Ever since the announcement of theXbox Series Xat last year’s Game Awards,Halo Infinitehas been the flagship title poised to launch alongside the long-awaited next-generation console. Unfortunately, it seems that will no longer be the case, with Microsoft and 343 Industries recently announcing that the game has been delayed to 2021 due to a series of unforeseen complications.
Revealed in a statement posted on Twitter, 343 revealed to fans that the decision was not one made lightly, and while it’s unfortunate that the Xbox Series X won’t launch withHalo Infinite, it will make for a better game in the long run. “We have made the difficult decision to shift our release to 2021 to ensure the team has adequate time to deliver a Halo game experience that meets our vision,” the statement reads, claiming that “multiple factors” led to the game’s delay.
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It seems the reasoning was largely down to the complications of working during the coronavirus pandemic, with the statement claiming “ongoing COVID-related impacts” were a significant issue for the team. Alongside that, it seems a release date later this year won’t give 343 enough time to make the game as good as it possibly can be, revealing that “it is not sustainable for the well-being of our team or the overall success of the game to ship it this holiday.” While the delay will no doubt be a disappointment to fans, it’ll likely lead to a much better experience as a result, especially asInfinitelooks to be the most ambitious title in the franchise to date.
Of course,Halo Infinitehas been something of a controversial subject online as of late, with fans discussing the visual fidelity of the recent gameplay trailer shared during Microsoft’s Xbox Series X showcase. The subject became such a hot topic that 343 even came out to discuss the footage online, elaborating to fanswhy they chose to follow the stylistic direction opted for inHalo: Infinite’scampaign.
That’s not to say all ofInfinite’screative decisions have been so polarizing, however, with the addition of a grapple hook and more open environments being celebrated by players. The game even announced that it would beoffering free multiplayer, which was a welcome bombshell for many seen as it was Microsoft’s biggest exclusive heading into the holiday season. It seems 343 is already crafting one of the most definingHaloexperiences yet, and with a little more time,Infinitecould easily be the franchise’s crowning entry.
Halo Infinitewill be available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in 2021.
