The Redemption Story of Halo: The Master Chief Collection 

From one of the worst launches in the history of video games to something we daren't even dream of, the Master Chief Collection has been on quite the journey, and today, I, a grizzled veteran of the MCC, am going to walk you through this rather tumultuous story...

I never want this franchise to die.

We have had covenant dance, now let's get ready for..... banished boogie. Edit: got another one promethean party.

I remember going to the midnight launch at my local Gameplanet with my friends. We were singing "Halo MCC Halo MCC Halo MCC Halo MCC" while driving. It was such a magical moment. The line was big as hell. Dads wearing their Halo CE merch, Chief Helmets, the atmosphere was amazing. We got the game, rushed to our homes, hopped that baby to the Xbox and waited for it to install. It was hecking 2am, and we all had to get up at 6am to go to college. We didnt care, it was Halo time baby. We were hyped.... Needless to say, I wasnt able to play multiplayer, or even join my friends on Campaign or custom lobbies until a week later. If you know, you know..... I'm so glad MCC is finally what it was supposed to be. Awesome video Luc, I actually cried..

The Master Chief Collection went from a sordid mess to the greatest gaming experience. The continued free updates for the game are astounding.

MCC, Battlefield 4, No Man's Sky, and Battlefront 2 gotta have the greatest redemption stories in gaming

343: So we released MCC to PC- Everyone: *p i z z a t i m e*

“Kill me or send me pizza, but do not waste my time with hate!” -343

Being open with the fans is one thing, but not entirely giving us certain things that we’ve been asking for a while is another.

I really give credit to 343 for not leaving this game in the tortured state it was released. It gives the impression that despite their often questionable decisions, they do genuinely care about the roots of this franchise. Hopefully this level of dedication can continue through the life cycle of Halo Infinite!

Halo 3 - 2007 Halo MCC - 2014 (Current day) - 2021 MCC is now as old as Halo 3 was when it first launched... that hits me hard lol

I’d argue Reach is what brought everyone back. Freaking love Reach’s campaign and MP!

Now we just need a Halo 3 remaster. I want to see those cutscenes redone to H2A standards.

As someone who fell off of Halo after 4 and only just got to reconnect with it with MCC PC, this was a really awesome watch. I had already known the initial release was scuffed, but this really puts it into perspective. I’m so happy they were able to recover and really deliver such a great experience on PC nowadays. Top 10 Anime Redemptions for sure.

I remember being hyped about it’s launch, and I’m so proud of what it’s become

The last things left to complete the MCC would be the following: - Halo 4 Champion's Bundle Armor, maybe bundled with extra Halo 3 elite armour and Halo 2 + Halo 2 A customisation under a new season. - Fix the Halo 4 Reclaimer mission ending cutscene lighting - Weapon Model Positioning - UI Scaler - Other Campaign Glitches fixed - Custom Games Browser - Official Mod support - Custom Server Browser - Local Split Screen Support on PC Then I'd say it's complete!

Very well put my dude. Really enjoyed this video🤘🏻

"Press RT to fire Machine Gun." intensifies.

MCC has had such a glow up in the last few years, and whether you're the kind of person to like or dislike 343's side of Halo. There is no denying the amount of passion they have put into this game, definitely gives me hope for Infinite.

I don't care what anyone says, I love every Halo game with all my heart, including 5. Halo is just one of those franchises that I'll hold dear to me for my whole entire life, full stop. It's helped me find friends, break out of bouts of severe depression, this franchise means the damn world to me. Here's hoping Halo Infinite is even more amazing than Halo 2: Anniversary for me

Now they even fixed the missing graphical effects in Halo CE classic. Yeah! They finally fixed what Gearbox messed up.

Everyone: MCC is a mess! delete this game at once! MCC still having some fighting spirit: were it so easy...

This was not only a redemption story for halo mcc and halo in general but also 343 industries

Story from me: I first got into the Halo series back in 2008 when my family finally got me my Xbox 360 for my birthday and one of the games that they got me, was my first ever Halo game, Halo 3. I played the campaign and online multiplayer along with split screen with my friends, family, and cousins. Halo 3 was the game that got me into video games in the first place and it holds a special place in my heart because of its impact. I got into the Halo series after that. I didn’t own an original Xbox, so I couldn’t experience the original Halo games. Fast forward years later, I played almost every Halo game released up to that point. Halo 1 (CE Anniversary), Reach, ODST, Halo 4, and I was shocked when I saw that Halo 2 was getting a remaster for the Xbox One, but not just that, Halo’s 1-4 were all included as well! I was shocked and extremely excited as I never got to experience Halo 2 in any format. I only watched it through RU-vid, but even then I knew nothing about it, and it would get the remaster treatment?! So, I wanted to experience an era that I had missed for so many years. So, I purchased MCC at my local GameStop, and I put the disk in, waited until the entire collection was installed and it was one of my biggest disappointments that I’ve had in a long time. I experienced the campaign and multiplayer, just like back then, but things went wrong. The multiplayer was just riddled with bugs. I thought to myself, how could this have happened. I thought that remasters were supposed to be improved versions of games. It was a really rough time for the Halo series for sure and I stuck around during all those eras. I honestly couldn’t stand that the game was just abandoned and left with no sign to go back and fix it. I’m glad that now years later, Halo MCC is now in a playable state and brand new content is being added! It makes these old games new again! PS: Halo 2 is my favorite multiplayer of the entire series now!

