Halo: Reach hits Games on Demand

By Fred Dutton Published 15 March, 2011

Only £50.

Bungie's blockbuster FPS Halo: Reach is the latest title to be added to Xbox Live's Games on Demand service, Microsoft has announced.

It's available for download from today but you'll need to scrape together £49.99 for the privilege.

As a quick comparison, Amazon are currently asking £25.48, Play want £24.99 and GAME want £34.99. All throw in a free plastic case and bits of staple-bound paper to boot.

The Xbox 360 exclusive shooter launched more than six months ago back in September 2010, winning a 9/10 from Eurogamer.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (72) Latest comment 1 year ago

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

  • richarddavies #1 1 year ago

    Well Microsoft can go suck my ball sack then can't they?

  • INSOMANiAC #2 1 year ago

    Sign me up, im a complete fucking moron!

  • Kassim #3 1 year ago

    Hahaha. Who in their right mind would buy this? I mean no ones that misinformed are they....

  • XBoxDragon #4 1 year ago

    £50 is the RRP, even if no one has realistically ever charged that that I've seen.

  • Vortex808 #5 1 year ago

    Hahaha. Way to tempt folk to try Games on Demand. A few quid over second hand/ current retail prices and I *might* think about it, but that's a joke.

    Why are all download only games so vastly overpriced? They don't even have sales like Steam etc.

    Hilarity ensues again.
    Edited by Vortex808 at 15/03/11 @ 21:50

  • Dreddnaught #6 1 year ago

    £50 ???

    Who do Microsoft think they are ????

    Currys ???

  • woodnotes #7 1 year ago

    "Why are all download only games so vastly overpriced?"

    Because they have to sell them at RRP so they don't piss off the retailers. Undercutting your retailers and distributors will only encourage them to make more effort with your competitor's products.

  • stevetuck #8 1 year ago

    I predict a bad future for my wallet in the soon to come 'digital distribution era'

  • M4RV #9 1 year ago

    Love the game to death; Best Halo game since Halo 2, but still a rip-off. You can get the Limited(!!!) Edition for half that price.

  • ManicDrunkMonk #10 1 year ago

    The fact is, if we ever did reach a digital-only retail model on console there would be competition inquiries all over the world. Both the US and EU would crack down on all three manufacturers if they ran closed shops.

    In the back of my mind I'm wondering whether this is behind Sony's decision to start merging Steam onto the PSN giving them an argument against any future intervention.

    Of course I have no expertise in this area, so could be completely wrong.

  • Daeltaja #11 1 year ago

    Seriously, if I come across someone who's clicked 'purchase', it will be the last thing they ever do.

    This is complete and utter joke. Cut out distribution and the middle man, but raise the price!

  • Shikasama #12 1 year ago

    But remember, digital distribution is the wya of the future and everything will be better when games stores are gone!

    This is true because EG commenters say so.

  • DUFFKING #13 1 year ago

    hahahahahahaahaa

    /breath

    hahahaha

    ha.

  • RodHull #14 1 year ago

    Balls, didn't realise it was April 1st. What happened to March?

  • DozyKipper #15 1 year ago

    Holy cow. And this is why we don't want a digital-download console future.

  • Sunyavadin #16 1 year ago

    Christ, I paid that much for my PREORDER!

    AND it came in a big case, with Dr Halsey's diary, among other things!

  • Mkwone #17 1 year ago

    MS have got to realise that they arent going to sell any copies at that price. If the RRP means that a game won't sell at that price it means that the price is wrong.

  • jag10 #18 1 year ago

    blu-ray

  • Cadence #19 1 year ago

    That's got to be a mistake surely?

  • RandomRash #20 1 year ago

    I used to believe in GOD till I realised he was owned by microsoft

  • super_monty #21 1 year ago

    ha ha ha

  • metalangel #22 1 year ago

    This is the future of digital distribution that you all want so badly, folks.

    (Shikasama has beaten me to it, I know, but it really does bear repeating)

  • Machetazo #23 1 year ago

    Halol. Also, I saw the special edition box of Reach on sale for £34, they were clearly trying to get rid after Christmas, and Microsoft want fifty here, for the non-packaged standard version. Goodness. FEAR the day that there's no longer a disc drive on the front of consoles.

  • CaptainQuint #24 1 year ago

    You can't put a price on quality.

    /coat

  • captainrentboy #25 1 year ago

    Shit man, I can't wait for the next gen consoles. Digital downloads only, that's what everyone wants right? :/
    Fucking joke pricing, let's hope physical media is sticking around for a good while yet.

  • twh104 #26 1 year ago

    Didn't Wake come up £24.99, 6 months on?

  • firef7y #27 1 year ago

    They'll sell some at thies price but then they'll be able to lower the price in a few weeks to something more reasonable and stick a big sale sign on. People are gullible and like to spend money.

