The "Halo 5: Guardians" shooter game is scheduled to launch exclusively for the Xbox One console next week. New reports, however, suggest that a Windows PC version might also be released shortly. In a recent GamesRadar live stream, a Halo 5 executive mentioned that "there are plenty of chances" that Halo 5: Guardian could be released on PC.
Frank O'Connor, franchise director at 343 Industries (Halo's developer), was asked during the live stream whether or not Halo 5 will come to Windows. Instead of denying or not commenting, O'Connor replied [unedited], "You know, Microsoft has made a huge commitment trying sort of... I think normalize the Windows experience across multiple platforms. You see the elements of Windows 10 are going to appear in Xbox and Cortana and stuff like that."
"There are plenty of chances that Halo 5 could be on PC. Nothing to announce at this point... You know, we developed the game on an Intel platform. It wouldn't be the hardest thing in the world to move it to PC and take advantage of PC stuff. But nothing I announce today on this chat," the director added.
There has not been a real Halo game for the Windows PC since 2004's Halo 2, but fans are still hopeful that Microsoft will allow a PC port soon. Other offshoots of the first-person shooter game did release on the PC such as Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike. Both games are set during the events of Halo 2 and are co-developed by 343 Industries and Vanguard Games.
Before this speculation of a possible launch on the desktop, Microsoft has also been recently manifesting a degree of willingness to share its Xbox-exclusive titles with the PC. For instance, the free-to-play Fable Legends game, which is published by the software giant, is slated to launch on both Windows PC and Xbox One later this year. Furthermore, the company also announced this summer that the "Xbox timed exclusive" release of Rise of the Tomb Raider on November will be followed by a PC release early next year.
Halo 5: Guardians will arrive at Xbox One consoles on October 27. Microsoft will also be throwing a "digital launch party" via YouTube on October 26 for those who are unable to join the official launch event for the game.