The first episode of the Halo TV series is free on YouTube

The Halo TV series, a show with no vibes, has had its first episode uploaded in full on the Paramount+ YouTube channel.

It's a pretty sharp promotional move reminiscent of the most generous demos and free weekends in gaming. I certainly don't know anyone with a Paramount+ subscription, and wrangling with another streaming app free trial is a big ask if you don't even know you'll enjoy the programming on offer.

Now though, you have nothing to lose but 58 minutes and 56 seconds of your precious free time. Tune in for a sort of Lone Wolf and Cub side plot and a reveal 21 years in the making: the Master Chief removing his helmet to reveal he is this man.

I appreciate the move here from Paramount, and hope to see more like it in the future. We're facing a veritable deluge of videogame streaming adaptations down the pike, with projects based on Fallout, Dungeons & Dragons, Bioshock, and more all in production or pre-production.

It's looking like there'll be a lot of videogame-based streaming shows vying for our money and attention, and association with a beloved property isn't necessarily a guarantee of quality. Making a one-off freebie episode available on YouTube seems like a must to stand out in this crowded field.

Ted has been thinking about PC games and bothering anyone who would listen with his thoughts on them ever since he booted up his sister's copy of Neverwinter Nights on the family computer. He is obsessed with all things CRPG and CRPG-adjacent, but has also covered esports, modding, and rare game collecting. When he's not playing or writing about games, you can find Ted lifting weights on his back porch. You can follow Ted on Bluesky.