  • Dannyboy1100 #28 1 year ago

    Am i the only one who read only £50 sarcastically

  • davey_wells #29 1 year ago

    I'd want Microsoft to suck my cock, balls and give me a happy ending AT LEAST for spending £50 on any of their games.

  • GamesConnoisseur #30 1 year ago

    Sigh...

    We may all be rolling around on the floor holding our sides from being ripped asunders from the hilarity of the full price... when today everyone can easily get the good game at much reasonable price via many options.

    Questions must be asked.... MS are not fuckwits, they wont got where they are today by bring staffed full of morons, so they much be indeed reasonable returns for the efforts given and also whereas this is closed market and no competition to drive prices and profit margins down.

    Steam, yes great service and wonders if Sony would actually go further by opening up Steam onto PSN, which I doubts as means cutting themselves out by having direct competitor driving prices and profits down?

    Best policy for us consumers is NOT to buy, and ONLY when heavily discounted, and so sending clear message about correct pricings.

  • trevd72 #31 1 year ago

    and this is why i love pirates cos they (publisher etc) will take the piss so its only fair we have some piss taking ourselves.
    Edited by trevd72 at 15/03/11 @ 23:26

  • Ror1984 #32 1 year ago

    It's crazy, but there's bound to be someone out there that will buy it - after all, some people bought ME2 from PSN for a similar price (though the difference in that case between DL and retail was lower).

  • Syrette #33 1 year ago

    I had to re-read that.

    Surely a mistake?

  • darkmorgado #34 1 year ago

    For that price I would expect it to come with all the DLC and three months Gold subscription.

  • elvenscroll #35 1 year ago

    £17.99 on HMV...

    Believe.

    ;)

  • Zaiz #36 1 year ago

    Hahahahaha what. o_o Must be the legendary information technology conversion rate between USD and other currencies taking effect.

  • bravotwozero007 #37 1 year ago

    robbin' c***s

  • dsmx #38 1 year ago

    Sadly games on demand is the future, a future where you have no competition in pricing.

  • Lucodeath #39 1 year ago

    If u live on a remote island like on the west coast of scotland that has internet and the postal service cant get through cos of snow. Id buy it. cheaper than driving 100 miles, pay for a ferry aswell to get to gamestation.

  • number3son #40 1 year ago

    What's even more ridiculous is that, even if the retail version had been priced this high at some point, the GoD version would still be a huge ripoff since it comes with a whole host of restrictions that the retail version doesn't have - no resale value, can't loan it to a friend, a 7+ gig download requirement, and the risk that MS may one day decide to pull the game (and your right to re-download) from the store entirely.
    Edited by number3son at 16/03/11 @ 01:20

  • Bluetooth #41 1 year ago

    MS still think retail downloaded games should be a premium, that's why. They think consumers will pay over the odds for a discless game when the opposite is true

  • sybixsus #42 1 year ago

    It's well and good complaining, but blame the right people. People don't say this for fun; it's true. Retailers flat out refuse to carry your game if you dare to undercut them, and the publishers are too scared of losing retailers to stand up to them. I know it sounds counter-intuitive to say "blame brick and mortar stores for digital store prices", but in this case, it happens to be a valid thing to do. If you'd prefer to blame the publishers for not having the balls to stand up to greedy retailers, then sure, blame them too/instead. It won't do any good blaming digital retailers though. I mean go ahead and do it if it makes you feel better, but they can't do anything to stop it. I guess they could maybe refuse to sell the game themselves in retaliation and see who scares the publisher more, but that would just make them as big a bunch of pricks as the brick-and-mortar retailers.

  • sfp_noodle #43 1 year ago

    Considering how many copies its sold you'd have thought MS would have the decency to offer a reduced price. Or if they truly had a heart, theyd be donating a good percentage of the sale to the Japan earthquake appeal. I own the game, but if MS offered 20% of the sale to Japan I'd but it again and sell my own copy off. But £50 all for your own pocket? MS? Your lips, my ass. They should meet.

  • spamjavelins #44 1 year ago

    Who would buy this?????

  • altitude2k #45 1 year ago

    They can't undercut retailers. While there's still places selling it close to RRP, that's the price it'll be at.

    Anyway, it's not as if people lack an option.

  • Vin #46 1 year ago

    20 notes in HMV.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #47 1 year ago

    Even though downloadable games should be cheaper overall I personally have no problem paying a bit more than retail prices because I can play the game on the same day and I don't have to put in a disc.

    However, almost twice the price is absolutely ridiculous. If a game goes for 25 at Aamazon and it's 29 on Games on Demand then I will probably think about it - this is about as much difference as I am willing to pay though.

    Honestly, the reason why the price is so high is because 50 is the RRP and MS wants to please retailers. I wonder why MS didn't just lower the RRP? Nobody will take GoD seriously with prices like that.

  • Bulbatron #48 1 year ago

    Wow, that's taking the piss!

