Microsoft's eagerly anticipated Halo 4 can now count itself as a member of two more "Most ..." lists. Halo 4 is already one of 2012's most wanted holiday titles, as well as one of the year's most anticipated games. According to Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer, Halo isn't just Microsoft's most important franchise, it's also the company's most expensive.
In an interview with Polygon, Spencer revealed what Halo 4 meant to Microsoft, going so far as to put the most franchise on a pedestal high above everything else the company has ever done. As Spencer related, Halo is the "most important entertainment product in the company." It's not hard to understand why, considering Spencer's claims Halo is a $3 billion franchise.
When asked if Halo 4 was the most expensive game developed by Microsoft, Spencer replied, "Absolutely. It's not even close." Considering the wealth of other genres Halo has branched out into, including comics, action figures, movies, and now a live-action series, it's not all that surprising to hear such a bold statement. Everything about Halo is carefully planned and plotted, and all manner of user data and input is compiled to make sure each new venture lives up to the high standards the franchise demands.
The second launch trailer for Halo 4 arrived earlier this week. With just a little over two weeks until launch, it will be interesting to see how much of Microsoft's investment will be returned when Halo 4 hits shelves.
SOURCE: CVG
