Halo: Reach Will Have Millions Of Maps At Launch

Following multiple rounds of testing, Halo: Reach will finally come to PC and Xbox One as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection on December 3. Beyond the riveting solo campaign, the re-release will include millions of multiplayer maps.

Microsoft shared the news in a recent blog post, revealing a pool of 6.2 million multiplayer maps for players to choose from. The number incorporates community created legacy maps from the original versions of Halo 3, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4. Xbox One players can download these maps using the file-finder as part of a subsequent update. For PC players, the maps will launch with the game.

The massive roster of maps will come as a boon for PC players as Forge, the Reach map-making mode, won't hit PC until 2020. Theatre mode, which lets you view recent multiplayer matches or campaign missions, also wont arrive until next year. In contrast, the Xbox One version will include Forge and Theatre mode at launch.

Microsoft also shared a number of features PC players have to look forward to, including improved overall mouse input, the inclusion of the experimental variable frame rate at launch, audio issue fixes, upgraded servers for better matchmaking, and push-to-talk communication.

Halo: Reach received glowing reviews when it launched for Xbox 360 back in 2010. "The campaign is excellent, backed by solid storytelling and a powerful audio-visual experience. The competitive multiplayer is familiar, yet brand new with a lot more options and a faster pacing," wrote IGN's Erik Brudvig. "Even if you've grown tired of the Halo formula through the years, I'd still recommend this game to you. It's just that good."

You can pre-order Halo: Reach for $10 on Steam. Xbox One users who own The Master Chief Collection will have the opportunity to play the multiplayer, custom games, Forge, and Theatre for no additional cost and can purchase the campaign and Firefight mode for $10. Xbox Game Pass subscribers get access to the whole lot for free.