Halo: The Master Chief Collection's party and matchmaking beta test has been canceled

Halo developer 343 Industries says it won't need players to beta test a planned content update for Halo: The Master Chief Collection after all. By forgoing that beta test, 343 says, Xbox One owners will get that content update earlier.

The developer announced last month that it was planning to roll out a beta test for The Master Chief Collection to select Xbox One owners to test the game's next patch. "Given the scale of the update, which includes changes to the matchmaking experience and party system, we are expanding testing to include select members of the Xbox One Preview program to ensure the official release is the best possible experience for all players," the developer said in January.

Today, 343 said it's no longer going forward with those plans.

"After further evaluation, the team has determined that that final testing for the content update will be completed internally, and we will not be conducting a beta test for the next CU," a post on Halo Waypoint reads. "Also, it was determined that the additional time and work devoted to the beta would've actually postponed the public availability of the content update."

343 says its new plan will "deliver the smoothest possible experience, and ensure that the next content update becomes available as soon as possible."

The developer says it's still working on the content update for The Master Chief Collection, and will communicate release date details later.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which includes four full Halo games, was released this past November and was plagued with online and matchmaking issues. The issues with the game were so severe that 343 Industries apologized for the game's continued issuesand offered early adopters free content in an attempt to make-good. The developer has issued numerous updates to address the game's matchmaking woes.

SOURCE
Halo Waypoint