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A patch to repair the beleaguered matchmaking within the multiplayer of Halo: The Master Chief Collection needs more time, 343 Industries told players over the weekend, putting off not only its rollout but an unusual beta test the studio had planned for it.
"As this update contains the biggest changes to the matchmaking system yet, we've identified that additional time and testing is required," 343 wrote on Saturday, "and we are currently evaluating both timing and need for a [content update] beta with the Xbox One Preview program, as well as the final public release date in February."
343 is trying to shore up three big areas in Halo: The Master Chief Collection: matchmaking search time, matchmaking search success, and "lobby/party functionality."
On Jan. 21, 343 had said that it was going to beta test the content update the following Friday, but that was pulled back.
The matchmaking overhaul isn't the only aspect of the coming content update. New playlists and new options for existing playlists are also being planned, though some depend on stabilizing matchmaking and team creation issues. For more, see this link.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a remastered anthology of all four numbered games in the Halo series. It launched in November and was immediately beset by problems in the game's online multiplayer suite. 343 Industries and Microsoft have repeatedly apologized for the problems, and recently announced that a remastered edition of Halo 3: ODST will be offered free to early adopters of The Master Chief Collection.
