The community director for Halo Infinite has warned that the game's first multiplayer beta could contain bugs, tempering players' expectations for the technical test. Developer 343 Industries has sent out thousands of invitations for the Halo Infinite beta, which officially began on July 29.
Halo Infinite is one of the most highly-anticipated games of the year, and was originally scheduled to release alongside the Xbox Series X/S consoles in 2020. The game has been delayed until sometime during the holiday season this year, but some lucky players will be able to test out the game's multiplayer component ahead of its release. Earlier this week 343 Industries sent email invites to select fans who signed up to the Waypoint Insider Program, giving them access to the multiplayer's technical test which is taking place this weekend. The multiplayer beta test is just the first of many Halo Infinite playable previews, and will run until 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT on Monday, August 2.
Halo community director Brian Jarrard took to Twitter to share a thread about the beta (via GameSpot), reminding players that the test is "at a scale unlike anything we've done to date," and that there are "many steps to navigate." Jarrard stressed that the technical test is just that, a technical test, and not a game launch, tempering fan's expectations of the early Halo Infinite experience. The developer shared concerns that some players might "already have the wrong expectations going into a technical preview," noting that "there will be hiccups." While Jarrard didn't outline the sorts of problems players might come across, those with a beta invite should expect to encounter some issues.
Jarrad's words hint that the game preview won't necessarily be indicative of the final Halo Infinite release, and will instead help the development team continue to improve on the game. Previews and tests typically highlight potential problems a game could see at launch, such as server instability, and one of the most effective ways to find issues like this before release is with technical tests. Halo Infinite beta players will likely come across bugs, glitches, and server issues during their weekend of play, but taking part in the beta will help to make the final product as polished as possible when Halo Infinite releases later this year.
Halo Infinite will be the first game in the series to have free-to-play multiplayer, which will include seasonal content, challenges, and events. The developer has confirmed the team is targeting a new multiplayer season release roughly every three months following the game's launch. Halo Infinite's first season will be entitled "Heroes of Reach," and will pay homage to the series' roots while still offering a new-gen experience and gameplay for the players.
Halo Infinite is due to release on Xbox Series X/S and PC later this year.
Source: Brian Jarrard/Twitter (via GameSpot)