Xbox One owners can begin to pre-download Halo: The Master Chief Collection from Friday, October 17, meaning that the game can unlock instantly on its day of release.
However, a day-one patch weighing about 20 GB will need to be downloaded and installed to unlock all of the game's content. The size of the game itself is already quite considerable, at about 45 GB.
Dan Ayoub, the studio head at 343 Industries, says that some of the game will be accessible while the vast patch downloads. Other key features will not.
"You’ll be able to start playing Campaign and more as the content is installing, with some features and multiplayer content being added via the update," he wrote on the Xbox news wire.
"Yes, the update is large, but we weren't about to cut corners to save disc space. This ensures that you are getting every bit of Halo goodness we can fit in."
Halo: The Master Chief Collection contains four complete Halo games, with every multiplayer map ever released, along with all the console and PC DLC. Both Halo 1 and 2 have been remastered, resplendent with high-definition graphics and updated textures.
However, the whole package won't be released all at once. Spartan Ops, the episodic co-op game from Halo 4, will now release in December.
Microsoft has also announced that development of the Xbox One anthology has been completed. It has also amended the release dates in some territories so that the game can release internationally at the same time. As a result, Halo: The Master Chief Collection will ship across North America and Europe on November 11.
There are some exceptions, however. The game will ship in Belgium on November 12, in Japan Nov 13, and in France on Nov 14.
Ayoub said the team was "really happy to get it as close to a simultaneous worldwide release as possible so that we can all celebrate on November 11 and start playing together."
I don't mind the patch size but I would like the ability to preload the patch. Even with fast Internet it's going to take a while to download 20GB. It's not like you can play the game without the disc anyway, so I don't see why Microsoft can't offer the option to start downloading it a day or two earlier so when we get back from the store we can start playing online.
I have to be at work before 6AM the day it comes out, so I might just pick it up at the midnight launch and start the download before I go to bed. No big deal for me but I'm sure others may be a little upset if they wanted to start multiplayer that night.
I don't know if I will buy it but I may borrow a friend's. The only games I would play are halo 1 and 2. I hated 3 with a passion and I'm tired from playing 4 for not too long ago. This is a great buy for anyone who loves the series or has missed out on the games, but Halo for me hasn't been the same since halo 2. I would give anything to have duel wielding back. Also that is quite the hefty download. I am not sure how long I would want that lingering on my HD.
This is why streaming is better
On a serious note it looks like I'm going to cancel the disc pre-order to have the 45GB game downloaded on launch day JUST to wait until the 20GB patch downloads. Sigh..
@kobyjordan7 Well, you can play campaign in the interim, or custom.
The patch better have recon.
Can you play the campaigns without downloading the patch at all?
If not there's no way my 15 gb a month wi-fi is going to cut it.
@jamieparsons The article said limited campaign play immediately, but who knows to what degree that means. Also do not forget there will be a retail version at stores, no reason to waste gbs.
@jenovaschilld @jamieparsons Well I'm buying the retail version for sure. It would take me five months to download the full game!
Being able to play campaign is enough for me as I rarely play online, so if the campaign is playable without the patch it's the difference between buying the game or not.
@jamieparsons I'm pretty sure you can at least play some parts of it considering people who don't have internet should still be able to play. However, without the patch I can almost guarantee that you won't be able to play online. With a 15GB limit, are you using your phone as a mobile hotspot? The only thing I could suggest is going to a buddy's house to download the update.
@jamieparsons @jenovaschilld You may be able to call your ISP prior to downloading, and explain the ordeal. Sometimes you'll be surprised, and you'll receive a temporary lift on your cap.
Eh. This is kind of disappointing because when the future comes and I can no longer (easily) access this patch, I want to still be able to play the full game off my disc.
@simuseb2 Create an archive of the data.
Thought the future was Blu-ray disks?
Normally I would have seen the release of a bunch of past gen games as pretty cynical but honestly I'm really stoked for the release of this compilation. I still prefer playing Halo over a lot of other MP games. I didn't feel Titanfall really lived up to expectations, I don't have to elaborate on what was wrong with Battlefield 4. One year into this next gen and Halo is still my go to game for multiplayer.
