the most overrated franchises ever. Dont get me wrong its solid and I loved the first one, second was ok, 3rd was meh and ODST was ca-ching for Bungie. What baffles me is how people consider the multiplayer good. Maybe at the time it was, but so many games are similar I feel its just because they did it first people have some kind of loyalty to the old game. Regenerating health is not a good function in team FPS games. Neither is ridiculously strong, bullet eating characters; making the game feel like whoever fires first wins.

    Im quite into competetive gaming and I dont mean the kind where I'm like "I'm prestige!" or " I'm level 50!", I mean where you have a team and attend tournaments (although I was never amazing at any of the games I competed in) and imo I cannot believe Halo has been so successful as a tournament game at MLG. Super boring to watch and play with mechanics that imo dont suit team based shooters.

    Im of course biased as I grew up mainly on PC shooters such as quake and counterstrike the latter imo being the greatest team based shooter ever and still is. So simple on the surface with so much depth much like any good game, or sport for that matter. But did play halo 1 and 2 on xbox and after the epic campaign that was halo 1 and the lackluster halo 2 one I went to online where i found no enjoyment out of it. Even a clan with my friends trying I couldnt find fun and competitivness to the mindlessly slow paced action.


    Edited by DJMC2412 at 13/09/10 @ 16:10

  • dangercopperfield #49 2 years ago

    PR bullshit, he has to say that! I mean have ya ever heard the PR people on the Eurogamer podcast? Perhaps Reach will outsell Black Ops on the 360 but preorders for that game already higher them MW2!

  • telboy007 #50 2 years ago

    He must be talking about the legendary edition or whatever that crate is, no game is bigger than that. Not even the chunkiest of Amiga/Atari ST game boxes.

  • Nephirion #51 2 years ago

    The pacing of Reach is perfect the combat is intense without becoming the warp fest that is MW2.

  • davisorle #52 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 20:44:35 16-04-2012

  • SAH1977 #53 2 years ago

    Microsoft = The Michael Bay of the videogame world

  • geoneo123 #54 2 years ago

    I played Halo 3 over the weekend to familiarise myself with the game after playing MW2 for months on end and I couldn't help feel like the game was out dated and slow.

    I will be getting the game once its out but kind of feel like I am only doing it because most of my mates will be get it.
    MS actually paid a man to strap a jetpad to dust off over trafalgar square! What is the point FFS!

    Why cant gamers go on strike! teach them a lesson

  • Dave52 #55 2 years ago

    What about Kinect River Rush...? That's what the core gamers want...!

    Seriously though, Halo is a huge franchise for Microsoft, it's a shame for them that Bungie is outta there.

  • des #56 2 years ago

    In few hours the ultimate FPS will be relased...Halo

    Suck it haters.

  • beastmaster #57 2 years ago

    Just wait. This kind of press release will be nothing compared to when that uber-cock at Activision starts plugging the devs new game for them.

  • Mkwone #58 2 years ago

    I don't think to many people are complaining about the quality of the game, it's more the sheer arrogance from MS in proclaiming it's the biggest game evar!!!! When in reality it probably won't be the biggest game of the year.

  • sanctusmortis #59 2 years ago

    SDF's only upset because Killzone 2 and the Resistance series tirned out meh.

    Yes, that was a blatant troll, how'd you like dem apples?

  • schnide #60 2 years ago

    Has anyone else seen this?

  • Spekingur #61 2 years ago

    Master Chief is like The Stig!

    Some say he has no face because it melted away when he was playing with plasma guns.
    Some say he hates Barrichello but for diffirent reasons than The Stig. Probably because Barrichello has a face and a fast car.
    Some say he enjoys nude chicken baths whilst donning a cowboy hat and a moustache.

  • Skurmedel #62 2 years ago

    Would be great if this "no reviews until release"-crap went away. Even if some people know they are gonna get the game anyway. It's just cheeky. I'm sure they maximise their sales or something if they have a gigantic marketing budget, but it has the opposite effect on me. I get skeptical.

  • Vyggo #63 2 years ago

    It will be interesting to see how this game will do commercially. I was expecting way more hype from it tbh, the release kind of crept up to me last friday. I am not going to buy it myself, will likely rent it to play through the campaign once.

    Am I the only one that thinks the armor of these guys is starting to look really silly in 2010. I can't remember finding it stupid when I bought Halo 1, but after looking at giantbombs quicklook it looks so out of place and dumb...

  • KDR_11k #64 2 years ago

    Uh-oh. So it's gonna have Jar Jar Binks in it?

    Wouldn't be a big step, Halo already had Ewoks.

  • Ace_McCloud #65 2 years ago

    What an annoyingly arrogant press release

  • gjgjg #66 2 years ago

    too big to fail?

  • GooseUK #67 2 years ago

    I can just imagine the climactic final battle - there is a pause in the fighting, bodies lay strewn as soldiers prepare for the final showdown - then, a lone figure walks out of silhouette... Is it master chief... who could it be?

    A voice cuts the silence......

    "you-sa people gonna die?"

    And it's only JAR JAR FUCKING BINKS!

  • _LarZen_ #68 2 years ago

    There is no doubt the Halo games are good, but they aint THAT good.

  • Pedrolot #69 2 years ago

    Halo - what a load of balls.

  • coolbritannia #70 2 years ago

    Irony lol. M$ state no game is bigger than Halo on day main press sites report on Super Mario's 25th anniversary.

  • Hei #71 2 years ago

    I'm tired of this "big" thing.

  • Ryze #72 2 years ago

    I'm not sure that the masses are aware that this is 'Halo 4'.

    We'll see - I don't tend to watch TV or ad-breaks these days.

  • alcides #73 2 years ago

    No Game bigger than Halo?

    Pokemon White is. Bitch.

  • coolbritannia #74 2 years ago

    I dunno my Legendary edition of Reach came in a fucking massive box....

  • JBlokeUK #75 2 years ago

    So where would M$ be without Halo then?

  • Ashcroft #76 2 years ago

    I've bought every Halo game once I was able to get them for about a tenner, and none of them have been interesting enough to complete.

  • nasanu #77 2 years ago

    "When it comes to the size and scope of a franchise and especially the dedication of the fans, no game is bigger than Halo"

    Guessing they don't view Gran Turismo as a game then?

  • darkmorgado #78 2 years ago

    To be fair, comparisons with Mario or Sonic aren't exactly fair. Mario has been around for a quarter of a century and his games have appeared on around 10 different platforms. Its similar with Sonic.

    COD isn't a fair comparison either, again because its games have always been multiplatform. It would be a fair comparison if you only looked at Xbox sales, but again COD has had twice the number of releases that Halo has had.

    Halo has only appeared on 2 platforms (Xbox 1 and 360), has only been around since the tailend of the previous generation, and has already sold 34m copies. No matter your opinion on the series itself, that's an impressive number.

  • Dave52 #79 2 years ago

    darkmorgado: "Halo has only appeared on 2 platforms (Xbox 1 and 360)"

    I distinctly remember playing the first two on my PC...

  • zedzee #80 2 years ago

    "likens it to the release of film Star Wars: Episode 1. "

    Are they sure they want to be associated with that crap?!

  • The_vorlon_man #81 2 years ago

    Well it's obviously a blatent chest puffing load of old hot PR air from MS again.
    I truly wish we could get to a point where we had a single universal platform and the hardware manufacturers differentiated themselves with the quality of components, form factor and so forth, rather than having to choose between 3 or 4 diferent gaming syste,s (not including handhelds), and then having to either make space for a buttload of gadge, or pick and choose what games you do and dont buy!
    Oh for a world where the PC was cheap and universal...