Halo Infinite has had a notoriously rocky development cycle, and after the entire game suffered one delay over a year ago, more delays have been recently announced. During a development update video, it was announced that the Forge and campaign co-op modes have been delayed to months after the game's still unannounced launch. The two modes are Halo mainstays, but have now become two major pieces of Halo Infinite's live service model.
Gameplay for Halo Infinite was first shown in summer of 2020, but the showcase sparked widespread criticism of the game's graphics. Shortly after the reveal, developer 343 Industries announced that Halo Infinite would be delayed until 2021. The game has been slated for release during the 2021 holiday season, but an exact date has yet to be announced. Other games like Horizon Forbidden West have a nebulous release date too, but the announcement of major components being axed from the launch version of Halo Infinite is another issue entirely.
As one might expect, the rationale for the change to Infinite's content lineup is unspecific. Head of creative on Halo Infinite Joseph Staten and community director Brian "ske7ch" Jarrard were responsible or delivering the news in the recent development update, but the most thorough explanation offered by Staten was that Forge and campaign co-op are "not ready" for launch. There was also some discussion about these two modes not making a list of "number one priorities" when compared with other parts of Halo Infinite. The two waxed romantically about "the beauty of [Halo Infinite] being a live service," which will allow 343 to deliver such content post-launch, but the sentiment rings disingenuous when discussing the unceremonious delay of major, previously confirmed game modes.
Halo Infinite's Multiplayer Is Clearly The Priority
The Halo Infinite community is already angry at the announcement, and for good reason. In the exact same development update, Staten reassured players that split screen multiplayer would be in the game at launch - at least for Xbox consoles, citing the wide range of hardware for its omission from PC. It would seem that Halo Infinite's multiplayer is the priority for 343, and those looking to play the campaign in co-op will have to wait. Infinite's live service roadmap places a new season beginning every three months, with the first starting on launch. According to Staten, campaign co-op is expected to arrive three months after launch with the beginning of season two, and Forge coming another three months after that when season three of Halo Infinite starts.
It's hard not to be pessimistic about the delay of the co-op campaign, especially since similar features (split screen) are allegedly going to be included in multiplayer when Halo Infinite launches. The game will most likely make a majority of its revenue from the free-to-play multiplayer, which is primed for a plethora of cosmetics. More than anything, delaying Forge and campaign co-op beyond the launch of Halo Infinite looks like an attempt to push the game out the door in time for holiday sales while ensuring the most profitable aspects of the game are included.