    I was beginning to think that the digital download era might be a good thing after all, but shit, if this is how they're planning to treat their customers, then maybe not. I don't understand why Halo Reach gets such special treatment. Is the gap in time between the original release and the Games on Demand version smaller than usual, or not?

    I mean, if the Games on Demand versions could arrive at the same time as the disc versions, then maybe, just maybe, they could just about make that appalling pricing seem palatable.

  • Scimarad #49 1 year ago

    They are SO out of touch it's incredible!

  • Murton #50 1 year ago

    It gets said every time digital distribution pricing comes up but I'll say it again.

    If MS/Sony/publishers even matched retail pricing the retailers would be up in arms claiming anti-competitive behaviour. It must also be noted that publishers (including MS and Sony) need retailers as they guarantee a huge number of sales in terms of initial stock, so they can't afford to piss them off and risk them saying "we'll simply not stock your gear"

  • Tyronne #51 1 year ago

    It is prices like this that make a mockery of digital distribution.Where are the savings from no distribution costs,no store rent and no personnel costs?Its this kinda move that makes me worry what would happen once things are digital download only and there is little if no competition.

    No way should it cost 50 quid.

  • Rack #52 1 year ago

    They can only charge RRP because of retailer pressure, if you want to see what a digital only world is like regarding pricing look at the app store.

  • Koborover #53 1 year ago

    Retail games will be here for a long time.

  • homerramone #54 1 year ago

    This is really going to turn the tide of digital downloads v boxed products then :-)

  • towser #55 1 year ago

    Blame retail.

    Chances are MS hands are tied in terms of how much they charge.

  • TONYgr #56 1 year ago

    I ordered from zavvi the limited edition last week for 27 pounds.Are they stupid or something?

  • menage #57 1 year ago

    FU MS.

    I wonder how many morons would buy this this way when it 20 in stores. Only late night drunks I suppose.

  • Sodding_Gamer #58 1 year ago

    I'd rather buy it pre-owned so I can physically have the game and get the privilege of sniffing the manual. I sound like a tit but f**k it.

  • menage #59 1 year ago

    Steam fucks over retailers all the time, videostores are going out of business every day because of DD. Don't see a problem with undercutting shit that's too expensive. Shit changes.

  • mcmonkeyplc #60 1 year ago

    HAhahahahaha! I want to know how many sales they get off this.

  • lordofthedunce #61 1 year ago

    Halo Rich

  • ShapeThrower #62 1 year ago

    Eeeerm ... if you go into Gamestation at the moment you can buy the Legendary edition for the same price.

  • IronCladChicken #63 1 year ago

    Maybe instead of the current GOD model - They could offer the games as a rental (or subscription) service? Like LoveFilm, NetFLix, etc?

  • Retroid #64 1 year ago

    £50?

    AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    I didn't pay that for the Big Box version with notebook and extras.

  • Tinrib72 #65 1 year ago

    I assume that anyone who buys this from GoD also has loo roll made of £50 notes. Still any sales they get from this will likely generate some kind of soundbite from a Micro$oft PR drone in a few weeks on how they are pleased with the results that they achieve on GoD..

    Even if they get between 1 and 10 sales then it has to worth the effort of simply uploading it to the Live server (this is based on my complete lack of knowledge of whats involved in getting a GoD onto the Live servers..)

  • grep #66 1 year ago

    This may be the last gen that I buy a console for, its been a great gen for people like me who can wait for games to drop in price but if this is the price for games to come I will be heading back into PC gaming.
    Edited by grep at 16/03/11 @ 12:06

  • DAN.E.B #67 1 year ago

    It maybe retails fault that the price is so high
    but MS are trying to convince everyone that this is the best way to go in the futre
    but this has just done the complete oppisite! now I really am worried about download only.
    this was a really bad idea!

  • IrishWarri0r #68 1 year ago

    70 euros in Ireland nearly pissed myself laughing when i seen it??

  • canoot #69 1 year ago

    It's not a surprise considering that everything on GOD is over priced.there are some real fuckwits that work for M$.

  • Entity #70 1 year ago

    Can someone please explain to me how digital downloads can end up costing a lot more, please? No cost to create countless disks/boxes/manuals, no shipping, no staff to pay for a store, no land that requires rental etc...

    I'm missing something here! I get there is server cost and stuff...

  • BlinkeredAxis #71 1 year ago

    Buy it for £20 in a shop and donate the balance to Comic Relief.

    Thereby gain:

    1. A great game
    2. Good feeling about helping people.
    3. Send message to MS

    It's just a creative suggestion.

  • azic #72 1 year ago

    If you are wondering why the game is £50.00 it's to keep the retail happy, games on demand hurt them, they cry, they then make threats like "were pulling your software off our shelves" then they blame piracy (they got that idea off fluffy B) then they allow you to to Pre order a pre owned game..
    Then hopefully..... They go bust because they ***cough-GAME-cough*** are money grabbing c***s