In Russia, Halo Is Free

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Halo has been Microsoft's killer app since the first Xbox launched in 2001. It's one of the biggest first-person shooters in the market, as big budget, AAA as they come, and at launch, costs as much as anyone is willing to charge for a video game. Currently, that's $60. In Russia, Microsoft is giving the game away for free.

"Halo Online is a learning opportunity for us as we explore ways to welcome new fans to the 'Halo' universe," Halo developer 343 Industries explained. "We're excited to release a 'Halo' multiplayer-only PC experience tailored for Russian gamers."

The Russian games market is much like China in that piracy is rampant, and gamers don't have as much disposable income to spend on their hobby as they do in the West. One way to get around these problem is the free-to-play model, which unlike traditional retail games, you can't just burn or torrent, and which will take as little money from you as you're willing to give it. Rather than spend $60 upfront, you can buy in-game items a dollar at a time over time.

It's a big deal not only because it's the first time the series has used a free-to-play business model, it's also the first time since the series' debut, Halo: Combat Evolved, that a Halo first-person shooter was released on a platform that wasn't an Xbox, back when it was more committed to the PC as a gaming platform.

In 2013 Microsoft released Halo Spartan Assault, a top-down shooter (think Asteroids) on PC and Windows Phone in addition to Xbox 360 and Xbox One, but the series is known and loved for its first-person shooter multiplayer and story mode, which follows the space-faring antics of super soldier dude Master Chief.

"Right now our focus is on learning as much as we can from the closed beta period in Russia," 343 Industries said. "Theoretically, any expansion outside of Russia would have to go through region-specific changes to address player expectations."

Halo isn't the first high-profile Western game to try a free-to-play model in another region. Call of Duty Online, a free-to-play version of the military-themed first-person shooter series, is currently in open beta, but only in China. Here's ​a really good trailer for it featuring Captain America Chris Evans.

Much like Call of Duty Online, Halo Online remixes existing content built on a highly modified version of the Halo 3 game engine and offers it under a different business model. Saber Interactive, which also helped with the recently released Halo: The Master Chief Collection, will work on Halo Online, and Moscow-based Innova System will publish and operate it through its 4Game service.

Free-to-play first person shooters are not uncommon in the West. Dirty Bomb, which has some pedigree thanks to its developer Splash Damage, launched in beta this week. Valve's Team Fortress 2, which launched as a paid game in 2007 but switched to a free-to-play model in 2011, is probably the most popular example.

The difference is that the rabid fanbases for games like Call of Duty and Halo are exactly the types to snub the free-to-play model, especially when it comes to the game's competitive aspect.

Every free-to-play developer loves to repeat that their game is free-to-play, not pay-to-win, but it's not uncommon for these games to sell items that will give you an edge (better weapons, etc).

So far, Call of Duty Online has stayed in China, and judging by 343 Industries' statement, the same will be true for Halo Online. However, as 343 Industries said, if and when Western markets are ready, the data it's collecting now on how Russians are playing the game and what they're buying will be invaluable.