"I will say I think one Halo game every three years -- which be kind a our old cadence -- be probably not frequent enough," Microsoft VP Phil Spencer told IGN. For Spencer, it be a matter a keeping players "engaged" 'n "not going dark for two years" at a time, akin t' what Activision has done for Call a Duty.

"I used t' look at annual releases a non-sports games as people just trying t' milk me," Spencer said. "I figured nobody had enough time t' do a good job, 'n all a the negatives that we would associate with those kinds a scenarios. Kudos t' Activision because they've done a good job building a good game, continuing t' release each year 'n I think the fans feel like it be a good thing that they do that." He added that, "watching them 'n seeing what they do -- we take inspiration from a lot a places -- but obviously they be a big success."

For Microsoft, the hurdle be now going t' be a change in developer -- Bungie's sailing away some big shoes t' fill.