Six years have passed since the release of Halo 5: Guardians. Since former developer Bungie left the franchise with 2010’s Halo: Reach, 343 Industries has been delivering fans their fix of Halo goodness ever since. Despite several delays, the sixth mainline series entry, Halo Infinite, finally arrives on December 8th, 2021. Here are the important things you need to know before it releases.
What Platforms Will Halo Infinite Release On?
As per the traditional standard for Halo titles, players can expect Infinite to remain a Microsoft exclusive, releasing on Xbox Series X/S and PC. While some fans thought the game’s many delays were due to development issues on previous-generation consoles, community manager John Junyzek quickly dispelled this notion. Junyzek confirmed that the developers are simply “building Halo Infinite to be the best it can be on each device/platform.”
Halo Infinite will also be available on Game Pass from launch.
Halo Infinite will feature the biggest world the series has ever seen.
Halo Infinite Campaign Details
Taking place after the events of Halo 5: Guardians, Infinite will be putting players back into the futuristic boots of Master Chief. The mystery of Cortana’s fate remains unsolved, and it’s about time we began investigating. Offering fans “true Spartan freedom”, the large open-world style campaign is set to be an action bonanza, as Master Chief has to defeat the looming threat of The Banished.
Embarking on missions across the Zeta Halo ring world, players — both new and franchise veterans — will need to be prepared, as the developers have teased formidable new enemy types and “returning favorites” to encounter along the way. Due to the nature of an open-world campaign, players can tackle objectives in any order they like. To avoid you getting lost, a helpful navigation system will aid in your journeys across Zeta Halo.
343 Industries Promises Exciting New Features
With the power of next-generation consoles behind Halo Infinite, the developers are maximizing their opportunity to impress skeptical players. As previously mentioned, the campaign will have an open-world approach, but this isn’t the only incredible feature to enhance the single-player experience. RPG-style elements have been added to the mix, meaning players can upgrade Master Chief’s abilities to turn him into a menacing powerhouse.
Including paths for tools like the newly introduced Grapple Hook and defensive Drop Wall, the upgrade system will require Spartan Cores to continue each skill tree to completion. It’s likely that these cores will be earned through various mission and side quest tasks during the campaign. The developers will also be including a day-and-night cycle. This should make skirmishes interesting as the world and enemy routines change throughout the day. Whether you’re fighting within an enemy compound or an intimidating swamp, Halo Infinite’s world is always changing.
Spartan Cores will upgrade the different abilities Master Chief has access to in Halo Infinite.
Multiplayer Will Transition to Free-To-Play
Of course, the most appealing aspect of the Halo experience for many is the robust multiplayer. Ranked and social playlists will make an appearance, and players can also expect to see limited-time events crop up after the multiplayer section of Halo Infinite launches.
Thankfully, customization will be returning to allow players to create their perfect Spartan warrior. Taking a few cues from genre rivals, Halo Infinite will also include a battle pass through which fans can earn unique cosmetics and rewards.
With an open world come new mechanics like calling in your ride of choice.
However, the best aspect of Halo Infinite’s multiplayer is that it will be completely free! Able to support 120 FPS on both the Series S and Series X consoles, Infinite will allow fans to recapture the multiplayer magic without spending a dime.
Grab Your Squad for Crossplay
As if the inclusion of free multiplayer wasn’t sweet enough, Xbox players can also grab their warrior-pals waiting in the wings on PC, too. Crossplay is set to be available on launch within Halo Infinite multiplayer.
A new friend for the Chief? Yeah, not likely.
Playing with your friends isn’t the only element set to span both console and PC gameplay, either. The developers have promised “multiplayer customization and progress will follow you across all platforms.” So don’t worry, if you’ve prepared cunning warrior loadouts and looks on Xbox, they’ll be ready to fight on PC too.
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Sam Comrie is a journalist and filmmaker based in Sheffield, UK. When he isn’t causing chaos in Just Cause 2, you can find him listening to Foo Fighters on repeat 24/7. Seen at NME, Red Bull Gaming, From Gamers Magazine, and JumpCut PLAY.
