Microsoft halts development on Halo: Online "ElDewrito"

TLDR: Microsoft has requested a halt in development on the ElDewrito mod for Halo: Online since the mod is using assets that are owned by Microsoft. For the time being, the game can still be played on PC.

Microsoft, 343, and ElDewrito will discuss about the future. Microsoft has noted that there is an extreme demand for Halo on PC and are looking forward to the future of Halo on PC. However, nothing to announce today.

Microsoft are hoping to partner with ElDewrito, the modding and content creation community, to bring future experiences of Halo for PC...in the future.

Master Chief Collection for PC coming this year! (After they finish fix it on Xbox One)

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ElDewrito's Post:

ElDewrito’s 0.6 update has been everything we could have hoped for and so much more. The community response and support we have been given has been exciting, humbling, above all, appreciated. We have poured our hearts and souls into this game, and you have been the best community we could have asked for.

Unfortunately, 343 Industries and Microsoft have noticed it’s success, and have reached out to us regarding potential legal action, and have requested we temporarily halt development.

Microsoft had this to say about 0.6′s release.

“While we are humbled and inspired to see the amount of passion poured into this project, the fact remains that it’s built upon Microsoft-owned assets that were never lawfully released or authorized for this purpose. As this project reverberated across the community, our team took a step back to assess the materials and explore possible avenues, while Microsoft, like any company, has a responsibility to protect its IP, code and trademarks. It’s not optional in other words. “

“BTW, we’re not “shutting down the mod” or going after the Eldewrito crew - we’re enacting action to remove the Halo Online code and packages from places it’s being hosted.. “

There was no Cease and Desist, no DMCA, just an brief conversation about what they suggest we do.

What does this mean for the future of ElDewrito?

To be completely honest, we do not know the answer to this question yet. Our conversation with 343 was very brief. Since ElDewrito itself is simply an open source mod and not a Microsoft asset, the mod itself will not be taken down. However, it appears that any Microsoft assets required to play the game (MS23 builds, Full 0.6 game zips, ect) will likely be taken down by Microsoft. All we know is that have been told to temporarily halt development until more information is available, and we must honor this request. During this time, please do not make threats or harass 343 Industries.

Can We Still Play 0.6?

Yes, absolutely! Play the hell out of it. Create more incredible forge creations. You can resume playing 0.6 as normal. It is important to note that ElDewrito itself is not being taken down - just any and all of Microsoft’s assets are. In the meantime, enjoy the great game that we have poured our hearts into.

Source: http://blog.eldewrito.com/

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Microsoft and 343's Post:

By 343 Industrie

Today we want to let our community know that Microsoft has initiated actions to protect its Halo intellectual property in the wake of the recent “ElDewrito” PC release. Community created content has long been a key pillar in the Halo franchise and something we have continuously sought to support – from the early beginnings of Red vs. Blue to Forge-made maps & modes to the “Halo Custom Edition” to original recent fan creations like “Installation 01.” These projects, and others like them, have one key factor in common – they fit within Microsoft’s established content usage guidelines.

Back in 2014, Microsoft, 343 and Sabre Interactive partnered to develop “Halo Online” – a title that was being developed exclusively for the Russian market. The game was subsequently put on indefinite hold but Halo Online ended up in the wild beyond its intended audience and official scope, resulting in DMCA takedown notices being issued by Microsoft. As time went by, Halo Online faded and fell off the radar until the recent exposure of the .6 update shined a new light on the current ElDewrito project. While we are humbled and inspired to see the amount of passion poured into this project, the fact remains that it’s built upon Microsoft-owned assets that were never lawfully released or authorized for this purpose. As this project reverberated across the community, our team took a step back to assess the materials and explore possible avenues, while Microsoft, like any company, has a responsibility to protect its IP, code and trademarks. It’s not optional in other words.

We’d like to clear up a few areas of confusion we’ve seen across the community over the past few days regarding ElDewrito and other fan-made projects. In the case of the original Halo Custom Edition, that was as a specific add-on to Halo PC to officially empower the mod and content creation community to essentially go nuts with Halo: Combat Evolved (it even required a valid Halo PC retail key). More recently, Installation 01 has garnered some buzz and even made headlines for receiving a thumbs-up from 343. Installation 01 is an original work, built from the ground up in a separate engine, that abides by Microsoft’s content usage guidelines. With Halo Online, there’s a common misconception that once it was canceled, the assets were either turned over as “open source” or left for the community’s whims as “abandonware” – neither of which is actually true. Not only did Microsoft issue takedown notices at the time of the original leaks, but many elements of that underlying code and content are still actively being used today and will continue to be in the future.

