After a slightly rough launch for last year’s Halo Infinite, 343 Industries could be about to upset fans once more. It seems that their legacy Halo title, The Master Chief Collection, could add microtransactions in the near future. As a rework of the existing Spartan Points currency, players would be able to purchase more to unlock skins, nameplates, attachments, and more. It’s not guaranteed yet, but the thought of more Halo microtransactions may not sit well within the community.
Will Halo: The Master Chief Collection Add Microtransactions?
As per the latest post on the official Halo Waypoint site, it seems that optional purchases could be on the way to this collection of remasters. According to Writer Alex Wakeford, 343 is “internally exploring a potential new feature for the future in the form of purchasable Spartan Points.”
At the moment, it’s hard to say how that would impact the game. 343 rationalizes it as a chance for completionists to purchase items they may have missed. Equally, they believe it lets newcomers skip grinding, able to instantly grab any items they may want. Of course though, it raises questions around pay-to-win mechanics, with paid players ultimately getting better items as a result.
However, right now it seems like any new Halo microtransactions would be cosmetic. The various items listed in the post include decals, armor, and skins. None of these have tangible gameplay advantages in The Master Chief Collection. Therefore, if it doesn’t affect the game’s balance, it’s likely to be less of a contentious issue. Nonetheless, it isn’t entirely going ahead just yet. Wakeford says that it’s currently an “exploration in advance,” and as such not confirmed. If it does happen though, he says it’ll roll out later this summer.
The wider Halo community will no doubt have a lot to say about potential microtransactions in The Master Chief Collection. While they don’t seem to break the game’s balance, some will feel cheated after spending hours grinding for a specific item – only for someone to purchase it instantly.