20 Great Video Game Franchises That Became UNPLAYABLE
4. Halo
Considering Halo was the flagship for Xbox, Bungie and Microsoft had to ensure their cash cow never waned in quality.
Unlike many other entries, Halo's decline didn't happen in an instant. The initial trilogy thrived, emphasising tight arena combat, marvellous sandbox design, and a sci-fi story that balanced intrigue with scale.
But when Bungie handed the reins to 343 Industries, Halo's identity became increasingly blurred. Halo 4 leaned into over-the-top action and its multiplayer was criticised for imitating the structure of Call of Duty.
When The Master Chief Collection was announced, it sounded like a dream come true, as a more refined version of the first few titles would finally be available. But the compendium was launched in a broken state, eroding trust once again.
Though Halo had always prided itself with its overarching narrative and the complex ensemble, Halo 5 had a fragmented story and kept Master Chief on the sidelines for some inexplicable reason.
Halo: Infinite was a decent entry, but it didn't wow anyone the way Halo used to, due its lack of content, delayed features, and inconsistent live-service support.
Fingers are crossed for the Campaign Evolved remake, but there's no doubt Halo is on thin ice.