Halo 3: ODST sales reach 2.5 million

By Ellie Gibson Published 9 October, 2009

Plus: Master Chief set to return.

Around 2.5 million people have snapped up Halo 3: ODST in the two weeks since it was released.

That's according to USA Today, which also reports the expansion pack has generated over $125 million in sales and brought the total number of Halo games sold to 27 million.

But what about the rest of the Halo franchise? Any sign of that movie? "We're being very careful to pick the right time and the right partner," said creative director Frank O'Connor. No, then.

However, that doesn't mean we've seen the last of Master Chief. "I think that [his] fate, Cortana's fate and the identity of [SPOILER - read the article if you really want to know] are probably big mysteries that would be irritating if they were just cliffhangers," said O'Connor.

"We do have a plan that goes out at least six years. Eventually, it will become very apparent that there is a plan for the way the canon all ties together and the way the comic books and the novels all tie together."

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (54) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ChthonicEcho #1 2 years ago

    Of course. How else are you going to successfully milk money? Separate key components and charge money for them, so that if players want to get the full experience, they have to buy most if not all of those.

    Go ahead, mark me down, you Halo junkie.

  • S.J.Rogers #2 2 years ago

    I did... :-)

  • LeD #3 2 years ago

    @ChthonicEcho

    And this is bad because?

  • johnboy_johsnon #4 2 years ago

    ODST wasn't a bad game just a bit more of the Halo 3 universe (which is what you'd expect from an expansion). The real downside for me is that Firefight is getting no play time at all due to the lack of match making.

    I thinmk with Reach they really need to try and re-invent the franchise. A new graphics engine wouldn't go astray either:)

  • miiiguel #5 2 years ago

    Fully deserved, awesome game.

    off-topic: didn't mark you down, and I'm a Halo fan. Anti-Halo junkies are fairly common...

  • Shadders #6 2 years ago

    So the planet at the end of Halo3 is Onyx, then?

    Cool.

  • bad09 #7 2 years ago

    I must admit I want the end of H3 resolved and would be irritated if we had another Shenmue :)

    Must get hold of ODST, TBH I've not been that excited about it. Still Batman is going back this week so I might stick at the top of my Swapgame.

  • Shadders #8 2 years ago

    From the article: [O'Connor] says. "It will cover events in and around the planet Reach," where the invading Covenant first attacked humankind in the Halo story line.

    What about Harvest? Surely that was first?

    Frankie's a Halo noob :p

  • HuggyAtHome #9 2 years ago

    Started playing ODST last night - it plays ok but the graphics/sound are average at best. Really don't get the hype - wish I did because I feel that I am missing out.

  • Xerx3s #10 2 years ago

    "Go ahead, mark me down, you Halo junkie. "

    The only reason you get marked down is because your post is rubbish.

    EDIT: There also is a reason why there are so many 'halo junkies'. It's because the halo games are incredibly high quality stuff
    Edited by 1 at 09/10/09 @ 09:38

  • muscleblade #11 2 years ago

    "it plays ok but the graphics/sound are average at best"

    The sound/music is amazing. And it plays much better than ok. Most intuitive fps controls ever made. Even better than in Halo 3 actually. The handgun feels great.

  • miiiguel #12 2 years ago

    "graphics/[/b]sound[/b] are average"

    Sound? Sound of what? Guns? Because the OST is freaking awesome, praised even by ppl like Echo.

  • doragor #13 2 years ago

    @ Xerx3s

    +1

  • sanctusmortis #14 2 years ago

    SIX YEAR PLAN?!? *Headshot*

  • cianchristopher #15 2 years ago

    Yeah, I'll echo what johnboy said! Why didn't they include matchmaking in Firefight? What was the point of that?

  • Moonprince #16 2 years ago

    But what about the rest of the Halo franchise? Any sign of that movie?

    Considering how good district 9 is I think they’ve burnt their bridges and fooked that one really. Could have been soo good :/

  • asphaltcowboy #17 2 years ago

    I'm really enjoying ODST, definitely a great Halo campaign. As for Firefight, it's very good fun, but takes a long time. Not sure why people keep going on about the lack of matchmaking in FF. Why on earth would you want to play with other Halo players rather than your friends? It's bad enough playing against them most of the time!

  • The-Bodybuilder #18 2 years ago

    >"...which also reports the expansion pack..."

