Halo Infinite “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/halo/halo-infinite/ “> Halo Infinite was long awaited by fans of the franchise, desperate for Master Chief to regain his place among the best in the game layer after some disappointing entries on Xbox One “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/xbox/xb1/ “> Xbox One.
But after a not-so-haunting gameplay debut and a delay after the launch of the Xbox Series X | S “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/xbox/scarlett/ “> Xbox Series X, Halo” href = “https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/halo/”> Halo Infinite has fans worried about the direction of the iconic sniper franchise.
Infinite was delayed until autumn / fall 2021, which Xbox Game Studios (Microsoft) “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/microsoft/ “> Microsoft says it is due to the pandemic and to the COVID-19 reaction to the initial demonstration. It was also reported by Thurrott that a large part of the development was outsourced to third parties who contributed to the development problems.
Most recently, longtime franchise figurehead Joseph Staten announced that he has taken on the role of creative director on Halo Infinite after former director Chris Lee stepped down from the project following the reaction to the initial Infinite demo.
That would be just a year after the game’s previous creative director, Tim Longo, was transferred, leaving the development of the Halo Infinite campaign in the hands of Mary Olsen, who would leave 343 in October 2019.
The most pertinent information for Halo fans was the news that the game would be released in the fall of 2021, a year after the initial release date. Although no specific date has been provided, Bonnie Ross “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/people/bonnie-ross/ “> Bonnie Ross, founder and head of 343’s studio tweeted the blog with the caption:“ So proud of the work this team has done and I look forward to sharing more soon. Fall 2021 … hmm, doesn’t anyone have a birthday coming up? “
The 20th anniversary of Halo Combat Evolved will take place on November 15, 2021 – a likely launch date for Halo Infinite.
The long blog post details the improvements the team has implemented since the announcement of the delay, including a section where they make direct reference to “Craig”, a prominent lifeless enemy in the demo that became the lightning rod for much of the mockery online.
Neill Harrison, Art Management Director at 343 said of the internet’s favorite brute: “There was more work done on the fidelity of the material and more variety added to Brute’s faces, we’re also working on adding some hairstyles and beards, something we don’t we hadn’t arrived in July. So, although we loved our dear Craig, he is certainly undergoing a significant transformation. “
“For the first time in the series, Infinite’s multiplayer mode will be free. As announced on Twitter in July 2019, the game will also support 120FPS mode on compatible screens using the Xbox Series X. ”
Also in the blog post were new details from the live team about how ongoing support for the game will work.
Although the team confirmed that the game would not feature loot boxes, the controversial “coating” system would remain. While in previous Halo games, the customization of the armor consisted of RGB colors that players could choose from, the coatings are more substantial skins that give the armor different textures and patterns compared to the original flat colored designs from the first games.
This didn’t go down well with fans, many of whom believe it is limiting player-led creativity and customization.
Although there are no loot boxes, the linings will be available for purchase and can also be obtained through the game. The first one has been available for some time through promotional cans of Monster energy drink adorned with Master Chief since the summer of 2020, an agreement signed before the Infinite delay, leaving the cans as promotional relics of a game that you can get armor for, but not playing for a year.
For the first time in the series, Infinite’s multiplayer will be free. As announced on Twitter in July 2019, the game will also support 120FPS mode on compatible screens using the Xbox “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/xbox/ “> Xbox Series X. The multiplayer component – play was part of a leak that also mentioned 120FPS mode, however, that leak also revealed that the game would have a battle pass, something that has not been confirmed by Microsoft at this time.
This would make sense as a free multiplayer rewards tier that would increase significantly if the player paid proved extremely popular in games like Fortnite “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/fortnite/ “> Fortnite and Call Of Duty : Call of Duty Warzone “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-warzone/ “> Warzone. Especially considering Microsoft’s Game Pass, the upgrade price for the full experience will be just £ 10 a month.
A Battle Royale mode has also been widely reported in recent months, allegedly taking place on a Halo ring, however, these rumors were quick to note that the directive to include a Battle Royale mode was coming from Microsoft and not 343.
Given the huge popularity of the mode in other games, it is not surprising, but if it is not something that 343 are passionate about and simply a directive from above, it is a concern that diverts resources from what is already a problematic development cycle.