500gb hard drive wasn't even close to enough. Instead of shoving that camera down our throats they should have went with a 2tb unit right from the start.
I picked up a 4tb external, I'd recommend everybody else do the same.
@ScaredySquirrel I think people already had that idea long before this.
@sanchango @ScaredySquirrel
they should have done what Sony did and have the hard drive swappable without paying out the nose for a 'microsoft exclusive' hard drive. I've got a PS4 and a Wii U and by christmas the Xbox One but this is one of the reasons why I'm getting it last.
@karloss01 @sanchango @ScaredySquirrel microsof exclusive hard drive?
You know you can connect any external hardrive and download your games there right?
It's really awesome to see that they didn't just cut content to fit it on the blu-ray.
However, it's another shining example of how a 500GB hard drive in this generation is just not gonna cut it, and I'm certainly not gonna buy an external HDD, the last thing I need is MORE wires... the back of my entertainment center looks like a bowl of black spaghetti...
NES
SNES
Genesis
32X
Sega CD
Saturn
Dreamcast
N64
PS1
PS2
PS3
PS4
PS TV
Wii
Wii U
Xbox
Xbox360
XboxOne
Docking for PS Vita
Docking for PSP
Docking for 3DS
My PC (Which sadly doesn't have wifi, it's tethered)
2 Tvs
5.2 Surround System
No way is an EXTERNAL HDD an acceptable option.
@VenkmanPHD
@VenkmanPHD I guess you don't know what cable management is.
@o311rocks @VenkmanPHD You mean zipties? I can't even count how many are there. Along with having my surge protectors all bolted to the wall to simplify.
But that doesn't help much when you have 60+ cables running
@VenkmanPHD can I ask why you have a PS TV? not being a fanboy of the other consoles or anything, but I don't see the point of owning one seeing as you have the all the past generations(both consoles and handhelds minus PSP Go). Unless I'm missing something here.
@sanchango @VenkmanPHD Well mostly so I could play PS Vita games on my TV. Some of them don't work... which sucks.
However there is a lot that do, plus I like the idea of moving JUST that to another TV if I ever need to play PS4.
Plus, I have PS + and I'm always getting new games for it. Now I can keep almost 2 running libraries of my Vita Collection. One for the TV and one for my Handheld.
@VenkmanPHD Use your computer to emulate the old consoles. The old PS3 would take care of the PS1, PS2, and PS3 games. The Wii U plays all Wii games. The 360 plays many Xbox games. The lack of reverse compatibility with Xbox One and PS4 certainly doesn't help your situation, but this should still save you around 8 consoles worth of space.
@Defender1978 @VenkmanPHD I have a fully functional hyperspin set up on my PC, but you can't top having to b low out those old cartridges. The old PS3 is a piece of c rap and has what.. 20gb of internally memory? Yeah no thanks... the 360 doesn't play ALL my xbox game (namely toejam and earl 3). As for the Wii U, it doesn't play gamecube games, and don't even get me started on the necessity of HBC.
@VenkmanPHD To each his own. My "piece of crap" PS3 is completely backwards compatible with PS1/PS2 games and has a 500 gb hdd.
So much for that plug and play.
@holtrocks It's better than having content cut.
Also why they do pre-downloading
Why are people offended by my comments it's simple
People with crappy or no internet connection shouldn't criticize great online focused franchises like Halo, Call Of Duty, Battlefield and Destiny if you can't afford internet don't go on gaming sites bitching about it just play your non online games and injoy
@gottago42 remember when the original Xbox came out with a broadband connection and everyone complained about how few people had high speed internet...that was 13 YEARS ago. I know that there are some places that still don't have high speed internet but come on, there can't be that many.
@gottago42 at 60 gig, even 100 mbps dl will take some hours. a few years ago fios was barely 50
@sandman338 @gottago42 There's more countries in the world than just America.