    DON'T SAY THAT, otherwise you'll get negged. Apparently, you're not allowed to call it that, it's its own game in its own right, don't you know?
    /awaits the markdown.

  • beastmaster #19 2 years ago

    6 years? This means it'll take it through to a new console launch.

    Expect Halo 4 as a launch title for the next XBox.

  • davisorle #20 2 years ago

    I marked you down. But you shouldntbe that bothered as much as us marking you down as of the fact you are not a quality selfaware gamer. If it weren't for Halo FPS on consoles wouldnt be half as good as as they are now cause simply FPS genre wasnt even that accepted till there were people that loved Halo. Me for example. Id tell you I rather keep clicking on my mouse while I sleep than try to play FPS on a console. Well now I do know that if there had never been Halo then we would only have people like you being sutisfied from generic crap on his generic console...

  • ChthonicEcho #21 2 years ago

    @LeD

    Never said it was universally bad. Consumers simply end up paying much more for the full experience that is divided into smaller pieces. It is simply more subtle and less noticeable, but is almost the same as Activision raising the price for MW2 (to 55 pounds, was it?). Remember the comments under that news article? Everyone went ape shit. On the other hand, Halo fans get more content. Identical content, but if they enjoy it - all the power to them, I say. I mean, I ate up HL2 episodes, and they're all identical.

    @Xerx3s, particularly The only reason you get marked down is because your post is rubbish.

    Good guess, but no. I was marked down because I spoke lowly of a game in a crowd comprised of said game's fans. It's like saying it's not okay to be homosexual in a gay bar.

  • Shadders #22 2 years ago

    @ ChthonicEcho

    It's good that you use the analogy of saying it's not ok to be gay in a gaybar, because that statement would be false no matter where you said it, just like your comments about Halo, it doesn't matter where you say it, it's still wrong.

  • anomagnus #23 2 years ago

    ChthonicEcho

    No, you did get marked down because your post was rubbish.

    Firstly, the idea of milking is bullshit. Four halo games in 8 years is not milking. A six year plan is not milking. You want to see milking? Have a look at mario, that fucker is everywhere.

    As for separate key components, ODST is short, no denying that, but it doesn't feel like a component of anything. It feels like a fully fledged, but short, game able to stand on its own two feet. Its certainly the best shooter i have played this year, and playing it on the higher difficulties is amazing. You try facing down two hunters with 6 grenades and 64 rounds in a assault rifle if you think its incomplete.

  • BillyBrush #24 2 years ago

    I love that people still make comments they know are utter tosh..

    ..and then post 'go on, mark me down, see if i care'

    it just proves you know we think you're a twat, and want to continue to be a twat regardless.....that's not a positive, you're not a member of some honerable resistance, you're just being marked down for being a gimp.

  • The-Bodybuilder #25 2 years ago

    >Why on earth would you want to play with other Halo players rather than your friends? It's bad enough playing against them most of the time!"

    Probably because most of their friends haven't got it yet.
    Its the main barrier preventing me from getting it (yet), I still play gears 2 hoard only with friends (as in, real life friends) and will do so for ODST, but strangely enough, no one on my list has it (or play it atleast).

  • miiiguel #26 2 years ago

    @The Bodybuilder : You'll find plenty of friendly EG'ers on the ODST Matchmaking Forum Thread:

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_posts.php? thread_id=160050
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_po...[/link]
    Edited by 1 at 09/10/09 @ 10:59

  • JonFE #27 2 years ago

    @ ChthonicEcho:

    How exactly is the release of 3 full campaign games (Halo's 1-3), 1 expansion plus additional content (Halo 3: ODST) and 1 spin-off of a completely different genre (Halo Wars) over the period of 8 full years (remember Halo: Combat Evolved was released on November 15, 2001) and 2 separate game consoles is "successfully milking money"? Seriously, that averages to just 1 game per 2 years for the main FPS game...

    /has not marked anyone down...

    EDIT: I somehow missed anomagnus' post...
    Edited by 2 at 09/10/09 @ 11:08

  • sanctusmortis #28 2 years ago

    -4 or no, as a HUGE fan of the series I'm pretty peeved it's gonna take 6 years to resolve. That's a trilogy I reckon...

