Microsoft has begun rolling out a free month subscription to Xbox Live Gold for users who own Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The rollout is in response to matchmaking issues faced by players when the game was first released in November last year. The issues continued in subsequent patches, which Xbox boss Phil Spencer called "disappointing."

Spencer apologized for the matchmaking problems, and stated that developer 343 Industries was "100% committed" to fixing them. Yesterday the studio revealed that the latest update was nearly ready for launch after going through the final stages of testing. According to the 343 Industries, the update will "improve stability, matchmaking, the party and invite system, and more."

In addition to a free month of Xbox Live, players will receive a remastered version of Halo 3: ODST and Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer map Relic as means to make up for the game's troubled launch.