@gottago42
In my area the highest amount you can get is Broadband 15 GB. That's $110 per month. How am I supposed to download a 25 GB patch on that?
@gottago42 I think you need to look at the US broadband penetration maps. While DSL/CABLE broadband is readily available to 60% of the USA the rest is covered by very loosely defined 'broadband' which is 0.7mb or what the FCC classified as 10Xdial up. BUt of course data limits, latency, functionality, server zones, etc is not included in that equation, and even those with 'broadband' of all sorts will not all have access to what you have.
For instance many parts of the country that do have access to alternative broadbands like, wifi, satellite, 3g-4g, tera satellites, - technically have broadband but do to extremes in latency (satellites 2000ms), data caps, and my favorite- rolling data blackouts (where by a provider is close to their limits so they slow their customers down randomly to dial up speed). And 3g-4g and tera t1 connections that provides communities have latency spikes and usually their equipment will not allow port forwarding for certains games and functions.
You know gottago42 - I do no think I have ever heard anyone come on the boards anywhere and complain they can not afford broadband gaming internet. Considering games have been offline many generations before online I empathize those folks who are military servicemen whois access to online services are very limited, or who have to travel, or who just were unlucky to live in an area not yet serviced by high speed. Sometimes the choice of internet is not a matter of affordability but simply access, even the richest man in hell may not have much ice for his soda. What is tackless is a child like you -dangling what you seem to have - over those that do not. Like a rich kid who rides his new bike around and around the neighborhood to make sure every one sees.
Again I have never seen anyone come on the boards to complain about a game having online features, just with games that are forced with online features that are just tacked on for increased publisher profits (diablo 3 - DRM, and metadata gathering), or changes in retail for increased profits. The future is online and retail will shrink - but insulting those who have not by those that have - seems lame by any standards.
@jamieparsons @gottago42 Call your ISP, request a temporary cap lift and explain the situation.
A 15GB/month limit is rather horrific where online gaming is concerned, though. The disc will however allow access to the complete campaign.
Rather go to a shop buy the game, turn off my internet connection and install it in minutes. turn on my internet load up online and boom there is no patch for Disc owners.
@xboxonly1 You do realize this covers the disc version too right? So even if you have the physical copy store bought that 20gb still has to be downloaded.
@night_drifter05 @xboxonly1 Yes but you can play hile downloading the multiplayer content :) so i can go throughthe campaign first :D
@xboxonly1 @night_drifter05 Ummm...You can pre-download the game so it's ready to play when the game is released. That beats having to leave your house, dealing with traffic and using the gas to get to the store. The pre-download actually starts today.
@soullessshadow @xboxonly1 @night_drifter05 Soullessshadow is right, however he forgot one thing.
You can't trade in your digital copy when you are done with it. Which has become one of the best aspects of playing video games. Saves you sooooo much money.
@VenkmanPHD @soullessshadow @xboxonly1 @night_drifter05
Yup, I still trade games in but I'm pretty sure I won't be trading in this compilation so buying the download just makes sense for me.
@VenkmanPHD @soullessshadow @xboxonly1 @night_drifter05 i dont like selling games, i like to keep as a collection even they are just wasting space.
@edro @VenkmanPHD @soullessshadow @xboxonly1 @night_drifter05
That´s why I go all digital. I don´t like selling games, I like to keep as a collection and I don´t like wasting space.
@VenkmanPHD @soullessshadow @xboxonly1 @night_drifter05 I'm a collector, I don't trade games.
Hey I got a idea people with crappy internet should'nt buy games like Call of Duty, Destiny, Halo and other games that require internet connection to injoy, you people should stick to games like Evil Within and single player only games of that nature instead of bitching about internet requirements for online focused games
@gottago42 Halo and COD do not require internet to play the campaign.
@gottago42 Halo came out in 2001. It's never been an 'online-focused game'.
Why not just preload the patch along with the game since it has gone gold...?
@xxstrghtmnyxx Funny, I had the same thought.
@xxstrghtmnyxx
Yeah, I hope they do that. I guess it depends on whether or not the actual update is ready before launch day.