  • ChthonicEcho #29 2 years ago

    @JonFE

    You've answered your own question, really. I can't see why everyone jumps to hasty conclusions after hearing the expression 'milking money'. It simply means the company is booming. And as they release countless Halo games you were so kind to list, they really are making a lot of money.

    @Shadder

    Exactly. You and everyone else can't seem to realise that I've not uttered a single word against Halo itself. It's humorous to watch everyone jump on their horse and march to battle, when there's no battle to speak of. It's exactly why I've worded the first comment negatively. I knew there'd be a shitstorm of pro-Haloists who think I'm insulting the game, when all I did was simply state the company's strategy. The negative tone is what set people of, not the words.

    Either way, I won't cloud any of your day further, gents. I was just being a twat. It's fun to do once in a while.

  • miiiguel #30 2 years ago

    The negative tone is what set people of, not the words.

    Err... the term "junkie" was offensive enough, imo.
    Edited by 1 at 09/10/09 @ 11:18

  • Eraysor #31 2 years ago

    The longer it goes on the better in my opinion. It's a brilliant universe.

  • ChthonicEcho #32 2 years ago

    Err... the term "junkie" was offensive enough, imo.

    People will look for anything to be offended about. Much harsher words are spoken in jest and laughed off.

  • doragor #33 2 years ago

    @ChthonicEcho

    I marked you down because this sentence:
    "Separate key components and charge money for them, so that if players want to get the full experience, they have to buy most if not all of those."
    is rubbish.
    ODST is a 'component'? Of what? What do I have to buy to complete the experience? Playing the ODST campaign and matchmaking is only part of the experience you say. What completes it?

  • RedSparrows #34 2 years ago

    HALO 4 EVA

  • Xerx3s #35 2 years ago

    Anthony_Daniels: Halo is one of the least milked IP's out there but considering the intellectual level of the post, I highly doubt you are capable of comparing the numbers.

    ChthonicEcho: No, people are tired of reading such rubbish posts. As stated above, the Halo franchise is one of the least milked big name IP's and it goes from strength to strength with each new version. Saying that it's milked is just rubbish.

  • morriss #36 2 years ago

    Excellent. Can't wait.

  • muscleblade #37 2 years ago

    @ChthonicEcho

    "And as they release countless Halo games you were so kind to list"

    5 games is countless to you? Damn you must be bad at counting!

  • MeBrains #38 2 years ago

    donnie: if you compare these figures to say KILLZONE2 you can see what true brand recognition msoft have this gen and why lots of publishers are drawn to the xbox360.

    all it shows is
    (1) that there are plenty of FPS fans on 360 - also look at the MW preorders
    (2) that Halo is a big name
    (3) that PS3 owners do not necessarily buy FPS's

    it has nothing to do with brand recognition PS3 vs 360. it has to do with brand recognition "Halo".

  • patchbox360 #39 2 years ago

    The Bungie one hit wonder - make a game with decent graphics you 10 year old rehash merchants

  • des #40 2 years ago

    Disappointing,6+ billion people live on earth,2.5 million sold in two weeks,Bungie better step up its game.

    Halo Kart,oh yes,please make it.

  • MeBrains #41 2 years ago

    haha. i get negged and donnie upped with this.

    donnie: rubbish, fps is the most popular genre on both systems, its just that the 360 has the best and most popular franchises and if you combine this with the superior xboxLIVE you can see why 360 fps sell the most. RESISTANCE1/2,KILLZONE2/SOCOM/WARHAWK etc.. are all sony exclusive shooters but because their sales have been so lackluste people forget how many shooters the ps3 has. also i might add the biggest ever Mplatform seller on ps3 is cod4 and codWAW.

    fps is by far more popular on 360 than on PS3. Reason of it mainly is that FPS's are extremely popular in the US compared to other regions and we both know (I suppose) that 360 is only doing _very_ well in the US. In Japan it is not holding its own at all. In Europe it is not performing as well as the PS3, but doing ok.

    Remember the US's love for FPS's and read this:
    360's top-10 all time sellers: 5 FPS's vs PS3's 3 FPS's.
    360's top-20 all time selelrs: 8 FPS's vs PS3's 5.

    With your mentioning of Warhawk and Socom, you further prove my point. FPS's just are not as popular on PS3! Never mind Live! You are also mistaking that the biggest mplatform seller on PS3 is COD. It is not, it is GTA4.
    Edited by 2 at 09/10/09 @ 16:53

  • muscleblade #42 2 years ago

    "What mysteries were left at the end of Halo 3 other than MC's fate and Cortana's fate?"

