The military sci-fi shooter franchise may be beloved by fans and a popular foundational series for Xbox, but it's also true that the Halo games have been a little divisive in recent years. The 2015 entry, Halo 5: Guardians, was meant to be a new direction for the franchise and introduced Fireteam Osiris and new protagonist Spartan Locke in a move away from fan-favorite Master Chief, even though the latter still featured. However, responses to the game were mixed, so Halo Infinite went back to basics in many respects.
The sixth main entry in the Halo series and the third in the Reclaimer Saga, Halo Infinite pulled the focus back to Master Chief and presented players with a tighter, more stripped-back narrative compared to the ambitious plotlines of previous entries. This served the game well, and it was seen by many as a return to form for the franchise and the best Halo installment in recent years. However, Halo Infinite's journey hasn't been completely smooth-sailing, from controversial graphics before its release to large gaps in updates and new content post-launch. Even though substantive DLC might be years away, fans are still hoping for a few things in Halo Infinite's expansions.
A More Narrative Focus
Halo Infinite's launch wasn't free from bugs or other disappointing issues, but the game still managed to win over fans with its solid story, entertaining campaign, and revitalized focus. However, considering that 343 Industries is intending for Halo Infinite to be the home of all things Halo for a good few years, it's been pretty inconsistent with providing a post-launch roadmap. Unlike previous games, Halo Infinite will be more akin to live-service titles where most of its content continues to be released in regular updates after its launch. The developer has already stated its intention to expand Halo Infinite's relatively short campaign through DLC and post-launch updates, which was good news for gamers.
The end of Halo Infinite clearly set up more of an exploration into the mysterious Endless, and narrative DLC that delves deeper into their motivations and origins would be great. However, it shouldn't all be about this fascinating alien race and their dealings with the Forerunners. Halo 5 may have divided fans, but Spartan Locke was an interesting new addition to the franchise. After some hints in Halo Infinite, it's suggested that Locke might have been killed by Hyperius, but it would be a shame if that's how his story ends. A DLC chapter could explore Locke's time in between Halo 5 and Halo Infinite, even if it does end with his death. The six months leading up to Halo Infinite in general are already covered in a tie-in novel, but this would still be perfect content for narrative DLC.
Maps, Modes, And More
While the response to Halo Infinite has generally been positive since its release in 2021, there have been a few issues that players have encountered. From multiplayer matchmaking bugs to overwhelming data consumption that hampers gameplay, Halo Infinite's post-launch life has had a few hiccups. Gamers are hoping that the updates developer 343 Industries has been releasing continue to fix these problems, and hopefully future DLC doesn't experience quite so many issues. One thing that the DLC can include, however, is some more multiplayer content that focuses on bringing new maps, modes, and weapons to Halo Infinite's base game.
The first season of Halo Infinite's multiplayer was a little rocky, so any major DLC will have to pull its socks up if it wants to show that this is a game worth sticking with as more expansions and content continue to roll out over the next few years. Halo 5's Warzone multiplayer mode became a favorite with fans, even if the rest of the game proved to be a little controversial. With two teams of twelve Spartans pitted against each other and some AI enemies thrown in to keep players on their toes, Warzone was a fun and frenetic addition. An updated or new version of this for Halo Infinite would be a welcome mode and could help breathe life into the game's online community.
Halo Infinite is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.