Halo Infinite Needs To Be A Wow Factor for Xbox Series X

written by Jenica Macapagal

When fans around the world heard the news that Halo Infinite will be released at the same time as Xbox Series X, fans got excited and the expectations on the next-gen game went sky high, and of course this added to the launch excitement of the Xbox Series X hardware. However, the anticipation on 343 Industries’ Halo Infinite was cut short soon after the initial gameplay reveal was officially released.

The gaming community, especially the fans of Halo series were kept in suspense on what the new installment of the Halo series had to offer. That was until Xbox stated on August 11th in their social media accounts and official website that Halo Infinite will be delayed until 2021 with no definitive date of its actual release.

As we all know, the game was originally set to be released at the same time as the Xbox Series X in November 2020 but was subsequently moved to 2021 due to the fact that COVID-19 had greatly affected the output of the games development process. Another probable reason for its delay was founded on the numerous negative comments that surfaced after the initial demo gameplay was released.

At the time of its July 2020 gameplay reveal, Halo Infinite received backlash from fans and gamers alike. Some commented that the game’s graphic quality was unappealing and did not possess the the wow-factor that the developers claimed it would have. Furthermore, the game itself wasn’t the only issue as shortly after the game delay announcement, 343 Industries studio head Chris Lee resigned from his post.

Lee told Bloomberg that he has “stepped back from Infinite” and is “looking at future opportunities”, adding; “I believe in the team and am confident they will deliver a great game and now is a good time for me to step away.”

In addition, the turnover of staff was rumored to be quite high.

Halo series is still one of the best-selling games for Xbox and Microsoft will definitely not allow the setbacks to hinder the game from being released. As of December 2020, Halo Infinite is set to be out in the Fall of 2021 (September-December) which is almost a year after Xbox Series X’s launched date.

On the other hand, 343 Industries assures that the delayed release will not be in vain. According to 343 Industries, the Halo Infinite environment is several times larger than that of the last two Halo games combined. Additionally, there seems to be a day and night cycle in play as the game is made using the studios proprietary Slipspace Engine, developed by 343 Industries themselves. It prides the game engine with leading edge technologies that according to 343 Industries “conveys moving emotional performances with truly organic, believable fidelity”.

In the menu screen, we noticed an option for “Upgrades”. Though this option was previously explained as items or equipment discovered in-game, it could also suggest that customization might be available for Master Chief; especially now that the game is being modified. It would be a first for the Halo franchise If such improvements are to expected. This would be a great feature because who wouldn’t love to personalized their characters in game, right?

In the game demo, we all noticed the grappling hook that allows Master Chief to pull items towards him. The hook also enables you to pull yourself up, allowing your character to reach higher grounds in the game. There is also a Drop Shield, when thrown like a bomb, projects a transparent shield while still allowing Master Chief to shot enemies. These additions and hopefully others will allow players to create more qameplay strategies on how to approach and combat enemies in Halo Infinite.

The game was also announced to adopt multiplayer environment in a split-screen co-op mode.

Bringing back this gameplay option is wise decision for 343 Industries especially when the removal of the split-screen co-op from Halo 5: Guardians received criticisms from fans. According to a tweet from Halo’s official account, “multiplayer will be free-to-play and will support up to 120fps on Xbox Series X”. We will all need to wait for further details on how this will change the game experience in terms of resolution, frame rate and seamlessness.

Though this isn’t the first Halo installment that 343 Industries produced since the departure of Bungie, it is the first game made using the new Slipspace engine. There is definitely much to be discovered on this game engine and how it could change the gaming experience for Halo Infinite.

Does 343 Industries have what it takes to make Halo Infinite the wow factor it deserves? We certainly hope so, and if updated screenshots of the game are any indication, then Halo fans are in for a treat. With all the obstructions and various setbacks that forced Halo Infinite to be delayed for almost a year, it is obligatory for 343 Industries to show massive improvement of the game by 2021. Loyal fans and the gaming community is closely watching, but until the next game update is revealed, we can only speculate.