    They landet on a mysterious planet. Thats all.

    Mysteries: What is this place? How do they get out of there? Are there evil beings on this planet? Etc.

  • Wolverfrog #43 2 years ago

    So Doctor Halsey, Blue Team, Mendez, etc etc are all eventually going to be in a game? If it ties up together.

    Interesting.

  • Goodfella #44 2 years ago

    @ donnie

    So almost 2 million copies of Killzone 2 and 5.3 million for Resistance 1 & 2 is lacklustre? I'd hate to think what your definition of abysmal is.

  • VibratingDonkey #45 2 years ago

    "Plus: Master Chief set to return. "
    As a non-fan of Halo: Nooooo! I recognize that Bungie has got talent, but the whole Halo universe does nothing for me. Mr. Futuristic Motocross does particularly little and indicates they're still clinging onto the Halo of old and hesitating to move on. I want a game for me, screw all you other 9 million people!

    The whole franchise expansion explosion Microsoft is assaulting us with is crazy. Good for them and fans of Halo if it succeeds, but it's just crazy how big this thing has evidently grown. I'm properly flabbergasted I am. Truly Halo is the Star Wars of videogames. Truly.

    Oh wait, never mind, Bungie won't be attached to future Halo games (probably). Hurray!
    Edited by 4 at 09/10/09 @ 15:02

  • muscleblade #46 2 years ago

    "So almost 2 million copies of Killzone 2 and 5.3 million for Resistance 1 & 2 is lacklustre?"

    Of course not. 2,5 millions the first couple of weeks for a full priced game marketed as an expansion pack is still a lot better.

  • ronuds #47 2 years ago

    2m sold for one of your biggest and most hyped exclusives this generation is kinda lackluster...

  • ronuds #48 2 years ago

    @ trebell

    Yes, I was referring to KZ2. I don't know that anyone would call its sales spectacular.

    For the PS3 I suppose they're ok sales, but compare that to the best selling 360 and Wii exclusives and it isn't very good.

  • EmiliasHorse #49 2 years ago

    Has Killzone 2 only sold 2 million copies??

    Congrats to Bungie and MS, ODST is short but sweet, like all great games I still wanted more when the end credits appeared.

    Cannot wait for Reach and Halo 4.

  • TRUTH #50 2 years ago

    Just been playing Halo 3 again (have not got ODST yet!)...I it reminded me how bloody good the fighting is in this game - the enemy Ai is still the best on console fps (esp on harder settings) as with the use of vehicles. The weapons and music still put a smile on my face. Infact I enjoyed it more the 2nd time round I played it, and actually made COD 4 & 5, Killzone 2 (I still think this is bland and simplistic shooter) look fairly average combat fps...The music, pace, AI, battles, use of vehicles, characters, use of weapons, approach...all fit in the game almost effortlessly - which is missing in most other fps (except Half Life 2). I was about to sell Halo 3 - but have changed my mind since re playing it and discovering that battles are still ahead of any other fps on any console at present.
    Edited by 1 at 09/10/09 @ 18:15

  • MeBrains #51 2 years ago

    donnie: "if you compare its 50m budget/5 year dev time to HALOODST you can clearly see which console has the more popular and sucessful shooters."

    so you are agreeing with me now?! O_o


    anyhows. digging into this further, I do indeed accept that K2's sales have not been good. "Only" 2 million for one of the most hyped FPS's on PS3, one which started all the negative talk and turned out to be quite good and quite close to the "target render" is not good indeed - when compared to COD4's almost 5 million...

    strange that...

  • lucky_jim #52 2 years ago

    Halo is great, and always has been. Even Halo 2 was great, even though it was slightly less great than the others. Most people who dispute this are snobs who think that something's popularity automatically makes it low-brow (or they're simple fanboys).

  • Svecke #53 2 years ago

    Gods, I hope they release matchmaking for ODST soon. For us bastards that don't have any friends.

  • Geordiemp #54 2 years ago

    Going by sales means Wii fit is the best game ever.

    I got 2 copies of Halo 3, cool game for coop but showing its age. ODST not interested so much, wait for a price drop.

    I think what gets people anoyed is the lazy expansion and still ps2 resolution graphics...
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/09 @ 18:44