Halo 5: Guardians for PC 'not being worked on at this time'

Earlier this week Microsoft unveiled Halo Infinite – the next major entry in the Halo franchise. Although only a brief reveal trailer surfaced, the game appears to focus on the Master Chief on a new, large-scale adventure. One of the biggest changes will be its PC debut, marking the first mainline game on Windows 10's Microsoft Store.

Updated June 11, 2018: Speaking on ResetEra, Halo franchise development director, Frank O'Connor has confirmed Halo 5: Guardians isn't coming to PC. Despite evidence indicating its arrival, this was supposedly an "error" on Microsoft's part. While it's "not impossible" Halo 5 could hit PC, the project is "not being worked on at this time."

A Microsoft spokesperson provided the following statement to Windows Central: "The Windows 10 logo on the Halo 5: Guardians product page is in reference to the existing Halo 5: Forge feature, which is available at no cost and includes custom multiplayer games and the Forge map editor."

It now appears Microsoft could be reviving Halo 5: Guardians in its entirety – with multiple changes indicating a Windows 10 arrival. As spotted on ResetEra, Microsoft seems to have recently amended the game's online listing with a new "Exclusive on Xbox One and Windows 10" graphic. Similarly, revised Xbox One box art frames the game as a "console launch exclusive," indicating a new version is on the way.

Cross-referenced against archived pages, Microsoft appears to have recently updated the game's web page.

Cross-referenced against archived pages, Microsoft appears to have recently updated the game's web page.

The arrival of Halo 5: Guardians on PC wouldn't be a huge surprise – Microsoft has embraced cross-platform initiatives, through its Play Anywhere program. After Halo 5: Forge brought the game's map-building tools to keyboard and mouse users, an entire port is a logical next step.

Conversely, these recent changes could've been made to reflect Halo 5: Forge's Windows 10 availability. It seems unlikely due to the age of the two titles, though we'll have to wait for official word from Microsoft. We've reached out to Microsoft for comment and will provide an update upon response.

Microsoft has wrapped its own E3 2018 press conference, yet there are still ideal opportunities for the announcement. Most notably, the "PC Gaming Show" and "Inside Xbox" showcases are set to take on June 11. Are you hoping to see Halo 5: Guardians on PC? Drop into the comments section below with your thoughts.

Matt Brown

Matt Brown was formerly a Windows Central's Senior Editor, Xbox & PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Microsoft's gaming efforts. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.