April 14 will mark the end of an era for Bungie. Halo 2, the game that launched the studio into triple-A status and made headlines worldwide, will no longer be playable online. Microsoft is disconnecting the original Xbox Live servers as part of an internal restructuring, thus preventing games built on the original Xbox Live from functioning online. The last day for Halo 2 and several other games is April 14.
Bungie reacted as you might expected: they were bummed out but thankful for the fans.
"We're all saddened at the realization that an era is coming to an end," said the studio in a brief statement on their official website last Friday. "But looking back we're incredibly fortunate to have had such a great run and such strong support from our fans. Halo 2 has been at the top of the Xbox Live charts for original games since it launched over five years ago. We're extremely thankful to everyone who has played, enjoyed and supported Halo 2 over Xbox Live. We've had some great fun together, including far too many Humpday [where fans could fight it out with Bungie] losses to even recount."
The studio will be organizing a communal celebration for Halo 2's final hours online, but details haven't been worked out just yet. But it will involve "one final opportunity" to take down Bungie.
Fans were much more vocal about their disappointment, however, taking to the official Halo 2 forums on Bungie's website to swap memories about their time spent battling each other online.
"Damn, I wanna cry, Halo 2 is the reason I'm aiming to design game sin the future," said Sonic343.
"My first online gaming experience was Halo 2," responded Duardo. "The first time I played was November 9, 2004 at about 1:55 AM. I played one game of Basic Training on Ivory Tower and ended up in first place. Then I joined my friend for a custom game on Lockout."
Other users will be returning to the same spot as Duardo.
"It started out on Ivory Tower for me," said nashkid91. "That's where it's going to end."
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phil3975
I play Halo PC, way easier to deal with anyways... its funny that Halo PC is gonna be online longer than Halo 2 XD
RobbyMac217
Halo 2 was the first online game I had played. Had such great times with that game. I now I have the urge to play it again.
solidnovember88
They want you to buy new stuff. especially if you've been playing halo 2 since 2004.
heh. Local play for that was always more fun linking up two xboxs and playing eight in one room. heh
IBloodstormI
Who cares? I am a big Halo fan, but Halo 2 was broken, rushed, boring, and I could continue. The multiplayer was buggier then anything I've ever played before and since. Aside from some really good maps (of which Halo 3 sadly lacked) the game isn't worth shedding a tear over.
FenrisianWarlord
Even if you don't like Halo you can't deny that Halo 2 was a groundbreaking game as far as online gaming goes.
escherfied
It's time to move on people.
IN_YO_FACE
who cares about this anyway everyone knows if you like halo that means you like Ryan Seacrest and terrorist I know i didn't make the rules but that's the it is.
ABXPuPpeT
imma be a typical halo player, waaaaahhhh T_T i waaaan pway my haywoooo tawoo waahhhh
ProjektX13
Good bye Halo 2. All I have to say is that there is nothing that will compare to the dent that Halo 2 left when it came to online gaming. There never was anything on the PS2, Gamecube, and even the PS3 that will ever see as much spotlight the way Halo 2 received. People might say that this game sucked or that the whole franchise sucked but that is just plain subjective. This I am typing is the truth when you have millions of people still playing up until the day it is unplugged.
sarid
so...why dont people just use the tunneling services to play halo 2 online? i dont see the problem here.
also when will bungie learn why halo 2 is the best out of them all? is it that hard to add clan support? like really?
down311
Without Halo 2, we would all have squat right now. Bungie blew the doors wide open with their console matchmaking and years of dedicated work to improving it.
Love or hate Xbox, Bungie opened the world we have to play in right now.
punkrockkyle
I'm with TheGodSend on this one... Plus if people were dumb enough to keep buying the newer Halo games, why bother keeping the old one running?
rayken15
It is kind of sad to see the game that "started it all" for Live finally laid to rest. But I wonder, does this effect the PC version of Halo 2?
KnightswordX
R.I.P. Halo 2, we shall always remember thee... but I think it is time.
kilCanvas
Halo 2 brings back some good memories, and some awful high-pitched one as well... Maybe I'll pop back in to see what Bungie's going to do.
TheGodSend
who cares, halo franchise sucks....
UltraViolence74
old news is old
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