It has always been something of a pipe dream, but Master Chief will now officially be appearing on a Nintendo console – albeit in a slightly different form than many had likely hoped for. TheHalomash-up pack featured withinMinecraftwill arrive as an option for Switch owners that own the block-centric survival title, marking the first time official content from Microsoft’s blockbuster first-person shooter franchise has ever appeared on a Nintendo platform.
This information has arrived after Microsoft previously stated thatMinecraftskins exclusive to a console would remain locked to their respective platforms despite the game’s cross-play-focused “Better Together” update. Regardless of these initial claims, it appears that mash-up packs will only be released on a case-by-case basis, asMinecraft’s Aubrey Norris took to Twitter to specify that only theHalomash-up pack will eventually be arriving on all participating platforms as of this writing.
As many fans know, the “Better Together” update forMinecraftwill roll out across all participating systems (including versions on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows 10, Android, iOS, Oculus Rift, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung Gear VR) in the near future. The one version left off of this list is, rather notably, the PlayStation 4, as Sony has yet to participate in the cross-play program despite fan demand and evidence of aFortnitecross-play slip-up.
DespiteSony opting out of playing ball with a cross-play system, Nintendo and Microsoft have always shared something of a much more friendly relationship. Microsoft even began development of aHalogame for Nintendo DS before opting to pull the plug on the project. Still, that hasn’t prevented the Microsoft-owned studio Rare from developing games for Nintendo’s line of handhelds, includingViva Piñata: Pocket ParadiseandDiddy Kong Racing DS.
Others remain hopeful that this gesture could lead to further crossovers between Nintendo and Microsoft in the future, such asBanjo-Kazooie appearing inSuper Smash Bros.orMinecraft’sSuper Mariomash-up pack arriving on other platforms. Those desires remain to be realized, but it’s no longer blasphemous to suggest that Banjo could appear as aMinecraftskin on Switch as somewhat of a quasi-reunion for the property and its protagonist.
