Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud Halo is coming to PlayStation. Are the console wars over?
Nov 4, 2025
Alyssa Mercante, a New York-based internet culture journalist, and Jonathan Ore, a senior writer for CBC Radio Digital, dive into Xbox's surprising move to make Halo available on PlayStation. They discuss the implications for the gaming industry, with Alyssa highlighting the decline of console exclusivity and the rise of Game Pass. Jonathan emphasizes Halo's impact on Xbox's identity. The conversation also touches on political aspects of gaming culture and the evolving consumer landscape. Is the console war truly winding down?
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Xbox Is Selling Access Not Hardware
- Xbox has shifted from selling consoles to selling a software ecosystem that delivers games across devices.
- Alyssa Mercante says Microsoft now prioritizes access over hardware exclusivity to grow its audience.
Buying An Xbox For Halo
- Elamin recalls buying an Xbox specifically to play Halo and carrying it to LAN parties with friends.
- He uses this personal memory to show how central Halo was to console loyalty in the 2000s.
Halo Defined Xbox's Identity
- Halo launched with the original Xbox and shaped the console's identity through Master Chief and its Western sci-fi tone.
- Jonathan Ore argues Halo defined what Xbox was and anchored youth gaming culture like LAN parties.