Microsoft followers have been begging the company to bring its cherished Halo franchise to PC since the IP first debuted on the original Xbox well over a decade ago.

Though it once was thought to be nothing more than a pipe dream, 343 Industries will finally make that wish a reality with the release of a beefed-up version of Halo: The Master Chief Collection later this year.

Halo was, for many years, the reason to own a console. Sony may have had proprietary titles like Killzone, and PCs boasted tons of multiplayer shooters that couldn’t properly be played with a controller, but Microsoft’s epic sci-fi FPS franchise has long made its consoles the defining space for multiplayer action.

PREVIOUSLY: Halo: Infinite Will Be A 'Spiritual Reboot' Says 343 Industries Head

via Steam

The only caveat here is that, while the original 2014 Xbox One release of Halo: MCC gave gamers instant access to every title included in the collection, this PC port will be releasing in stages. Microsoft and 343 Industries plan to launch the games one at a time in chronological order in keeping with the series’ lore.

Naturally, this means that Halo: Reach — which wasn’t included in the original collection — will be the first to debut on PC, with Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, ODST, and Halo 4 making staggered releases later on.

RELATED: Amazon Accidentally Leaks Xbox One Exclusive Halo 5 Could Come To PC

Though it wouldn’t have come as a surprise had it released alongside the Xbox One version of the game a few years ago, PC players have been thrilled to hear that, in addition to the Microsoft digital storefront, the MCC PC port will also be available on Steam.

With major publishers seemingly eager to force their own unique storefronts and game launchers on an increasingly unreceptive playerbase, it’s nice to know that Master Chief still acknowledges Valve’s rule. Hopefully, Epic Games won’t step in and force this long-awaited collection to be sold exclusively on their controversial new storefront.

via Steam

Playing this collection on PC will still require users to sign up or for an Xbox Live account, which is another small barrier between gamers and the actual game. Yet, Microsoft seems increasingly willing to parlay with other platforms — rumors of a partnership with Nintendo have been circulating for a few weeks now — and this seems to be a sign that Xbox Live will one day transcend the tech giant’s own console line.

Pricing and release dates haven’t been set in stone as of yet, but there’s already a page on the Steam storefront dedicated to the upcoming title, so it’s likely to come out sooner than later. What’s more, this also seems to suggest that games like Halo 5 and the upcoming Halo: Infinite could also be making their way to PC at some point in the future.

READ NEXT: Apex Legends Players Call For Respawn To Region Lock China