One of the biggest topics that has dominated the gaming landscape in recent months isXbox’s multiplatform push. In early 2024, Microsoft announced that it was bringing four of its first-party games to PlayStation 5 and/or Nintendo Switch. These includedGroundedandPentimentfrom Obsidian Entertainment,Hi-Fi Rushfrom Tango Gameworks, andSea of Thievesfrom Rare. At the time, it appeared Microsoft was just testing the waters with these multiplatform releases and hadn’t committed to completely abandoningXboxexclusivity. However, the situation changed drastically in the coming months.
Recently, Microsoft announced that it intends to bring several flagship Xbox first-party titles, includingIndiana Jones and the Great Circle,Doom: The Dark Ages, andForza Horizon 5, to PlayStation 5 this year. If the reports from trusted insiders are to be believed, however, this is only the beginning. Several leakers have not only suggested thatHalo: The Master Chief Collectionwill be coming to PS5 in 2025, but that most, if not all,future Xbox first-party games will be launched on PlayStationand/or Nintendo consoles on day one. This means that the next majorHalogame may be released on PS5 the same day as on Xbox. If this actually happens, Microsoft will need to time its release perfectly, because there is a lot of competition that could steal the thunder away from aHaloPS5 port.
Halo’s PS5 Debut Needs to Be Timed Perfectly
The moment thatHalomakes the jump to PlayStation 5 will, no doubt, be a monumental occasion.Halois, far and away, the flagship franchise for the Xbox brand, so to see it on a non-Xbox console will feel surreal. Even thoughthe sci-fi FPS serieshas lost its luster over the years due to consistently controversial game releases,Halowill probably do incredibly well on PlayStation 5. However, there are many other sci-fi games releasing on PlayStation in the near future, all of which could potentially have a negative impact onHalo’s sales.
Sony’s Upcoming Sci-Fi Games Could Impact Halo’s PS5 Sales
A few months ago, the Sony-owned studio Naughty Dog announced its next project, a third-person action-adventure game calledIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. This game, likeHalo, is set in outer space hundreds of years in the future, but it takes considerably more inspiration from 80s pop culture.Intergalacticisn’t the only science fiction game in the works at PlayStation Studios, however. Housemarque, the Finnish developer behind 2021’sReturnal, is developing a roguelite sci-fi action game titledSaros, which is launching in 2026. Meanwhile, Santa Monica Studio, the creators ofGod of War, arerumored to be making a new sci-fi IPof its own.
Of course, these three PlayStation first-party games are not coming out in the near future, so a potentialHalo: The Master Chief CollectionPS5 port likely won’t have to compete with them. However, if the next majorHalogame is released on PS5 day and date, it could pose a challenge for Microsoft. Rumors are swirling that Halo Studios (formerly known as 343 Industries) isdeveloping aHalo: Combat Evolvedremaster, which is currently being considered for PlayStation 5. If this rumored title is launched nearIntergalactic,Saros, or Santa Monica Studio’s next game, its sales could suffer, particularly on PS5.
A Halo: MCC PS5 Port Could Be Overshadowed By Other Third-Party Sci-Fi Games
Besides first-party content from Sony, there are a handful ofthird-party releases that are hitting PlayStation 5in the near future, many of which are sci-fi titles.Borderlands 4,Death Stranding 2: On the Beach,Mindseye,FBC: Firebreak, and the Microsoft-publishedNinja Gaiden 4are all, for instance, currently slated for 2025. If Microsoft doesn’t wantHalo: The Master Chief Collectionon PS5 to be overshadowed, it should keep an eye on these upcoming sci-fi game releases.
