Halo 3: ODST coming to Xbox One as a freebie for Master Chief Collection frustrations

By Adam Rosenberg December 20, 2014

Halo The Master Chief Collection

Halo 3: ODST, first released for Xbox 360 in September 2009, is coming to Xbox One, 343 Industries head Bonnie Ross confirms in an Xbox Wire post. Ross adds that anyone who played Halo: The Master Chief Collection online from the time it launched — November 11, 2014 — through December 19 will get one month of Xbox Live Gold, an in-game nameplate, an in-game avatar, and a free download of ODST once it launches.

The digital goodies are all meant as a make-good apology for the matchmaking woes that have plagued The Master Chief Collection since launch. The issues linger even now, more than a month after Halo’s first-person debut on Xbox One.

“This has been a humbling experience and highlighted how we as a studio can – and need – to do better for Xbox fans around the world,” Ross writes. “We are so grateful to our fans who have stood by our side and we appreciate all of your patience as we worked through these issues.”

There’s no timeframe yet for the launch of ODST — “We are just now starting work with our partners,” Ross writes — but there’s more to come for The Master Chief Collection as well. Also in development, as a free update for all Master Chief players, is a reimagined take on Halo 2‘s popular “Relic” multiplayer map.

The Xbox One-remastered ODST is just the campaign, 343 confirms. A FAQ on the developer’s website lays out the freebie plans. Ross also confirms separately in the Xbox Wire post that Halo 4‘s cooperative add-on Spartan Ops episodes are coming to Xbox One for the week ending December 26.

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Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

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