Earlier this summer, Microsoft and 343 Industries announced that they would be bringing four more Halo games to the list of Xbox 360 titles that are playable on the Xbox One via the Backward Compatibility program. The news came alongside the announcement that Halo 5: Guardians will be enhanced for the Xbox One X.
The new additions include Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST Campaign Edition, and Halo 4. Clearly, this is more about being able to play your old games than expanding the Xbox One library. All of these games are available via Halo: The Master Chief Collection, at a lower price.
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (disc only)
Created in celebration of the 10th anniversary of one of the most beloved franchises in gaming history, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is a spectacularly remastered version of the original Halo campaign. Bundled with seven of the most popular multiplayer maps in Halo history ready for Xbox LIVE, Halo: Anniversary will include a bounty of new features including cooperative play over Xbox LIVE, Achievements, new challenges, and new fiction to uncover.
The epic saga continues with Halo 3, the hugely anticipated third chapter in the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo franchise created by Bungie. Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax.
Halo 3: ODST Campaign Edition ($14.99)
Halo 3: ODST drops you into the world of the legendary Orbital Drop Shock Troopers as you embark on a dangerous mission to discover what was behind the Covenant’s attack on the city of New Mombasa. Halo 3: ODST’s gripping story and co-operative campaign will give all fans an exciting new perspective on the Halo universe.
The Master Chief returns to battle an ancient evil bent on vengeance and annihilation. Shipwrecked on a mysterious world, faced with new enemies and deadly technology, the universe will never be the same. Enlist aboard the Infinity to experience Halo’s original multiplayer and Spartan Ops - innovative episodic fiction-based co-op missions.
Again, Halo: The Master Chief Collection includes three of the four games above: Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 3, and Halo 4, and Halo 3: ODST is available as an add-on for $5. You also get Halo 2, which makes up the rest of the saga, all in a package for $29.99.
If you"re looking for games on the cheap, you can also take a look at this month"s Games with Gold. Xbox Live Gold members have until the end of the month to claim Forza Motorsport 5 (Xbox One) and Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360), and until October 15 to grab Oxenfree (Xbox One).