Halo 3 is coming to PC. Eight years after Master Chief’s last great multiplayer playground hit the Xbox 360, it’s coming alive, for free, on the PC—but not at the hands of Microsoft. Or Bungie. In one of the strangest things to happen on PC this year, Halo 3’s protracted PC birth is coming from a group of modders transforming the free-to-play, Russia-only beta Halo Online into their favorite Halo game.
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ElDewrito is (was?) a community-made mod for Halo Online, the cancelled free PC game based on Halo 3 Microsoft built for the Russian market.
ElDewrito lets you play multiplayer games in player-hosted servers, with multiple server browsers, player and emblem customisation, stat tracking and even ranked and social servers.
Now, Halo custodian 343 Industries has signalled Microsoft has lawyered up. In a post on Halo Waypoint, 343 said Microsoft had "initiated actions to protect its Halo intellectual property", which sounds a bit like Skynet sent the Terminator after the modders.
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
Good on you, M$. Fans are so passionate about the series that they take it upon themselves to bring the MP to PC, but instead of going "damn, why don't we just release some actual games on PC again?", you try to kill this project and say fuck it. Bravo. It's not like bringing Halo MP to PC wouldn't print money for you or anything...
I guess they're afraid because of how disastrous Halo 2 was on PC (which was 100% M$'s fault as well for anyone who remembers.)
"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. The distinction may seem like semantics to a lot of folks, and I don’t blame them for assuming that, but to be clear, this is a legally necessary step to protect code, product, IP, trademarks and copyrights, and is not optional. We’re a publicly traded company, and we have a fiduciary and legal responsibility to our shareholders, and further, if we don’t take steps to protect it, then we actually run the legal risk of losing it - and there’s code and content in there that is still very much in use."
-Frank O'Connor
You said it best. The only thing I can add is that there are a bunch of dick moves happening and they don't need to bother a niche population still enjoying a classic.
". . . if we don’t take steps to protect it, then we actually run the legal risk of losing it . . ."
I've said something to that effect here in the past, usually in relation to Nintendo taking down some fan project involving their games & characters. That's just the way it is. Companies have not just the right, but the obligation to prevent their IP's unauthorized use. This legal requirement can only change if the applicable law changes.
Thanks for the quote, slate91.
Well you need to understand. Microsoft has already said ALL FUTURE EXCLUSIVES WILL ALSO BE ON PC.
Every Microsoft game since then has had a pc version. So halo 6 will be on pc. Which is obviously why they don’t want some rogue devs to capatilise on it.
Read what Frankie from 343 had to say before you make assumptions. As a business they are required to do this.
https://www.resetera.com/th...
"No, we are not going to put it out in pc. No, we are not going to allow you to make it yourselves. Oh stop crying, here you have an underdeveloped halo forge."
The sad part is that there is people that is going to defend this
"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."
"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. "
-343 Industries
You people need to relax. Halo 6 will be on PC and also Xbox is launching a streaming service so every single Xbox game will finally be available on PC. Your dreams will be fulfilled
Good to see an accurate headline. Eldewrito has not been shut down--you can still download it and play it. Microsoft is just taking steps to end development and updates.
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