This was the biggest anime redemption story ark.

Bsst redemption story since Arbiter's

I love your choice of soundtracks as we transition through each segment, and as you talk

Beautiful recollection, my dear Brit! I've also been there from the beginning, and have the scars to prove it. I fell off not long after ODST came out, especially when I got all the audio logs but only got 27/30 achievements... But then I came back when Reach came out, and it rekindled both my love for the franchise and my achievement hunting ways... Suffice to say, since then I've completed every single mainline game, including MCC, and just have some of the Spartan Assault/Strikes to do, H2PC, and... Oh god... Chinese MCC 😂

"The game is terrible, remove it immediately" MCC-"Were it so Easy"

_2014 to 2018 was just the blooding years irl._

This video was an absolute treat to watch and surely felt like a lot of time and energy went into making this production extra special. Still, I just feel compelled to say that at times the descriptions of the “eras,” were over the top, even to the extent of being a tad bit cringeworthy. I lived through the MCC alongside you- the hype, the joys, the broken promises and let downs, the redemption- all of it... This video certainly brought back some nostalgic memories and felt very accurate as to how the MCC has played out from start to finish... Again, great clip- no, a fantastic clip that took us all on a vivid journey down memory lane. This was awesome bro.

Thoroughly enjoyed seeing the history of The MCC. Growing up I was always a PlayStation boy so never came close to Halo but have moved over to Xbox since last gen. In the last couple of weeks I was wondering what to play and saw The MCC on the gamepass and thought I'd have a go, had no idea about the crazy history this game has gone through so really sounds like I picked a good time to start! Have currently completed CE and 2/3rds of the way through 2 and absolutely falling in love with the lore and gameplay!!! Awesome video mate, it's just hyped me up even more to continue with the series!!!

This Game sure has been through a lot, thanks for making this video, to be entirely honest I thought Act Man was gonna do this kind of video LMAOOO

I’m a veteran myself, I lived all through it I am still amazed how each day felt like a distant memory of how crazy this game made the hugest come back. It was like going to hell to bring back something to heaven.

Great video! This is definitely one of those franchise's I desperately want to return to it's former glory.

The launch of the Master Chief Collection is when you try to take all the groceries from the car in one load but you end up dropping the eggs. Also, this script is legendary

"I remember how this war started, when 343 took Halo. I cant forgive, but I can thank you, for sticking by to the end." -The playerbase

“Imagine releasing unfinished” Any game pre 2010

MCC day 1 player here, your way of describing each different era was far too relatable it hurt but looking at MCC today makes me so happy. Keep up the good work!

I’m very young (I’d rather not say my age) and MCC got me into Halo. I got it during Christmas 2015 and I remember playing it that night with my dad, starting my love for the first game. Then I started Halo, loving it to pieces, and then Halo 3, ODST, then finally 4. So in general, this game literally just helped me and a few of my friends get into this franchise, and I’m happy more and more people in my generation started to see what halo truly was

everyone looking at the MCC now: "Took you long enough."

I recently got into Halo, through MCC on Steam. I played through every campaign, tried every multiplayer, racked up 80+ hours in a matter of weeks. Halo 3 became one of my favourite games ever. I recently bought Fall of Reach, my first Halo novel. I'm fully addicted to this universe now, and I have the MCC to thank for it. I'm happy to join this community going into Infinite!

Good job on the recap. I lived through this as well and you did a damn good job capturing the whole vibe.

All I want is for Campaign and Spartan Ops to become cross-play. Anything else is just the icing on the cake.

As soon as he said games were freezing, my phone froze. I thought it was part of the video.

20:18 I can't tell if those are the sounds of excitement or the leaked UNSC chat feed of Reach being glassed in realtime

I've played every single halo campaign but never played online because my Internet was terrible and my parents couldn't afford it gold and I mostly played Co op with my dad. whenever I see people reminiscing about the old days of halo online, It makes me sad that I wasn't apart of the online multiplayer but I still had some amazing times playing with my dad. That said, I've just bought the halo mcc and it's hella fun. I'm going to gift it to my dad as well as halo infinite.

I was there for all these Era's. My playtime waxed and wained over the years but I never un-installed it. I love the new content and look forward to the future!

