Developer 343 Industries considered delaying Halo Infinite a second time but decided against it due to the game being mostly complete at this point. The latest installment of Microsoft’s long-running sci-fi FPS franchise was famously held back from its planned launch alongside the Xbox Series X last November due to negative feedback from Halo Infinite’s first showing at an Xbox Games Showcase that summer.
Since then, 343 Industries has been putting in the work to win fans over by showing off Halo Infinite’s considerably improved graphics and multiplayer in a recent free online beta test. However, controversy arose once again when it was announced that Halo Infinite would launch without Halo’s campaign Co-op and Forge modes – a move that has led many to believe that Halo Infinite should be delayed again.
343 Industries creative lead Joseph Staten mentioned that his team once discussed the possibility of delaying Halo Infinite a second time during the most recent Halo Infinite development video. Ultimately, 343 decided against it, with Staten pointing out that even though Co-Op and Forge would have to be added in later, “Halo Infinite is a live game, so it isn't ever really 'done'. It's going to progress and evolve from season to season. We talk about launch being the beginning of that journey, but to have a beginning, you need to pick a moment and actually begin.” He then added that 343 had been working on Halo Infinite for a really long time and that “with solo campaign and our first season of free-to-play multiplayer in really good shape for holiday, we didn't want to delay anymore.” Check out the full Halo Infinite August Update video below, courtesy of the Official Halo YouTube Channel:
While Halo Infinite’s official release date hasn’t been confirmed yet aside from a vague “Holiday 2021” launch window, recent rumors and leaks suggest that Halo Infinite could hit stores in November – which would line up with the release of the original Halo: Combat Evolved back in 2001. As Staten stated in his latest interview, 343 Industries plans to support Halo: Infinite well after its launch with additional story campaign seasons and special cosmetic items that are said to defy the usual design conventions of the franchise.
The decision to release Halo Infinite without campaign Co-Op or Forge has been a divisive decision among Halo fans, so a case could be made in delaying the game to allow these features to be finished and included at launch. On the other hand, there are plenty of players who will take Halo Infinite without these modes being available at first, and 343 Industries feels there’s no sense in holding back everything else in the game on account of two unfinished side modes. In any case, fans will get their chance to reenter the battle when Halo Infinite launches sometime this holiday season.
Halo Infinite will be available for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC in Holiday 2021.
Source: Halo/YouTube