Microsoft has never issued a fully satisfying answer about why Xbox Live, almost four years after the launch of Xbox 360, cannot support more than 100 friends. The company has blamed it on technical obstacles related to the original Xbox Live architecture. It's simpler than that. The real reason you can't have more than 100 friends on Xbox Live is because of Bungie. Specifically, Halo 2.
The continued community support behind Halo 2 is the only reason Microsoft hasn't ditched the lingering ancient Xbox Live architecture, a high-level Microsoft source confirmed to me late last week.
The original Xbox Live was not designed to support more than 100 friends. That's no problem for the Xbox 360 incarnation. Allowing players to add more than 100 friends on Xbox 360 is not a real technical challenge for Microsoft, but it requires ending support for the still-popular shooter. It's not as simple as issuing a patch for Halo 2, or else Microsoft would have released one ages ago.
Looking at Major Nelson's weekly Xbox Live activity lists, the Halo 2 connection should have been obvious a long time ago. Halo 2 is always the most played original Xbox title, suggesting a healthy community still enjoying Master Chief's second adventure online, despite the existence of Halo 3
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on Xbox 360. What's keeping them playing? It doesn't matter, it only matters that they are.
My source said Microsoft still does not know when it will disable support for the original Xbox Live, thus ending Halo 2's reign on the charts. It could happen after the release of Halo 3: ODST
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, since that would give Halo players two new Halo games to move over to on the new Xbox Live. If you want Microsoft to move in that direction, however, it requires your voiced opinion.
Microsoft will be reading this and comments elsewhere. If there's real vocal support for finally moving on from Halo 2, it could very well happen in the near future, I'm told.
But at least we know the hold up. It's a technical issue, but it's really not. It's about a community doing nothing more than enjoying their favorite game, while the rest of the world is prevented a seemingly simple interface feature. When to call it quits is a challenging issue for online games, but really, it's almost out of Microsoft's hands. Gamers have to make the decision.
I've contacted Microsoft for official comment. I'll update you if I hear anything.
What do you want Microsoft to do?
Comments
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Vilicus
This is the next generation of console gaming... lets move on already. Drop halo 2 support. They've already done with with a bunch of other games that never got backwards compatibility.
TehSkull
I agree with your 2 new games in the Halo Series idea, but I say they should wait until after Halo: Reach. Waiting until after Halo 3: ODST is too soon. ODST can't be considered the next generation of the Halo series. Technically, it is, but it's still Halo 3 at heart. There's no difference in Multiplayer Matchmaking between Halo 3 and ODST. They're all still playing Halo 2 for the matchmaking, so ODST can't be considered a "new game" in that aspect.
Scottydsntknow ShowHide(3 Replies)
an old game holding back the potential of xbox live, very upsetting M$
Samm24f
When you have 100 friends then its time to look and see who you really play with. I have 10 friends that I know in real life and I go to school with. I have 10 other friends that are my age and we always play together. I have another 14 or so friends that I occasionally talk to and play with or that Im in a clan with. I dont need much more than that to be honest. How does anyone have 100 friends that they talk to and play with. it's stupid.
EKG
That is a tough decision. In the end, however, I think their are a lot more people who want to add more than 100 friends to their list, than their are people still playing Halo 2. Now, If you REALLY want to solve this problem, I have the perfect solution that should make almost everyone happy. Why doesn't Microsoft get Bungie, or someone else in their "Developers Circle", to Re-Create all of the Halo 2 Maps, and port them over to the Xbox 360.
They can either create them as a separate Download, or as an expansion to Halo 3. They can Re-Do them in "Glorious HD", and allow all those Stubborn Halo 2 Players to continue playing their Favorite Multiplayer Maps, but on the 360 Service instead of the Original Xbox's. The only problem I see with this is it might be hard for the Players if Microsoft can't also transfer all their Stats and Ranks from Halo 2 over to the 360. But if I am grasping the situation properly, this should be a good solution.
Anyone think I am wrong??? I may be, I'm not an expert.
ShadowAssassin88
Cut Halo 2's umbilical cord already it was fun but its time to move on. Then once thats over they can retool it and re-release it as a XBL download with the ability to hold more friends so it can be better suited for the new XBL.
