The Arbiter has been a popular, recurring character in Halo, but some players may wonder if he appears in Halo Infinite. Though the Halo franchise regularly focuses on Spartans and the UNSC, most notably the Master Chief, the living legend has received help from many supporting characters. Cortana's rampancy and departure from the Chief's side presented a unique situation that encouraged creative freedom. Unfortunately, Arbiter's role in Halo Infinite is minor, leaving the character to wait for his moment to return to the spotlight.
Halo Infinite takes place on Zeta Installation following the destruction of the UNSC Infinity, the ship that served as the primary base for Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians. Stranded on the damaged Halo ring with the pilot of Echo-216, Master Chief unravels the mysteries of the Banished's plans and discovers what happened to Cortana. The rampant AI lost control of her impulses in the previous game, summoning smart AIs to her side along with Forerunner technology. Though Halo Infinite separates Master Chief from many of his allies, some familiar characters appear throughout the Spartan's journey across the installation. But is the Arbiter among Chief's allies in this new adventure?
In Halo, Arbiter refers to a rank in the Covenant and the Sangheili species. Once regarded as a position of honor among the Sangheili, the Covenant's Prophets turned it into a rank of shame. Shamed Elites trying to reclaim their honor suffered brands and received ceremonial armor without shields. As a result, the Covenant often sends Arbiters on suicidal missions, which caused the current Arbiter to meet Master Chief during Halo 2's story. Thel'Vadam holds the title of Arbiter and often finds himself fighting alongside the Master Chief, unlike so many of his species. Though his goals are currently a mystery, Arbiter Thel'Vadam appears to be an ally of the UNSC.
Halo Infinite Has An Arbiter Easter Egg
Until recently, the UNSC and the Master Chief regularly battled the Covenant and their forces, though internal politics and the creation of splintered factions have complicated each army's relationship with the other. Unfortunately, Arbiter won't accompany the Master Chief on any main missions or side quests despite Covenant soldiers' presence on Zeta Installation. The character doesn't appear in Halo Infinite's open-world, nor does the Master Chief mention his name during gameplay. Thankfully, 343 Industries created an Easter egg to ensure the Elite received his time in the spotlight.
After completing the eighth story mission of Halo Infinite, titled "Pelican Down," players must retrieve a flying vehicle to locate the Easter egg. A Banshee works best, as its speed can make the journey much safer and quicker. Flying over the isolated island in the middle of the map, players can discover a plushie sitting beside surveillance equipment atop the centermost cliff. The plushie resembles the Arbiter's armor and species but plays no role in the story nor warrants a reaction from Master Chief. There is no achievement for finding the Arbiter plushie, nor is the item itself a collectible. Instead, it serves as a reminder that the Arbiter still exists within the Halo universe, despite his absence.
Like most of its predecessors, Halo Infinite features dozens of Easter eggs that reference previous games, characters, and pop culture references. Halo Infinite's single-player campaign is available on Xbox Game Pass or for a purchase of $60, while the multiplayer component is entirely free (with an optional Battle Pass). Though Arbiter isn't a part of Halo Infinite's campaign, there are still many new activities and stories to experience in the franchise's latest installment.