Paramount’s streaming service gamble may have paid off thanks to the live-action Master Chief show.

The Halo live action TV series premiere on 25th March attracted a huge number of viewers for the Paramount+ streaming service (via Deadline). The show has set a new record as the service’s most-watched series premiere globally in its first 24 hours, beating the previous viewer count mark established by Western drama 1883.

While Paramount and parent company Viacom is not disclosing numbers, Viacom’s February earnings report stated that Paramount+ has 32.8 million subscribers and counting. This is due to exclusive Star Trek shows and a number of teen and kid shows only available from the service like iCarly and Peppa Pig. The fact that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate allows users to watch Paramount+ free for 30 days may have contributed to Paramount+’s windfall.

I saw the first episode of the Halo TV series and it’s promising. It does break tradition by unmasking Master Chief at the end, but the setup of the show and its action beats shows potential in a series that can build up to an escalating alien invasion and all-out war. Time will tell if the first season can maintain that momentum, but so far, colour me curious. If you’re also curious about the live adaptation, you can check out ways on how to check the show out here.