Although Halo Infinite still doesn't have a firm release date beyond "2021," gamers did get to see a fair chunk of it during Microsoft's E3 livestreams. A key selling point of the game's multiplayer component will be increased Spartan customization, making it easier to tell each player apart - and to sell battle passes to players.
Indeed, Halo Infinite will be the first game in the series to have a free-to-play multiplayer component, supported by those passes and, of course, people buying the single-player game. The spinoff will completely avoid loot boxes - considered a form of gambling in some parts of the world - and never offer anything more than cosmetic upgrades. Since Halo Infinite's battle passes won't expire, it may also be possible to unlock them with enough game time, even if it takes longer than for people who pay outright. Some unlockables will actually be reserved for in-game progression.
Halo players will foremost set themselves apart with different armor components and skins - in an Infinite E3 overview video, 343 identified "armor cores," helmets, gloves, visors, chest plates, and even shoulder and knee pads as swappable. Skin customization options, meanwhile, will include coatings, emblems, and effects. Some examples shown by 343 included a "samurai" core and camo paint schemes, the second potentially offering a genuine advantage in some of the game's outdoor maps. Coatings will likewise be available for various weapons and vehicles in Halo Infinite.
Halo Acknowledges The Men And Women Under The Armor
343 is further aiming to reflect the different kinds of people who play Halo. Players will be able to choose their body type, voice, and even prosthetics, the latter for each limb. Representation of the disabled is still a rare thing in games, which makes it a great inclusion here. Players will even be able to change the voice of their AI character - another new feature for the Halo franchise.
For convenience's sake players won't have to do all their customization in-game. Configuration will be available via halowaypoint.com and a mobile app - ensuring that Halo Infinite is always ready to go, even if players can't yet make it to their PC or Xbox. 343 is also presumably planning to sell DLC in the future, but nothing has yet been revealed. Players likely won't have to wait too much longer for more details on Halo Infinite, as there are just six months left in 2021, and Microsoft will almost certainly want the game out before the end of November to maximize holiday sales.