Halo 4 Microsoft's most expensive game

Studios boss Phil Spencer says Microsoft spent more money making new sci-fi shooter than it has developing any other game.

If Halo 4 is a bust, it won't be for lack of trying. Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer told Polygon that the company has spent more money making Halo 4 than it has developing any other game in the company's history.

"Absolutely. Nothing's even close," he said.

Spencer added that the Halo series, which he estimated to be a three billion dollar franchise, is the company's "most important entertainment product." Some of Microsoft's other major franchises include Forza, Fable, and Banjo-Kazooie.

Halo 4 is due exclusively for Xbox 360 on November 6 worldwide. The game is a direct sequel to 2007's Halo 3 and is the first numbered entry in the series developed outside of Bungie Studios. It is the first installment in the Reclaimer Trilogy, which will span Halo 5 and Halo 6.

A recent Nielsen study found Halo 4 to be the most anticipated holiday 2012 title for Xbox 360 owners.

Eddie Makuch
By Eddie Makuch, News Editor

Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He lives in Connecticut, works out of the company's New York City office, and loves extra chunky peanut butter.

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buzzwah 6 pts

It's just going to be the same game but a bit glossier.I think as you get orger you realise your just paying for an upgrade of a game you already own.

Plus I can't stand multi players where eveyone just bounces when you get close to them.Rant over...moving on 

DerekXSpence 6 pts

Can't wait, it's gonna be awesome!

kerrman 60 pts

Well.. yeah..

I mean Forward Unto Dawn probably cost more than any game ever made by itself.

ziproy 410 pts

So that means its gonna be good right??

 

One thing we've learned from our new game economy is that money is fixing the problems right??

theKSMM 347 pts

What?  Halo 4 is a more important entertainment property than Banjo-Kazooie?  And what about Viva Pinata?

sheikweight 31 pts

But hey the price of the limited edition console went down by 50 dollars! It's a Celebration "Beaches".

GamerMani 32 pts

so the price tag of Halo-4 should be 150$

jrabbit99 71 pts

I'm really interested to know how much it cost.

Inferi-Fang 59 pts

I hope the money spent was well worth it. Can't wait for Halo 4.

dmdavenport 32 pts

Does this mean they spent more money on making a better game, or just more on  people making something the same as before?

Dudeinator 429 pts

Gonna wait and see before buying.

 

Big budget title does not automatically equal a good game. 

A sequel to a good franchise does not automatically equal a good game.

I have played enough games to know that.

 

And all this guy is saying is that Microsoft has a lot of money injected into this game.

maybock3000 47 pts

I love Halo, but how can anyone want to stomach purchasing another version of the same thing? I can't do it anymore...

q-bert39 260 pts

 maybock3000 Depends, halo is much more fun than bf/cod, and i had no problem going from halo 3 to reach and now to halo 4. It was entirely worth it for me.

JTisTrue 7 pts

 q-bert39  maybock3000  I "mostly" agree. I need my Bad Company 3 now.

Ferg1213 59 pts

 maybock3000 If you loved it so much you'd realise how different it is to previous Halo's..

Gazdakka 11 pts

 maybock3000 I think Halo 4's going to be the biggest change to the formula yet. The entire pre-game loadout and no weapon spawns on maps in itself is going to completely alter the gameplay. This one's probably going to play nothing like the last trilogy's in terms of multiplayer.

ziproy 410 pts

 Gazdakka  maybock3000 Or it's just going to be a marginalized CoD-killer

phillyeagles123 12 pts

Except Halo 4 is going to be totally different from Halo 3, so I don't know what you're talking about...

q-bert39 260 pts

 Nintyfan95 halo is a successful franchise for a reason. MS makes halo, thats it. no one wants new IP from them because halo is already great. other companies can make new IP. whats the point though when the majority of the "gamers" consider dishonored to be an IP godsend, when really its one of the most unoriginal games ever made.

DoctorTanaka 36 pts

Maybe this has something to do with creating a feature length action film as part of their marketing campaign?

kennythomas26 102 pts

Well I would think so for this next installment of the Halo series and I'm forward to this and I have it half paid off well the LE.