DreamingDarklyRobin
Who cares, I have no need for more than 100 friends that I bearly know.
Although honestly just move on, those people still playing Halo 2 will probably move on to 3. Even if they don't, I doubt it will hurt Microsofts business.
moose_
Why would anybody want more than 100 friends? I have 21 friends on live, 14 of which I know for real. I say allow the Halo 2 fans to continue to play online.
@G4
All this yellow disguts me.
JohnKiller118
Does anyone even know 100 friends in real life?
snookgum123
Halo2 is still better than Halo3 and odst when it comes out. Do you guys chat with up to 100 char at a time on a daily basis. Some of them you don't even play with over months times. Shutting down Halo2 and the world as we know it will blow up.
pumathehero
give halo 3 all the halo 2 maps. that'll be a good way to get a lot of people to move from 2 to 3. i'd love to see terminal and relic in 3. miss those maps.
liife_iis_crazy
lol get it? 1(game) VS 100(friends)
but seriously,they should let it go around the release date of halo odst.
of course it will cause some players to be upset, but they need to realize there are
other great games out there.
like in the new gi joe movie,
they said "science requires sacrifice"
snookgum123 ShowHide(2 Replies)
That's a lame excuse for the reason not to have over 100 friends. We need all Halo2 to get up there lazy horse @ s s and buy halo 3 or odst so we can make more money. Than we will give you guys over 100 friends.... Lame excuse to say that Halo2 is whats stopping the process. Patch Halo2 and Patch live how hard is that?
kylebaker
I think the only people who have this problem are the press, and people in clans. Cause after a while for the average Joe, half the people on your "friends" list are just random people you don't even play with. I like Halo 2 better than the recent installment of the series, so dropping support for Halo 2 would be very sad indeed. However, if that is what people want, technology often drops past formats to advance and this is one of those situations.
I just wish they did port to the 360, cause just porting the maps to Halo 3 wouldn't work. Halo 2 vs 3 have different engine, different physics, different jump heights, vehicles, weapons. It's not even feasible unless they just re-doing them from scratch to map Halo 3's way of living. So if they want to make those old Halo 2 players happy, redo Halo 2 to run on 360 but with all the recent technology to make 100+ friends possible, like a new XBLA game. However, this will never happen just because of the resources and time, that might not being worth it in the end.
ShotgunBoy22 ShowHide
I like both halo 2 and halo 3,but I really think that ODST is going to have a lot more gamers buying that than halo 2,and 3 put toghther and I think it will bring back some people that are bored with Halo wars(That game sucked).Im more than sure that with the new game many people will buy more online map packs and other downloads from Xbox live.
ShotgunBoy22 ShowHide(2 Replies)
I like both halo 2 and halo 3,but I really think that ODST is going to have a lot more gamers buying that than halo 2,and 3 put toghther and I think it will bring back some people that are bored with Halo wars(That game sucked).Im more than sure that with the new game many people will buy more online map packs and other downloads from Xbox live.
N8R
-"Microsoft will be reading this and comments elsewhere."-
Oh dear (*facepalm). I have a feeling I know people who are gonna be pretty vocal.
I see a fair reason behind keeping it around... but it's time to move on.
Kanaye
I never would've thought of this. Xbox Live evolution is stagnant because of a game released in 2004?
I believe it is unfair for the players that decided to move on to suffer and not enjoy the innovations and features forthcoming in the next months of Xbox Live. I agree on completely dropping support for Halo 2 as soon as ODST comes out - screw waiting for Reach.
Halo 2 players, jump on the Halo 3 boat and enjoy the good things forthcoming to us. But don't jeopardize our innnovations to the service!
I.E. I wouldn't be surprised if Halo 2 support is the reason why Microsoft hasn't implemented more innovations to the service, not just expanding the friend list cap.
JkRJake
Every once in a while I go back to Halo 2 with some friends and do matchmaking/customs. Halo 2 is better than many of the games on the 360 today. Nobody needs over 100 friends, it serves no purpose. There workarounds it anyway. I don't think MS should cut support for it.
BTF1318
really who cares. do you really need more than 100 friends when most people probly only play with 10 of them. some people want to be cool and add everyone they ever played a game with so it seems like they have real friends.
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