UPDATED 11/17, 8:01 PM ET: Subsequent to the publication of this article, 343 Industries has confirmed that the Battle Pass progression will be re-adjusted.
The Halo Infinite early multiplayer launch was a welcome surprise for fans of the Xbox franchise, but Halo Infinite's battle pass is very underwhelming. Xbox launched Halo's multiplayer free to play on PC and Xbox as a part of the company's 20th-anniversary celebrations, and it currently has three modes available: Quick Play, which contains classic Halo game modes; Big Team battle, larger-scale action on bigger maps; and a Ranked mode, which gives players a more intense game setting.
Players who sink their teeth into Halo's multiplayer now will have their progress carried over (including Halo Infinite's battle pass progress) when the game fully launches on December 8. The full release will add Halo Infinite's Campaign mode where players can continue the story of legendary protagonist Master Chief, but they will have to purchase the campaign separately if they want to play it. Right now, however, there is an in-game store that allows players to buy and use Halo Credits to unlock cosmetics and upgrade to the Halo Infinite battle pass.
Halo Infinite's season one battle pass, unfortunately, is not very good and arguably not currently worth buying. Right now Halo Infinite's season one battle pass has 100 levels and requires 1000 Halo Credits to unlock the premium version, with 1000 credits being worth $10. This is not a bad price when compared to the Battlefield 2042 and Call of Duty battle passes, especially considering they won't expire. However, the way players level up Halo's battle pass is incredibly slow, and the items unlocked are very underwhelming.
Halo Infinite Battle Pass Rewards Just Aren't Good
To level up the Halo Infinite battle pass, players have to complete daily and weekly challenges to earn the XP needed to progress. These challenges are assigned randomly, and can only be changed using a consumable Challenge Swap item that can be earned through the free part of the pass. These missions are frustrating, as they often require players to play a specific game mode or use a specific weapon, but players cannot pick and choose what game modes they play in Halo Infinite's Quick Match so they have to queue up and hope they load into the right mode to complete the mission. The XP they get for completing a mission is not a lot either, usually having to complete 4 or 5 missions to advance one level.
The items in each level of Halo Infinite's battle pass are very disappointing as well. The free track gets almost nothing apart from the Challenge Swap items and a few armor mods and color palettes. Every item on the premium Halo battle pass is an armor mod as well, with no weapon or vehicle skins. Some of the items are interesting, but most are slight changes that won't be noticed by other players when in a match. There are some milestone unlocks, which in season one of Halo Infinite's multiplayer give Spartans flames around their helmet and body and make enemies catch fire when they're killed, but these will take a long time to unlock by completing missions.
Halo Infinite's battle pass being available from day one is good - unfortunately, the content in the battle pass is bad and not worth grinding for. It would be better if the pass contained skins and color changes for the weapons and vehicles, and not just the armor players wear. The free track should have more customizable items available to unlock, and there should be fewer of the Challenge Swap items. The best change that could be made is giving players battle pass XP after completing every match. Halo's multiplayer has always had a focus on special unlockables, but hiding them behind a very slow battle pass is not the way to do it.