Halo Franchise Officially Expanding to PlayStation with Insider Program Update

Halo developer Halo Studios has begun formally preparing for the franchise’s arrival on PlayStation platforms, listing PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 4 Pro as preferred consoles within the official Halo Insider program today.

The Halo Insider Program allows registered players to test upcoming Halo games and provide direct feedback to 343 Industries. According to the program’s official description, participants will have opportunities to “provide feedback and insights that help shape and inform current and future Halo franchise initiatives” and participate in hands-on playtests, known as “flights.” The addition of PlayStation consoles to the program’s preferences suggests a commitment to actively testing and optimizing Halo experiences for Sony hardware.

This move follows the announcement that the initial PlayStation release will be a remake of the original 2001 Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, described as a “faithful yet modernized remake” featuring new prequel missions, four-player online co-op, and nine weapons added to the series in later installments. Halo Studios has stated that all updates and improvements to Halo: The Master Chief Collection were a direct result of flighting and feedback, indicating the program’s importance to development. The expansion to PlayStation represents a significant shift for the traditionally Xbox-exclusive franchise, potentially opening it up to a wider audience.

While a flighting test may not be necessary for the campaign-only Combat Evolved remake, Halo Studios has affirmed its commitment to bringing more Halo titles to PlayStation in the future. Interested players can sign up for the Halo Insider Program to increase their chances of participating in future testing opportunities.

Halo Studios has not yet announced a specific timeline for future PlayStation releases beyond the Combat Evolved remake.

Halo Studios looks to be fully embracing the PS5 and PS4 as it brings its Halo franchise to PlayStation platforms for the first time, so much so the two systems have been listed as preferences in the Halo Insider program.

This scheme allows players who have signed up to test upcoming Halo games before launch and provide feedback. The official description is as follows:

The Halo Insider Program is the official way for Halo fans and community members to partner with 343 Industries to help improve our games, products, and services. As a Halo Insider, you’ll have the opportunity to provide feedback and insights that help shape and inform current and future Halo franchise initiatives. Halo Insiders will also have exclusive opportunities to participate in public “flights” (hands-on playtests) of in-progress Halo game releases and provide feedback to our development teams.

Spotted by Halo community account grunt.api, you can now select PS5, PS5 Pro, PS4, and PS4 Pro as the consoles you play on as you select your preferences for any potential “console flighting” tests in the future.

The official Halo Insider website says “all of the updates and improvements to Halo: The Master Chief Collection were the direct result of flighting and feedback”, so the program is clearly more than just a beta.

It continues: “Each public flight has specific goals and requirements so not all Halo Insiders will be selected for every flight. Please ensure your Halo Insider settings are complete and accurate – including a verified email address – to improve your chances of getting invited to a flight.”