It has been 15 years since Bungie delivered the critically acclaimedHalo 3, and that makes it the perfect time for an anniversary edition. As of now, bothHalo: Combat EvolvedandHalo 2have received anniversary remasters. These remasters have served as a great way to celebrate the olderHalotitles and bring them more inline with newer hardware, and it is about time thatHalo 3gets the same treatment.
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversaryreleased 10 years afterHalo: Combat Evolved, andHalo 2 Anniversarylaunched 10 years afterHalo 2. It has been relatively much longer since the release ofHalo 3, but there is no anniversary edition in sight. It was a groundbreaking title for the series, and it capped off the iconic original trilogy. While players can check out the original game inHalo: The Master Chief Collection, there is nothing quite like experiencing an older game through the power of modern hardware.
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Halo 3 Delivered a Great Closing Chapter to Bungie’s Story
Halo 3served as the last mainlineHalogame from Bungie, and it closed out the Xbox trilogy. While Bungie would return to create two prequels withHalo 3: ODSTandHalo Reach, this would serve asthe last Master Chief storyfrom the developer. As such, it concluded Master Chief’s journey by ending the war that was the driving force behind the original trilogy. It served as a great closing chapter to the story that started back in 2001, and many fans consider it to be one of the last greatHalogames.
Halo 3not only saw the end of the Human-Covenant war and the Chief’s story at the time, but it was also the first game to include thevery popular map-editing tool Forge. It allows players to create all sorts of scenarios on the various multiplayer maps, and it has only grown more advanced as the series has gone on. 343 Industries is currently preparing to add the newest version of Forge toHalo Infinite, and it is all thanks toHalo 3.
The Need for Halo 3 Anniversary Edition
The creation of Forge mode and closing chapter of the original trilogy all happened 15 years ago, but there is no remaster on the horizon.Halo Combat Evolved AnniversaryandHalo 2 Anniversaryserved as big anniversary celebrationsfor their respective titles, but that happened on the 10th anniversaries. This makes aHalo 3 Anniversarylong overdue, and there has never been a better time to release it.
TheHalofranchise is in a bit of a tough spot right now. Many fans are upset about the handling ofHalo Infinite’smultiplayer and the cancelation of promised features like couch co-op. Some do not believe that 343 Industries is cut out to manage theHalolicense, and many call forthe return ofHalo’s glory days. Many players have even chosen to dropHalo Infinitealtogether and return to the classic games withHalo: The Master Chief Collection. The future ofHalois currently uncertain, but aHalo 3 Anniversarycould go a long way to appeasing the fanbase.
Spending resources remastering the closing chapter of Bungie’s trilogy could be an excellent idea. Letting players experiencethe end ofHalo’s Human-Covenant warrebuilt for modern hardware could go a long way to pulling some fans back. It is not a new game, and it would not be trying to tread any new ground. Instead, it would simply be a remaster of one of the most popularHalogames in the franchise. Fans may flock to it, eager to get their hands on a game that they feel represents the peak ofHalo.
Releasing aHalo 3 Anniversarywould also be a great way to celebrate the game’s 15th anniversary. Technically, the game will turn 15 on September 25th. It is probably unlikely that 343 Industries will surprise fans withHalo 3 Anniversaryon that day, but it should consider making one soon. It would not only help celebrate an acclaimed game, but it could also really help pull back fans who may be turned off by 343 Industries' work.
Halo Infiniteis available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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