The Halo saga on Xbox 360 will cease matchmaking functions in one year: in December 2021. We say goodbye to a legendary era on Xbox Live.
343 Industries sets a definitive date for the termination of multiplayer support for the Halo franchise on Xbox 360. The matchmaking of the bulk of deliveries will stop working within a year, in December 2021. The company makes it clear that “it will not be before” that date ; Along the way they will go through various phases of this online feature blackout.
“Maintaining these legacy services right now requires significant time and resources that directly impact the studio’s ability to support current and future projects such as Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo Infinite,” they describe at Halo Waypoint. The affected games, in this case, are Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo Reach, Halo 4, Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo Spartan Assault, and Halo Wars. These last two are the only ones on Xbox 360 that will keep your matchmaking going.
Halo Xbox 360 services are going offline in December 2021. Games remain playable indefinitely, but some experiences will be impacted.
Please visit https://t.co/9934rbtGdO for all the info. pic.twitter.com/11hEpzUrwE
– Halo (@Halo) December 18, 2020
The plan began late last year, when more than 6 million creations were migrated to the Master Chief’s collection. Currently we would be in what they call “phase 2”, in which the digital sale of the affected deliveries in Microsoft Store stops and the download of free additional content is allowed. Throughout 2021, the players will continue to be notified of the termination through all the official channels of the franchise, a 12-month path that will take until next December, when they are definitely turned off.
These changes will not affect solo modes. You’ll still have access to Split Screen, Campaign, Gunfight, Spartan Ops, Custom Games, and LAN. As usual, achievements that require multiplayer will not be able to be unlocked from that date. Also the shared file system, challenges, customization (except Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST) will not be accessible. The image at the top will make it clear to you what will happen.
