The Xbox-exclusive star game Halo: Combat Evolved focused on multiplayer; the campaign was not thought of until later.

Like many gamers, you probably know the Halo franchise more for its multiplayer mode. However, the first instalment’s campaign was a great starting point for fans of Microsoft’s franchise, but as we’ve recently discovered, it probably never would have been: the story mode that launched the entire universe of the Xbox-exclusive was not part of the original development plans.

The campaign was only planned when the multiplayer mode was completed.

In a recent interview, Stefan Sinclair, the first Halo multiplayer programmer, admitted that the idea of a single-player campaign had never even crossed the team’s mind during the early stages of the title’s development in 1999.

“In the early stages of Halo’s development, we were just focused on online multiplayer,” Sinclair said. The programmer added that the title was intended to be a demo for Xbox Live, a new online service at the time, and once that goal was considered accomplished, the team began thinking about a campaign.

Xbox Live was one of the most spectacular aspects of Microsoft’s console foray. So it’s no surprise that the studio behind the first Halo, Bungie, was thinking along the same lines at the time. Today, we know that if this campaign hadn’t been included in the game, the series probably wouldn’t have had the career it still has today…

Halo Infinite, the latest instalment in the franchise, is giving away gifts every day in honour of the festive season to those who enjoy the multiplayer mode. You have until January 4 to get all the goodies available, so you better get your calendar in order!

Source: GamesRadar