Can Halo: MCC become the best-selling HD Collection ever?

[Arkaign]

It will be interesting to see how the Halo franchise does in the 2014+ era. I think there are both people who overly minimize the brand, and those who put far too much faith in it.

Let's look at the surrounding circumstances over time :

Halo 1 : basically the first MP FPS on console outside of Goldeneye with a budget and advertising/hype. High attach rate on the console, as there was not much else available on the OG Xbox for a while of AAA caliber.

Halo 2 : pretty much the same, but now an established brand after the buildup from H1.

Halo 3 : launched on an extremely popular console and with tons of hype. The last Halo to launch before COD franchise began exploding in popularity with MW.

Halo ODST/Reach : cash-in material with solid sales, but didn't set new records despite higher install base.

Halo 4 : Despite a dramatically higher install base compared to Halo 3 launch date, still couldn't hit the same numbers. Impressive numbers to be sure, but a bit less so when factoring in everything. Much of this can be attributed to players being lost to the COD franchise for their competitive MP fix.

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So now comes MCC, a remake bundle (a true bargain for interested parties really), but it's not releasing on the leading console. It's being released in an environment full of competing FPS franchises and on a struggling platform. Whereas the 360 enjoyed respectable popularity in Europe and dominated the US (this is not the Wii crowd we're talking about here obviously), the XBO is dead in Europe and a solid distant 2nd in the US. Halo 4's attach rate was already severely lowered from Halo 3's, indicating a definite decline in the franchise.

In the end I think MCC be a solid success DESPITE the XBO, but only on it's own terms.

It will not move substantial hardware, unless :

Halo MCC Bundle $349 or less. I think that would move respectably. The $499 COD bundle is idiotically priced.