As Microsoft’s need to protect its IP spun up, we reached out to members of the ElDewrito team to have an open discussion about the project and the admittedly difficult situation we all find ourselves in. The ElDewrito team is understandably upset at this outcome given the time they’ve each invested in this project, but they understand the legal implications and the need to press pause on this work. One thing remains clear – the community really wants more Halo on PC. As we look ahead, we’re very excited about the prospects of an official classic Halo experience making its way to PC and we hope to be able to partner with the ElDewrito team and broader mod and content creation community to help inform the types of experiences and features our fans desire. While we have nothing to announce today, please know that the PC community is very important to us and top of mind as we work towards the future.

We’d like to extend our thanks to the community at large for constantly pouring so much passion into Halo. While it’s unfortunate to find ourselves as the bearers of bad legal news, the outpouring of support and excitement is inspiring and together, in partnership with this community, we believe we can really do great things for the future of Halo.

Thank you

Source: https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/eldewrito-community-content

They could've sent lawyers to their place like Rockstar did.

I think I would buy a Halo collection on PC if it worked correctly.

Man, the times have changed. So many lems jumped ship and bought a PC this generation. 5-10 years ago nobody wanted Halo on PC, and now that ElDewrito mod gets this much attention and popularity.

if they release the MCC on pc i will smash my Xbox X into a million pieces and upload the video to youtube.

Halo could have been a goldmine on PC, but they were too busy using this title to fight the console war. I'm still iffy if they'll make the next Halo mainline entry play anywhere. Despite Halo 1 and 2 ending up on PC eventually, I'm just not sure they'll pull the trigger.

As long as MCC makes it on PC, that all I really care about. Nothing else matters, only MCC PC version.

Please make Halo good again and make it come to PC. Had so much fun with Halo: CE MP on PC back in the day.

Since they very stupidly removed splitscreen, a PC version would be the only option for me. Not a single friend of mine wants an Xbox One without a splitscreen Halo, and I personally sure as hell don't want one either.

I'd be totally interested in MCC PC version.. Halo 2 sucked, but I think 3 was ok. Not sure about 4.. Do people play the Halo: CE MP? Would be fun to relive that shit.

@ShadowDeathX: I think the deal is that they can license the IP, but if they don't at least make an effort to defend it in cases where it's being taken without asking, then that might work against them later if they have to bring a case against someone. I know in the case of a trademark, if they don't defend it, it risks becoming commonplace and then it's worthless. Examples would be aspirin, escalator, thermos, etc. You don't lose copyright just because someone else used it, but if you're seeking damages for someone's infringement, then that could affect the judgement.

"If You Don’t Protect Your Copyright, You Lose It"

Copyright is not like trademark. Copyright has a set period of time for which it is valid and, unless you take some kind of action, you do not give up those rights.

To be fair, the level of enforcement or protection you’ve provided a work can be a factor in how much damages are awarded. For example, if a photo you took has been circulating widely for years with no action and you sue one user of the work, that would mitigate the market value of the work, the damage the infringement could have done and how the court feels about the infringement itself. All of these things can affect the final judgment. However, unlike trademarks, which do have to be defended, there is nothing the precludes you from enforcing your copyrights at a later date.

Maybe don't use other people's IP when creating your own thing.

Nintendo got so much hate for shutting down AMR2 or whatever it's called. It's just business, and these little kids need to learn the laws of the land.

You know what, I actually agree with this.

If it's not your creation then you don't have the right to market it as so even in an attempt to "honor" that creation.

It may be a good idea for MS to PAY them and see what they come out with so they can expand and improve the Halo formula.

As for the guys responsible for the project...they should have just used their own assets and name when creating the game even if it was mostly the same.

Call it Jhalo (pronounced J-lo) lol or something.

There's always a risk when you're building a fan made project of any IP of course, but the ToU of Halo has explicitly allowed the IP itself to be used for fan made projects forever.

The problem is it seems that ElDewrito was using some code and other assets directly. That's where Microsoft and 343 are drawing the line and they are handling it in basically the best way possible. They are allowing the game to continue to exist and be played, but they are halting development on the current build until the developers can prove they are going to swap out those assets and code for custom built ones.

If Microsoft was wise, they would let this project continue just to gauge how large the PC audience could be and try to build up a knowledgebase about the PC community's interest and approach to Halo.

I'd go as far to say HIRE them, have them work for them developing the PC project and ALSO have them to create it for Xbox players as well allowing them to play together.

From there they could go on to create another project that they could market as a new IP or spin off using the foundation of what they had before.

That is Microsoft hasn't done a cease and desist on Installation 01 because it is fan made halo game with its assets being created from the ground up while halo eldewrito was using assets from the Russian f2p halo game that Microsoft owns