Halo the TV Series

[Ahriman238]

Apparently Microsoft Xbox (likely for publicity around the new console) has consented to allow a live-action Halo-verse TV show. Don't know what network yet, but Spielberg is apparently involved in the development.

In a surprise move at Microsoft's Xbox One announcement Tuesday, the company revealed that it has partnered with Hollywood director Steven Spielberg to create a live-action television series based on the long-time Xbox-exclusive first-person shooter franchise "Halo."

Speaking alongside Microsoft's entertainment and digital media president Nancy Tellem, Bonnie Ross, studio head at "Halo" developer 343 Industries, said that she looks forward to merging "the storytelling magic of television with the interactive innovation of Xbox One."

Then Spielberg himself took the stage, albeit digitally.

"For me, the Halo universe is an amazing opportunity to be at that intersection where technology and myth-making meet to create something really groundbreaking," Spielberg said, speaking on screen.

As part of Microsoft's general push to recreate its flagship gaming console as an all-in-one home entertainment device, Xbox Entertainment Studios plans to apply a game development model to producing original TV-style programming such as movies, sitcoms, live events and digital shorts.

Previously, 343 and Microsoft worked with director Stewart Hendler to create a web-series, "Forward Unto Dawn," to complement the release of last year's "Halo 4." This would be the first feature-length (or, more properly, TV-length) live-action production for the popular "Halo" franchise — not to mention the first to attract a director of Spielberg's stature.

"We've welcomed Steven Spielberg to the 'Halo' universe," Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, said after Tellem and Ross left the stage.

There was discussion of combining the "magic of television" with the "interactive aspects of Xbox One" while Spielberg called the show "groundbreaking." I figure we'll see.

[Meest]

Hope this helps stuff like the Star Wars live action and other sci-fi to get to television on this scale and not just repeat the disappointing Defiance.

[bilateralrope]

she looks forward to merging "the storytelling magic of television with the interactive innovation of Xbox One."

Is she talking about anything that can't already be done with a cutscene heavy video game ?

As part of Microsoft's general push to recreate its flagship gaming console as an all-in-one home entertainment device, Xbox Entertainment Studios plans to apply a game development model to producing original TV-style programming such as movies, sitcoms, live events and digital shorts.

This makes me think that the only legal way to watch these shows will be on the Xbox One. I hope I'm wrong.

[Stark]

While its for the rights holder to decide what services their content is on and not whiny fans, that doesn't follow. People who like Halo will want to play games (presumably) and these will be Xbox only.

Given all the PS3 exclusive anime launches I can't be sad about it either way tbh.

[bilateralrope]

While its for the rights holder to decide what services their content is on and not whiny fans, that doesn't follow. People who like Halo will want to play games (presumably) and these will be Xbox only.

It's not just the Halo series though. It's that Microsoft is planning to produce several series, so there is a good chance they will make one I'll like. If they are Xbox One exclusive, that means:
- I'll have no legal way to watch them as I have no interest in buying an Xbox.
- By artificially limiting the market, they risk cancelling a show for having insufficient viewers, even if it would have had enough if it wasn't exclusive.

Though I will admit that exclusivity isn't the only option implied by that statement, so I can easily be wrong here. Or their idea of applying "a game development model to producing original TV-style programming" could be unable of TV I like watching.

[Zac Naloen]

I suspect you will need to subscribe but you would be able to watch using your Microsoft Live accounts.

The games section on my PC now looks exactly like the xbox dashboard which suggests xbox is turning into the generic entertainment brand name at microsoft as well as the name of the box. I have no reason as it is not to expect that these shows won't be available on the web like netflix, hulu, lovefilm, amazon etc

[Vendetta]

Given how much Microsoft spent talking about their partnerships with cable TV networks and content creators in the press event, and how they're building functionality into the Xbox that lets it work as an overlay onto your existing cable box, I'd actually guess that the TV series would also be offered to those cable providers.