We’ve had games broken at launch, massive day one patches, server failures and all sorts of glitches and bugs, but I don’t think there has ever been a problem so bad that the team need to run a new beta test for a game that has been out for a good few months.
However, that is exactly what is happening with Halo: The Master Chief Collection. “Given the scale of the update, which includes changes to the matchmaking experience and party system, we are expanding testing to include select members of the Xbox One Preview program to ensure the official release is the best possible experience for all players,” posted the developers in a blog.
The content update beta test will be open to Xbox One owners within North America who have a copy of Halo: The Master Chief Collection and who have also opted-in for Xbox One beta testing as part of the Xbox One Preview program.
The test will begin on January 23rd, perhaps this will finally fix the matchmaking problems within the game.
Source: Halowaypoint
Starman
I think Halo 5 will be out by the time this is 100% working.
dangerman
Interesting this gets so little coverage compared to driveclub.
Guess Microsoft’s money talks louder…
Starman
There’s been plenty of articles on here whenever there has been another patch. Get over it Blighty.
bennibop
Seems shocking that this has not had the negative news stories like some other games. It has been unplayable for lots of people since launch, Driveclub and Assassins Creed Unity were not anywhere near as broken as this and this beta is acknowledgement by 343 how bad it is.
Avenger
I was surprised not to see as much fuss over this as well (Compared to DC/Unity).
Although Halo did have a strong and stable single player element, whereas DC was more online focused and Unity’s SP was bugged out. Out of the three, I’d have been least bothered by Halo because I’d still be able to enjoy playing campaigns (which incidentally are brilliant stuff < sci-fi fan talking here).
Kennykazey
And the way in which Halo is broken gives people varying results. At launch it was pretty bad for everyone, but now some people have decent matchmaking (can take a couple minutes but it works) and little lag, whereas others can’t even find a match.
With DriveClub and Unity, everyone suffered equal issues.
JR.
Double standards. XB1 needs a boost so most issues are glossed over and PS4 is selling too well and must be punished.
dangerman
Microsoft money can make the press behave in very irrational ways..
It gets amplified by copy and paste news site like this.. You only have to buy the tier 1 sites off…
Kennykazey
I received an invite to this beta this morning, so I’ll see if I can access it.
And let’s be reasonable, it’s a beta for a larger update, not the game. This is commonplace in many applications, Steam for instance. It means that everyone won’t have to download a couple gigabytes until it’s proven useful.
Gamers, make sure you’ve got the best NAT setting possible. Open (type 1) is the best and will let you connect to everyone. Type 2, I think it’s called limited on Xbox, will let you connect to others with Type 2 and Type 1 only. Type 3, probably called closed or something on Xbox, will only let you connect to those with Type 1.
Tuffcub
It’s beta for something that should have worked over two months ago when the game launched. That isn’t “reasonable” by any standards.
Forrest_01
Its also the first time I have ever heard of a ‘beta’ test for a game that’s already been out for a little while & been purchased by consumers.
Kennykazey
The game being a broken POS at launch is not reasonable, nor acceptable. But holding a beta for a large update most certainly is.
Would you rather they have everyone download a two gigabyte patch that isn’t guaranteed to work properly?
Stefan L
Battlefield 4 had a major beta initiative after launch to help them test new things for upcoming patches, which is something that was pioneered by MAG back on the PS3. Just a couple of examples which, while rare, do give this a precedent.