DrKill09 468 pts

How?  This is the most generic shooter ever made.

vault-boy 581 pts

 DrKill09 Damn, dude, every time I see you comment your always bitching about something.

kennythomas26 102 pts

 vault-boy  DrKill09 yes that is so true.

Hey_Jay 304 pts

 vault-boy  DrKill09 The best part is how he takes something and has an opportunity to make a legitimate point, but just ends up saying something stupid and empty.

kennythomas26 102 pts

 Hey_Jay  vault-boy  DrKill09 I know right

muchakachaka 15 pts

 kennythomas26  Hey_Jay  vault-boy  DrKill09 This isnt the most generic but it's getting there, instead of advancing on it's own ideas its becoming more like Call of duty

kidnatural 31 pts

 muchakachaka  kennythomas26  Hey_Jay  vault-boy  DrKill09 Call of Duty is linear, Halo is more sandbox style. Call of Duty came out after 2001, Halo came out in 2001.

 

How is getting more like Call of Duty? No. The only way they're the same is how they both use guns. Other than that, they're not the same at all. 

kennythomas26 102 pts

 kidnatural  muchakachaka  Hey_Jay  vault-boy  DrKill09 I think I get your point and I'm looking forward to Halo 4 and I have been looking forward to it since Halo 3 ended and that has been a long time waiting.

q-bert39 260 pts

 DrKill09 lol, kid doesnt understand without halo shooters in general would be shit.

Inferi-Fang 59 pts

 DrKill09 I don't think you know the definition of generic.

endorbr 1559 pts

This game actually makes me want to buy a 360.

N-bellic 12 pts

 endorbr

 worth it! i have just added a ps3 to my xbox 360 and its great having both :D

NeoJ4K3 23 pts

I am so excited that it hurts...SO CLOSE! 

mrsniper83 139 pts

Yeah I got the sarcasm people....just on here, you never know who is giving out sarcasm or who is being a fanboy troll

JTisTrue 7 pts

 mrsniper83  Damn internet and your no tone, no context confooosion!

psx_warrior 70 pts

I wonder if they are counting Halo 4: Forward unto Dawn as part of the budget.

endorbr 1559 pts

 psx_warrior Probably as advertising.

louie_cloud 11 pts

i havent play a single halo game eventhough i got a 360 coz i mostly play on ps3

 

im into the story (not gona play multiplayer) so whats the actual order of games ( not including spinoffs (if theres any)  thanks

PrpleTrtleBuBum 156 pts

 louie_cloud Combat Evolved->2->3

 

Reach is a prequel and isn't necessary for anything, and ODST happens at the same time with Halo 2. Halo Wars has nothing to do with anything. Anniversary is just remake of original Combat Evolved

 

Reach->CE or Anniversary->2 & ODST->3

louie_cloud 11 pts

 PrpleTrtleBuBum 

 

Ah thanks alot

xdrmonkeyfishx 82 pts

 PrpleTrtleBuBum  louie_cloud I thought that ODST took place at the same time as 3 did?

jayjay444 266 pts

 xdrmonkeyfishx  PrpleTrtleBuBum  louie_cloud ODST took place inbetween the events of halo 2 and halo 3, 

littleb75 20 pts

 jayjay444  xdrmonkeyfishx  PrpleTrtleBuBum  louie_cloud it took place at the start of attack on earth and stayed on earth and jump stroy as you rescued fellow odst. it is all set during halo 2. hell. it didnt look much better than halo 2 either.

 

Gazdakka 11 pts

 PrpleTrtleBuBum  Sorry, but anyone who says Halo 2 is better than Halo 3, at least from a multiplayer perspective, is talking out of their asses. Unlimited sword battery, ridiculously long lunge distances, girly-arm grenade throws, weak-ass weapons to attempt to account for dual-wield power, heavy sniper rifle aim-assist, lock-on rockets for ground AND air, phone-booth-shotgun. Need I say more?

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