MCC was always everything I wanted. I just wanted to play the campaigns and I never ran into any big problems.

This brings back Halo 3 multiplayer lobbies with the bois, those were simpler times.

An amazing telling of the story of the MCC so far. Very very well done my friend.

As someone who joined mcc back in November 2021 and learning of the crazy history i was both surprised and unsurprised at how the game launched as well as how it was handled and to learn how big of a turnaround the game took is so admirable

Some may say that you don’t make a promise you know you can’t keep. Even now, 343 has kept their promise. They kept this franchise alive.

13:36 lol

This was a masterpiece, thank you HiddenXperia. More importantly, thank you 343 Industries.

I'm so proud youre getting sponsored by these companies, I'm also an MCC veteran and lemme tell you when the game came out it was rough, I only 0layed campaign due to no progression in multiplayer, but man once steady updates came it, it relight the flame

when hiddenxperia uploads = happiness

Dude, you just missed the opportunity to name “the era of dreams” to “the pizzapocalypse” instead

That was an incredible video. I was thinking about the launch of MCC not long ago, and it's true that it has been quite the redemption. For a time, it seemed impossible for it to ever progress, let alone get to a "normal" state; the one we expected at launch. But now, it's so much more than that, in innumerable aspects. It makes me appreciate the game a lot more. Thanks for making this!

Playing MCC today on the Series X is a outstanding expansion. I’m floored at how well it runs there, plays and looks fantastic. I’m not sure I could go back to a lower framerate now...cheers for this bud.

Is it me or does "Heavy Price Paid" go so damn well for tragedy scenes

The first age! Combat and Evolution! The second age! Gravemind and Arbiter! The third age! Finishing the fight feet first into hell! The fourth age! Promethians and Reclaimers! The fifth age! Despair and abandonment! The sixth age! Hope and Banished! The seventh age! Infinite and salvation!

I am happy I got the MCC PC and was able to experience the series for the first time around Christmas of last year. I marathoned Reach and the following games in story order during that winter break and I am so happy I did. But I was a fan of it back since 2007 when I would here stories in the lunchroom in 3rd grade. And I can say the games were everything I thought they would be and more! :) and I couldn’t be happier. I’m happy that I stuck with the series for so long and I am hopeful for what comes next. :)

This was a fantastic video. I too was so frustrated with the state of matchmaking at launch, and, gave up on it. When I heard cross-play was added, all my mates who I used to play with back in the day could now play together. After over a decade since we used to regularly play together, the MCC has brought us back, and, we are loving it.

So glad this is out, I remember buying my Xbox One, excited to play the chief collection, and just seeing how much of a mess it was lmao. Glad it's so much better now

I have been waiting for The Act Man to do a video on MCC. I am so glad it was you. I love MCC because it has become more than a collection of games featuring one of the most iconic video games characters ever, but has become a collection of almost every Halo game in existence. Replaying ODST and Reach on MCC allowed me to revisit the old days, but reignite my love for the franchise. Thank you for uploading this detailed history of MCC, Hiddenxperia!

After staying up playing the flood firefight update, I'm so happy that 343 decided to re-look at the MCC. I had been hesitant to buy MCC back in 2018 due to hearing it had a reputation, but I stuck with it and bought it, and it felt great to be there on the ground floor of buying it right before they relooked at the project. It was actually my first ever forray into owning all the halo games and the fact that I got in just on the ground floor to see what it is now today is amazing. I remember those updates, getting to play reach for the first time, having my baby combat evolved have new content for the first time ever, getting to play ODST firefight for the first time ever, playing crossplay with all my pc friends and then getting it on pc myself, it was important for 343 to do this because if they hadn't I and so many others would have never gotten back into the series and I thank you for making this recap to put those emotions into words.

I was there from the beginning. I remember 2014 getting it on day one and being unable to play anything online. The only thing that worked was halo 2s campaign and that was it. I stuck with it for 7 years and now I feel like I’m 11 again playing halo with my buddies and enjoying every minute of it.

Imagine if today's version of MCC released in 2014

You should totally go through the entire franchise, game by game, their developments, package, fan reactions etc. for a video.

This was a masterpiece in every way. I laughed, I cried, no literally. Not even joking. That was perfectly done in every way and warmed my heart. Thank you for this.

I sat through so much of this ad cause it was so well done hahaha. Great work as always.

The redemption of the MCC is worthy of the title "Great Journey"

19:48 I remember crying during this live stream. Cause never would I have imagined them bringing halo to pc, as well as halo reach.

It genuinely warms my heart to know that people still play Halo 2 and Halo 3. The fact that I'm able to play that still to this day because there's still people online is amazing and I hope that never goes away. I wanna be playing Halo 2 online when I'm 90.

