Microsoft has announced Halo: Spartan Assault, a top-down action game exclusively for Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. There has been a lack of exclusive games that would bring users to their mobile platforms, but Microsoft is undoubtedly hoping that the Halo name is big enough to do this. But could we see it on iOS?
Honestly, we can't really be sure. But we got Kinectimals, so it's just a matter of time until Spartan Assault makes its way to us iOS users, right? Well, it's all about priorities for Microsoft right now. They need to get phones and tablets into the hands of consumers, and Kinectimals was never as important to the company, both psychologically and financially, as Halo. But it would be odd not to try to get Spartan Assault on iOS and Android at all, right? That's where the real mobile gaming audience, and thus, money, is, so why not go after it sooner rather than later?
Perhaps the answer is in Office. Office is taking its sweet time expanding to other platforms, and Microsoft even uses it as a selling point for tablets running Windows 8 and Windows RT. Microsoft seems to see Office as important enough, and enough of a differentiator for their platform, that people will ditch iOS and Android to use it. Regardless of whether or not that strategy will work out for Microsoft in the long term, they might view a Halo game on their platform the same way.
Halo is a system-seller, a game that people buy an Xbox just to play. Microsoft wants Spartan Assault to be a game like that. There's little doubt that they want other games to release for their mobile platforms first, or at least well in advance of their rivals. Microsoft is probably working very hard, using the relationships that it has forged with publishers over the years, to get major, triple-A titles on their mobile platforms. They don't want Spartan Assault to be a one-shot, so they'll do what they have to in order to expand the Windows Phone gaming ecosystem.
If I had to guess, I'd say iOS users will eventually see this game, but it won't be soon. But right now, Microsoft is hoping that you want things like Office and a Halo game badly enough to ditch your iOS devices for Windows. Do you? Would you switch for Spartan Assault or games like it? And does that mean Apple should start looking for a monster exclusive gaming franchise of their own?
Source: Windows Phone Central
