Microsoft goes beyond its own ecosystem to get a game on iOS.
343 Industries and Vanguard Games launched top-down shooter Halo: Spartan Strike on multiple platforms today. With 343 Industries being a Microsoft subsidiary, of course Microsoft’s platforms are supported, including Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. But the shooter also drops on iOS, giving the publisher a much bigger piece of the mobile market, which is expected to hit $35.4 billion by 2017, according to market researcher Newzoo. But it’s not on Android — yet.
This successor to the 2013 twin-stick title Halo: Spartan Assault comes after a short delay, sporting improved controls and graphics. It’s set during the events of Xbox game Halo 2 and presents 30 missions, new weapons, new abilities, and new vehicles — all for $6, with no microtransactions. This is a rare move in the mobile space, where free-to-play games supported by in-app purchases are the norm — app-tracking firm Distimo says that microtransactions make up 79 percent of U.S. app store revenues.
A Halo: Spartan Bundle was also released today by Microsoft for iOS and Steam today. It includes this new game as well as its predecessor, Spartan Assault and costs $10.