Halo Online closed beta will launch this Spring… in Russia

Microsoft and 343 Industries will launch a closed beta for a free-to-play version of Halo exclusively for PCs this Spring, but there’s a catch… the game is being designed from the ground up for a Russian audience.

According to the Halo Waypoint blog, Halo Online “is powered by a highly modified version of the Halo 3 engine.” Its use of that aging engine is so the game can smoothly run on “on lower-end PCs.” The multiplayer-only game won’t feature a single-player campaign. Instead, it’s set on “a secret UNSC space installation called Anvil, where Spartan-IV soldiers train together in war exercises to sharpen their battle skills and test experimental technology.”

Microsoft believes Halo Online will serve as an introduction to the Halo franchise for many Russian gamers, and they’re determined to make it a good one. The game is in development at Saber Interactive, the same team that assisted 343 Industries in the creation of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Microsoft currently has no plans to bring Halo Online to the Xbox One and, like Call of Duty Online and Borderlands Online, it’s unlikely that American or European gamers will ever get the chance to play it. But check out the announcement trailer above anyway.

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John Scalzo is Warp Zoned's Editor-In-Chief and resident retro gaming expert. You can email him at john AT warpzoned DOT com.