We learned back in August that Microsoft was planning to bring content from the iconic Halo series to the Windows “Mixed Reality” VR headsets, and now the company has announced that its coming sooner than expected.

Though we’re not expecting a full blown Halo VR game just yet, we will get our first taste of Halo in VR come October 17th, the same day that the first Windows VR headsets are due to launch. Lucky owners of those headsets will get to experience Halo: Recruit, the first Halo VR experience, which Microsoft calls a “fun, brief introduction into the world of Halo.”

Microsoft says they’ve worked directly with their studio, 343 Industries—who took over the Halo franchise from Bungie, and developed Halo 4 and Halo 5—to create the experience.

SEE ALSO
Hands-on: Striker VR Pistol Prototype Borrows Design From Halo's Famous M6 Magnum

The company says players can expect to “see several iconic [Halo] characters in mixed reality for the very first time” in Halo: Recruit; and while we aren’t expecting much in terms of content depth for this first experience, we at least have high hopes for serious authenticity. And let’s be honest, getting to meet the towering seven foot tall Master Chief in 1,000 pounds of Mjolnir armor would be pretty cool after only ever seeing the Spartan robbed of a true scale on his TV screen.

Master Chief would tower over you in VR. | Image courtesy 343 Industries

We expect that this is just the first of several Halo experiences Microsoft has planned for their Windows VR headsets.

Newsletter graphic

This article may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product we may receive a small commission which helps support the publication. More information.


Ben is the world's most senior professional analyst solely dedicated to the XR industry, having founded Road to VR in 2011—a year before the Oculus Kickstarter sparked a resurgence that led to the modern XR landscape. He has authored more than 3,000 articles chronicling the evolution of the XR industry over more than a decade. With that unique perspective, Ben has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential voices in XR, giving keynotes and joining panel and podcast discussions at key industry events. He is a self-described "journalist and analyst, not evangelist."
  • NooYawker

    Experience.. as in a 20-30 second VR film? Go watch Red Vs Blue 360 if you want a Halo experience

    • Theres no Red vs Blue VR

      • NooYawker

        I corrected it. It’s red vs blue 360. Two episodes I believe.

  • Raphael

    Hopefully the non-interactive vr experience will run at least 40 seconds.

  • Jean-Sebastien Perron

    So it’s mixed reality? You will see master chief in your toilet and no world exploration. Can Microsoft do anything correctly? I think I will send all the MS product to Fail Army.

    • Jim Cherry

      It’s only mixed reality on HoloLens. On the windows mixed reality devices it will be a VR walking simulator.

  • Jean-Sebastien Perron

    Wow it look like an amateur VR game made for the oculus sdk 5 years ago. Can’t wait to pay 500$ for a subpar VR with broken motion controller tracking and no games until steam arrives later next year.

    • J.C.

      Where are you seeing any actual footage?

      Also, while the tracking for the Windows headset controllers isn’t ideal, it’s far from “broken”. PSVR is in that category MUCH more than these.

      • Jean-Sebastien Perron

        https://youtu.be/QRoBezMrF3M

        If you can find one good comment I will buy you a beer.

        • J.C.

          Ah alright yeah I saw that video afterwards. It’s indeed lame.

          Also, the link on this website is to the proper site while the link in the “you got a reply!” Email was to a set of pictures in Grabcad. So that was weird. I couldn’t figure out how some springs and blocks were related to Halo.

    • Jim Cherry

      Not to be that guy but you could probably spend 300 and get this working on your laptop.

      • Jean-Sebastien Perron

        Explain why a 1st generation PS4 that is less powerful than said laptop is a million times better.

        • Jim Cherry

          Microsoft is to timid to invest big in vr