In response to the high prices in Halo Infinite's item shop, some fans plan to boycott all purchases of cosmetic marketplace items in the game's multiplayer. The newest installment in the sci-fi shooter series has experienced multiple delays and a reportedly rocky development. However, Halo Infinite's multiplayer recently launched for free, with Master Chief's single-player story campaign coming on December 8.
The sudden release of Halo Infinite's multiplayer mode, which correlated with the beloved franchise's 20-year anniversary, came as a big surprise for Xbox aficionados. The launch marks the first time that a Halo game has offered free-to-play multiplayer, something that fans have been very interested to see. Unfortunately, while Halo Infinite's multiplayer itself is free, an abundance of microtransactions have led to backlash from the title's playerbase. While basic cosmetic items are available in the base game, an overwhelming majority of customization options are locked within the game's microtransaction store. In-game currency can't be earned through gameplay, either, which means players must pay real-world money for cosmetics they may want to own. The game's first season will soon fill the store with items, as fans calculate that Halo Infinite's Season 1 microtransactions will total over $1000.
In response to Halo Infinite's focus on microtransactions, Reddit user GoobyOfPls suggests that the playerbase boycott the title's item shop. The post, which has received quite a bit of positive attention from players, reiterates that the game's item prices are far too high. For example, a cosmetic belt that is only compatible with a single armor core will be sold for $15 by developer 343 Industries. GoobyOfPls also claims that the focus on microtransactions breaks promises from the developer, with 343 previously stating that armor pieces and sets would be available for free.
See the post on Reddit here.
While players are understandably frustrated at the game's item prices, 343 Industries will hopefully be able to adjust Halo Infinite's cosmetic situation in the future. Upon release, gamers were also critical of Halo Infinite's Battle Pass system, a paid progression system that grants a line of rewards by earning points. While Battle Passes are a popular part of the modern first-person shooter landscape, Halo Infinite's pass only allowed players to progress by completing specific challenges rather than by just playing the game. After backlash, 343 Industries adjusted the Battle Pass system, giving some hope that the title's item shop may also be tweaked.
As a free-to-play multiplayer title, microtransactions are an essential way for Halo Infinite to receive funding for future development. That said, the Reddit post suggests an abundance of players have found the prices featured in the game's cosmetic item shop to be too high to be considered fair. While it's not clear just how effective a boycott from fans may be, 343 Industries may be inclined to adjust Halo Infinite's microtransaction prices in light of the backlash.
Halo Infinite multiplayer is available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC. The full title will release on December 8, 2021.
Source: GoobyOfPls/Reddit