The Microsoft Halo Insider program so far has allowed console owners to provide feedback and play the new games ahead of their release. Now, with the Halo: Master Chief Collection coming to the PC, Microsoft is introducing a new Halo Insider program for the PC users as well.
New Halo Insider program – what is it?
Previously, Microsoft and Halo developer 343 Industries promised information on the game at the SXSW show in Austin. Many were expecting a revelation of the release date for the first game in the Halo: Master Chief Collection (MCC) on PC. But, the company only told that it’ll be “ready when it’s ready”.
Instead of its release date, however, the company made another big revelation, i.e., bringing the Halo Insider program to the PC to allow fans early access to the Halo: Master Chief Collection on PC. The company didn’t announce when exactly users would get early access to the game.
Join us on the journey to bring Halo: The Master Chief Collection to PC! The Halo Insider Program is the new way you can partner with us to help improve our games via feedback and hands-on public flighting. Learn more and sign up today! https://t.co/KDrRsbUMWA pic.twitter.com/a7yRdXRqds
— Halo (@Halo) March 17, 2019
Interested users, however, can sign up in advance. The registered users will get “exclusive opportunities to participate in public flights of in-progress Halo game releases and provide feedback to the development teams,” read the description of the program.
A point to note is that signing up for the program will require you to sign a confidentiality agreement. You will also need to answer a few survey questions related to your history and your interest with the Halo series.
What information do you need to provide?
Later in the survey, you will have to provide some details, which can help you get access to “flighting” programs for upcoming Halo titles. To increase your chances of being selected for the program, make sure to provide all information correctly. Further, PC users specifically need to provide a DXDIAG upload and send their SteamID.
“We know everyone is super eager and excited to get started but please be patient– tweeting at the team and posting in the forums asking to be included or demanding to know why you’re not included won’t help the process,” the developer said.
These “flighting” programs are basically pre-release testing periods, where developer 343 will allow a few users early access to the unreleased games with the aim to gather feedback.
Registered users will be required to report bugs or glitches (if any) they come across. Also, users will be expected to provide feedback, such as suggestions for new features, or any change to the game’s interface.
Not all will get a chance
This Halo Insider Program will replace the existing MCC Insider Program which developer 343 runs to test the Halo: Master Chief Collection updates on the Xbox One. Now, going forward, this new program will support all Halo titles, products, and services. If you already registered for the MCC Insider Program before, you will still need to re-register for the new program.
Also, there is no guarantee that if you register for the Halo Insider Program, you will be part of each flight. For example, if for some future iteration of the Halo, developer 343 wants to test against some specific hardware configurations, then it won’t need all the participants.
“With MCC on PC specifically, the team is going to need to ensure they have specific representation across a broad matrix of PC hardware configurations,” the developer said. Also, the developer said that they would often require players online at a particular time or from a particular region, thus “your location and availability could also come into play.”
Further, those who get a chance to participate in the flight must make sure that they participate actively. “Once flighting is up and running, the team will likely also focus on active participants who play and provide feedback as candidates for ongoing flighting while players who don’t actually participate may find they’re not included in subsequent releases,” the developer said.
Microsoft has a detailed FAQ segment, in case you want to know more about the program. To sign up for the early access, visit the Halo Insider website.
Each game in the Halo: MCC PC version will be launched one at a time to ensure stability on the new hardware. It must be noted that Halo: Reach will come both on the PC and Xbox One version of the MCC, and it will be the first game in the series to hit the PC.
