Halo Infinite is removing classic color options and players are understandably upset by the changes, with Halo developer 343 Industries recently announcing that new armor coatings will replace the original dual-color customization system in the troubled Xbox Series X/S game. This original system has been used by players to customize armor in every previous installment in the Halo series and has been popular ever since. Coatings are best described as specific shaders that change the color and appearance of in-game weapons and vehicles. These new customization choices initially excited fans who were eager to apply new colors and patterns, seemingly expanding customization options in the process.
However, scores of fans have been voicing their concerns that original color options are being replaced in favor of ones that are fueled by microtransactions. This shift has caused Halo players to question the purpose of the armor coatings since the textures and patterns they will feature cannot be accessed or modified by players. Players see the move as an open endorsement of microtransactions, incentivizing players in a bid to monetize customization. 343 Industries has responded to the controversy by explaining to players that purchasing new coatings and colors is not the only route to earning more customization options, going on to claim they can be earned through in-game quests and special rewards. Players have been left wondering how this results in more choices rather than less.
The new seven-layer coating system has been deemed "unacceptable" by etrain2099 on Reddit's dedicated Halo community, whose text post call-out of the new monetization scheme has received over 12,000 upvotes by Halo fans who agree. Other r/Halo users have piled on, sharing memes and comments criticizing the decision to remove classic color options and openly questioning the profit-driven motive of 343 and Microsoft. The comprehensive argument posed by etrain2099 references a list of "monetary avenues" the community would support seeing in Halo Infinite instead, including armor patterns, armor textures, visor colors, and more - but not basic color options. Frustrated but not without their senses of humor, the below r/Halo posts perfectly capture how the community seems to feel:
Me and the boys trying to customize our Spartans in Halo: Infinite without spending money. from halo
Halo 3, Circa 2021 from halo
With the game's initial release date being delayed until at least 2021, it's still too soon to confirm how player-friendly the game's inevitable (and evident) microtransaction store will be. Fans' frustratrions are completely justified, considering the propensity of microtransactions to strain the relationship between game developers and players. Considering that Halo Infinite's multiplayer component is confirmed to be free-to-play, it is unsurprising the game will feature microtransactions in some capacity. If monetization is going to happen either way, 343 needs to strike a delicate balance that will satisfy the broader Halo gaming community while simultaneously finding innovative and non-invasive ways to generate revenue.
However, even the concessions that players like etrain2099 are now willing to make still don't seem to reflect the definitive return to form for the franchise that players have been expecting Halo Infinite to be. Instead, they're currently weighing up the prospects of buying the most basic form of visible player expression at $5 a pop versus other forms of finance-minded compromises, when they should be able to simply look forward to experiencing a blockbuster campaign and the multiplayer gameplay they love with modern twists. When also taking the game's troubled development and significant delay into account, bald-faced avarice on 343's and Microsoft's part doesn't seem promising for the final game in the least.
Halo Infinite will be available for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC in 2021.
Sources: etrain2099, MrJips, Keatosis, OnlyForldeas, SkysNotTheLimit2