Halo: Reach was created as Bungie’s last entry in the series before it left for Destiny, and despite not featuring the Master Chief, it’s one of the best Halo games ever made. It was only available on Xbox platforms up until today, but Microsoft and 343 Industries have finally brought the acclaimed prequel to PC.
Released as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection for both Xbox One and PC players, Halo: Reach is available to those who already own the Xbox version for an additional $10, though you will get the multiplayer component as a free update. If you buy The Master Chief Collection starting now on Xbox, the whole game will come with it.
Reach is currently the only game in the collection available to PC players, with the other games all scheduled to arrive before the end of 2020. For those subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass for PC, you get access to the game for free.
If you prefer to purchase your games on Steam, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also available there for $40, or you can purchase Reach on its own for $10. Regardless of platform, you’ll need an Xbox Live account in order to play the online multiplayer.
Halo: Reach is a tragic story in the series’ often-dark timeline, taking place just before the events of the original game. As the doomed Noble Team, you work to fight off the enormous Covenant army attacking the titular planet Reach, and meet several characters featured prominently in the other Halo games. Its vicious multiplayer also features more customization options and tremendous map design, often beating the high standard set by Halo 3 a few years earlier. Even if you aren’t usually interested in spinoff games, it is an essential part of the Halo series that you can’t afford to skip.
Halo: Reach for Xbox One and PC will have to do for the next year. With the launch of the Xbox’s Project Scarlett in 2020, we will also get Halo Infinite, which is the next step in the Master Chief’s story. The game will also release on Xbox One and PC.
