There are few names in the video game industry as recognizable as Halo, but Microsoft's premiere FPS franchise has struggled to connect with fans since 343 Industries took the reins from Bungie in 2012. Although Halo Infinite has a fairly well-received campaign, its shallow free-to-play multiplayer and delayed or totally missing features have left many players doubting the game's staying power. Many gamers feel the damage has already been done, but with an idea of what's to come in 2023, there may be enough to keep Halo fans coming back throughout the year.
Halo Infinite was originally touted by 343i as being a platform for the ten-year plan for Halo. It was also supposed to be the flagship launch title for the next-gen Xbox Series X/S, but was delayed a full year following its notorious gameplay reveal. Even after the much-needed delay, the newest entry in the Halo franchise has struggled to maintain relevancy as a live service game. However, while Halo Infinite's first year was undoubtedly a rough one, it capped off with the addition of long-awaited features along with a roadmap and DLC speculation that showcase a promising year ahead.
Why Halo Infinite's Recent Updates and Forge Bode Well For The Future
When Halo Infinite's multiplayer had its surprise release on November 15, 2021, many felt the gameplay was a return to form for the franchise. Due to the monetization of its F2P model, though, fans quickly noticed its underlying flaws. At launch, Halo Infinite was held back by limited customization, overpriced and recycled store options, and a poor challenge/progression system. While the game has been out for more than a year and there's still much work to be done, its most recent updates have provided players with a beacon of hope.
Over the course of its first year, many of Halo Infinite's initial problems have been addressed, although not entirely resolved. XP rates have been increased, and the challenge system has been reworked so that players aren't funneled into specific game modes. After launching with only four game modes and ten maps for multiplayer, there are now ten game modes and fifteen maps available. With the arrival of Halo Infinite's Winter Update on November 8, 2022, a new event battle pass was added, along with Online Campaign Co-op, two multiplayer maps, and the Forge Beta.
Halo Infinite's version of Forge is its most powerful implementation yet, and creators within the Halo community continue to make high-quality maps and modes that impress. Just one month after the Winter Update, a surprise update added a Forge remake of The Pit map called Empyrean and, most notably, a Custom Games Browser. The Custom Games Browser was originally planned for Season 3 and allows players to easily search for custom games and join lobbies instantly. Forge creators are building a catalog of content and all players are now able to share their creations for others to enjoy.
Halo Infinite Season 3's Content
Halo Infinite's roadmap for Season 3, "Echoes Within," marks new content scheduled to release on March 7, 2023, and the Season is expected to run through June 27, 2023. Considering Halo Infinite's repeated history of delays pre-and-post-launch, it's worth noting that these dates, along with any information regarding Season 3, are subject to change. Additionally, even though the Custom Games Browser launched earlier than expected, there's still plenty to look forward to in the next season. This includes a new narrative event and battle pass, two maps and modes, a new weapon and equipment, and much more.
343i revealed more details and gameplay for Season 3 in its Holiday Community Livestream in December. During the livestream, the developer gave fans a glimpse at the new 100-tier battle pass including the Chimera armor core and Bandit weapon coatings. Halo Infinite's new Big Team Battle map, Oasis, was shown, which has a variety of indoor close-quarters arenas and expansive outdoor battlegrounds. This new map seems to address players' criticisms about the current BTB maps being too cramped for vehicles. Another noteworthy item touched on but not expanded upon was In-Game Reporting, which has been a long-requested feature to combat cheaters.
Though no gameplay was shown using the new Bandit weapon, it's supposedly meant to function like a DMR from Halo: Reach. Fans also got to see the new Shroud Screen equipment in action, which may prove interesting in competitive play. The new equipment acts similarly to a smoke grenade in other competitive games like Overwatch 2 or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, obstructing vision wherever placed. When inside the screen, the player's vision, audio, and radar are all affected, so it may be possible to ambush players trying to hide inside. Bullets and grenades can also penetrate the screen on both sides, so it doesn't offer damage protection.
Halo Infinite Season 4 Predictions
Given the troubles and delays surrounding Halo Infinite's first two seasons, expectations for when Season 4 will happen could be drastically different over the next several months. Still, the rate of updates in the last stretch of 2022 left fans confident that the current Halo Infinite multiplayer roadmap may remain intact this time around. Because of this, Season 4 could take place in Summer 2023, or if it does get delayed then it would likely arrive before Winter 2023. Considering Season 2 will have lasted ten months by the time Season 3 begins, players would not be pleased to hear of further delays.
343i has expressed a shift towards "Consistency" rather than "Seasonality," so the goal is to provide consistent updates and content to keep players satisfied. This is, of course, one of the most important aspects of a live service game, so it's a step in the right direction. As for Season 4's content, players can likely expect new maps and modes, a new battle pass, and quality-of-life improvements. Some heavily-requested features fans would like to see added are improved community tools like a robust file share, a Battle Royale mode, and other PvE or PvEvP modes similar to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's DMZ.
Halo Infinite Single-Player Campaign DLC Rumors
As for the single-player campaign, Halo Infinite was mostly a success, with fans and critics praising the move to an open-world format while still including more traditional linear missions. One major criticism, however, is the game's lack of diverse environments, as there are really only three types of areas players visit: grassy, tree-filled outdoor vistas, Banished outposts, and indoor Forerunner structures. Although the developer has been quiet about story content for Halo Infinite, early news reports may suggest there may be hope for those looking to explore more of the game's setting.
Around the release of Halo Infinite's campaign, Microsoft filed a trademark for the name Halo: The Endless, which could be an expansion, a brand-new game, or most likely, a campaign DLC. The Endless is a new race introduced in Halo Infinite that is only slightly touched on within the campaign, and one character even claims the mysterious beings are worse than The Flood. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any additional information to come out after news about the trademark, so that doesn't bode well for expectations of DLC happening any time soon.
It's no secret that Halo Infinite suffered from post-launch problems, with some issues going back to its development, and with many of the game's technical issues rumored to have stemmed from the Slipspace Engine. Although there has been no confirmation, rumors suggest 343i may switch to Unreal Engine. With this in mind, it's possible that Halo: The Endless could be a major expansion or a new game entirely, away from the Slipspace Engine. Whatever ends up becoming of Halo Infinite's single-player content, fans will surely appreciate more reasons to explore its world via Grappleshot.
Halo Infinite is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.