Update: 343 Industries has officially confirmed that Halo Infinite multiplayer is going to be free-to-play, via @Halo Twitter account. Promised more details are coming soon.
Halo Infinite multiplayer mode seems to have been leaked by one Irish retailer online store. The listing on Smyths Toys Superstores’ Xbox Series X newsletter sign-up page revealed that Halo Infinite‘s multiplayer is going to be “free-to-play” and support up to “120 FPS”. Although the listing has been removed from the page even if you try opening it in Google Cache, thankfully hawk-eyed internet users managed to grab a screenshot and saved a page snapshot via Wayback Machine before it was gone.
“The legendary Halo series returns with the most expansive Master Chief campaign yet and a groundbreaking free-to-play multiplayer experience. Enjoy up to 120 FPS and greatly reduced load times creating seamless gameplay with Xbox Series X.”
While 343 Industries haven’t responded to the leak as this article was written, they have posted a lengthy blog post that talks about what they have learned from the community’s reaction to Halo Infinite demo trailer and confirming several aspects of Halo Infinite multiplayer.
“[…] we do have work to do to address some of these [visual] areas and raise the level of fidelity and overall presentation for the final game. The build used to run the campaign demo was work-in-progress from several weeks ago with a variety of graphical elements and game systems still being finished and polished,” wrote 343 Community Team member Unyshek commenting on the negative reaction to the visually uninteresting trailer. “We don’t have firm answers or outcomes to share yet but the team is working as quickly as possible on plans to address some of the feedback around detail, clarity, and overall fidelity.” Unyshek also adds that 343 chose to dress Master Chief in something similar to the classic Mark VI armor thanks to feedbacks from Halo 4, Halo 5, and Halo Wars 2.
When asked about releasing beta tests (or flights) like what Halo: The Master Chief Collection has constantly done, this time they admitted that their original plans of distributing beta tests are “challenged” by the whole COVID-19 pandemic situation but still “hope to have an opportunity for broader public hands-on before release.”
Regarding multiplayer modes, Unyshek confirmed that the story mode will support two-player split-screen and four-player co-op online (PC split-screen, wow!). Meanwhile Halo Infinite multiplayer won’t include “real-money” loot boxes, will have extensive player character’s customization similar to Halo: Reach, and in it the grappling hook will function “as items that can be picked up on the map.”
Halo Infinite has been confirmed to release on Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC via Gamepass, Microsoft Store, and Steam. Interested to see how much stuff 343 Industries will be able to fix from the demo trailer to launch version? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
