Halo 3: ODST was released before its time. An interesting departure from franchise norms, it offered a semi-open world structure against a story that could be completed non-linearly. But instead of bringing along its own competitive multiplayer mode, Halo 3: ODST simply shipped with a separate disc containing the whole of Halo 3's multiplayer component, DLC maps and all. Looking back, it was a huge miss for Bungie.
Part of what makes Halo 3: ODST special is its origin. It was meant to hold fans over between Halo 3 and Halo Reach, but its scope expanded into that of a full-fledged game. This time around, though, players were dropped into the boots of the Rookie, an ODST that didn't have the same augmentations and armor that Master Chief or the other Spartans had. Players didn't even have shields, with ODST instead using "adrenaline" and health pick-ups.
Halo 3: ODST's Biggest Missed Opportunity
With a soundtrack influenced by Jazz, heavy emphasis on atmosphere, and a unique campaign, Halo 3: ODST brought a lot to the table. However, it's impossible to not see the omission of its own competitive multiplayer mode as a missed opportunity. Yes, ODST did introduce Firefight, a wave-based horde mode that tasked players with surviving against increasingly difficult odds. And Firefight, to its credit, is enjoyable, returning in a few different entries since ODST. But it simply doesn't scratch the same itch that PvP does.
Halo 3 multiplayer is often cited as the best in the franchise, and while that's a matter of debate among fans, Halo 3: ODST likely could've surpassed it if it had its own multiplayer component. Not only did it feature much of the same weapon tuning that Halo 3 did, but the art direction was superior in almost every regard. That art direction could've shined in competitive multiplayer, as Bungie had a treasure trove of interesting locations in the campaign to pull inspiration from for multiplayer maps.
Not only was there plenty of inspiration for multiplayer maps, but the disparity of how strong Spartans are versus ODSTs could've fueled some interesting gameplay. With classic Halo movement mechanics but a perceived lower health pool, players undoubtedly would have approached it in a different, more strategic way. It's not the perfect comparison, but Halo 3: ODST multiplayer could've been a blend of Halo and Rainbow Six Siege years before Siege existed.
Is It Too Late for Halo 3: ODST Competitive Multiplayer?
While it's had its fair share of ups and downs across recent entries, the Halo franchise is in a pretty good place right now. While the servers for classic Halo games were recently shut down, fans are still able to play them through Halo: The Master Chief Collection, including ODST. Considering that option exists, it seems incredibly unlikely that Halo 3: ODST would receive its own competitive multiplayer, but not impossible.
If 343 Industries really wanted to, it could craft some form of Halo 3: ODST competitive multiplayer and drop it into Halo: MCC. Of course, the studio's resources are almost certainly focused on Halo Infinite right now, as the team works to secure a player base for what it hopes will be a 10-year game. Halo: MCC is also finished receiving new content and there hasn't been particularly loud cries for Halo 3: ODST to get competitive multiplayer.
With all that in mind, fans shouldn't hold their breath for any sort of Halo 3: ODST competitive multiplayer. History will likely simply remember it as a missed opportunity for an entry in the series that simply doesn't get the respect it deserves.
Halo 3: ODST is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.