I really love how he used LOTR texts to separate every moment. he even called them "Eras". lovely

So basically Halo mcc pulled out a non man's sky move?

I never gave up with this game and to this day it still remains my favorite Halo game.

Job well done of shining lights on areas that were dark for so long. Keep up the amazing content :)

Halo was my childhood and is still my adulthood to this day. Its not just a game for me, but deeper. It was something that brought me joy in dark times, something me and my friends bonded over. It was all the talk during my school days, everyone was talking about Halo, its was like a community within school. We all played it on our Laptops during Wood work class! Me and my mates had game nights, stay up all night into the next day playing Halo, eating pizza, living life. This continued into our Highschool life too and still to this day (somewhat) in our adult lives (minus the sleepovers). But when Halo 4 came out, we were so concerned and disappointed. It wasn't Halo at all. The story was stupid, online felt like some COD bullshit, just wasn't Halo in any shape or form and stand by that remark still. 343 i feel still have a long way to go and the MCC is looking good, they did a good job. They are finally listening to the Halo community which was something that should've been done from the start. I hope now 343 realise that Halo is a MASSIVE deal to the gaming community and continue to learn, grow and do Halo justice. I hope Halo Infinite will bring tears of joy to the Halo Veterans out there including myself. Halo isn't just a game, its a legacy.

I’m glad MCC came out, since halo 360 servers are no more

I missed the launch of the MCC and I’m happy that I caught it on the back end when it was fixed. I have nothing but happy memories with it :)

After graduation, myself and my high school friends largely fell out of contact with one each other after, with only the occasional get-together when everyone was back in town between semesters. Sometimes, it would be an Avatar: The Last Airbender marathon, but other times would be a massive Halo 2 LAN party on OG Xbox. That's even considering that the majority of us weren't Halo superfans or anything; it was just that two or three of us had enough equipment to support around a dozen people at once. Then the pandemic happened, and despite the fact that my friends were now in town more than ever, we never felt further apart. For a few weeks, that is. Halo MCC PC couldn't have come out at a better time. For a time, we were playing multi-hour sessions over Discord at least every two weeks. Heck, we're planning on doing another one tonight. And even then, I have never played through the full campaign of most of these games, so it was exciting whenever a new one came out. I didn't know about all of these other planned additions to the collection, but they do sound fun. All I really want, though, is a more sensible way to change teams. The option is bizarrely buried in, like, three submenus when you should be able to just click on the colored ribbon next to your name.

Glad this video finally exists. It still amazes me how much it’s turned around in the public eye

Well I have to say I bought MCC late last year and I have only experienced 1 crash with my friends so I have loved everything I have played. So glad to be a part of this community even though I am a "Rookie" to the franchise.😂

"Halo 2, the game that is considered by most of the community to be the peak of the franchise was right around the corner" Halo 3: Hold my beer..

I just want to acknowledge how perfect 👌 the titles and music for transitions for this video were

As someone who finally got into Halo via MCC PC, the journey the game took before it landed in my hands in 2020 is something really special. I'm so glad everything worked out in the end, especially since I finally got to not only finish the fight, but be able to start it at all, and now be with everyone else in anticipation for Infinite dropping at the end of this year.

This video needs to be promoted by 343 on their Twitter or something. Well done dude!

You could fix Locke by making him a spartan 2 headhunter like a noble 6 and chief hybrid with a serious personality that slowly changes into a more relaxed one throughout the story but hes still firm

My brother recently got a series s, we've been playing split screen through all the game and we just started halo 3, genuinely just a lot of memories and nostalgia

I just finished MCC Halo Reach last night. It was an amazing trip to memory lane. The story, the set pieces, the action, the hidden secrets. I was planning to only play a chapter or two, ended up blitzing the whole game, now my shoulders are sore... Damn old age... And now it's Halo CE Anniversary turn.

you're so overly dramatic with "The Era of ...." I love it

I’m still holding out hope for Halo 5 to be added to TMCC.

Honestly, I live for your overdramatic presentation, Luc. Like, "The Era of Suffering"? LETS GOOOOO

Having lived through this every step of the way, what a fantastic hype video. I'm wanting to hop on after it, great stuff.

Salvation, for all!

343 needed to make this move with the MCC so they could make halo infinite by working on the original trilogy to understand what halo is meant to be and how it should feel. Brilliant move by them imo.

I was blissfully unaware of MCCs botched launched, I was living under a rock for a year, and me and my bro picked up the game for $20 bucks at Walmart in Feb 2017. We didn’t notice anything bad because we weren’t educated about technical stuff like frame rate bc we played on a small tv, and we didn’t have wifi.

MCC was the last “midnight release” I attended was my freshman semester in college for MCC. Went home, couldn’t even connect. It was pain.. yet my loyal ass stayed up alllllll night retrying and retrying… went to class that next morning just sad.