First look at Halo Infinite free-to-play Multiplayer, coming this Holiday
343 IndustriesMicrosoft and 343 Industries revealed new details about Halo Infinite’s multiplayer offering at E3 2021, including updates on gameplay, Xbox Series X|S and PC performance, and more info on its free-to-play components.
- Microsoft confirmed Halo Infinite’s holiday 2021 release date
- For the first time in franchise history, Halo’s multiplayer will be standalone and free-to-play
- More performance details revealed, including 120 FPS on Xbox Series X
While Microsoft came into E3 2021 with an absolutely stacked lineup of games, no one doubted for a second that anything other than Halo Infinite would be the headliner of their presentation, and fans did not leave disappointed.
Publisher Microsoft and developer 343 Industries revealed plenty of new information about Halo Infinite’s traditional multiplayer offering, including details on its console and PC performance and free-to-play systems.
Halo Infinite’s multiplayer game mode offering will include standard fare like Slayer and Capture the Flag, and will feature the return of Big Team Battle along with Halo’s classic, ear-shattering announcer.
Halo Infinite’s full release has been confirmed for holiday season 2021, when fans will be able to jump into the action on Zeta Halo.
Halo Infinite multiplayer revealed by 343 Industries
Shortly after the big E3 announcement, a multiplayer overview video and a blog post from Halo Infinite’s developer 343 Industries went live, outlining even more details on what fans can expect from the next installment’s multiplayer offering.
The developer revealed they are “embracing the franchise’s legacy while imbuing it with new modern twists,” and are planning to provide that classic Halo feel players know and love while making sure the game gets the most out of its updated performance capabilities.
343 also added that they are “laying a foundation on which to grow and further evolve [multiplayer] in the months and years beyond launch,” which indicates that, as previously noted, Microsoft and 343 plan to use Halo Infinite as a springboard to grow the franchise for years to come.
Microsoft / 343 IndustriesHalo Infinite will feature a combination of limited-use abilities (think Halo 3) and newer additions like the grappling hook featured in Halo Infinite’s first gameplay trailer, and both UNSC and Banished vehicles will be present on the battlefield, some of which will support unique customization.
The newest installment of Halo’s multiplayer will, of course, feature Ranked and Social playlists. 343 also has big plans for seasonal events and corresponding rewards that players will be able to pick up throughout the game’s lifecycle.
Halo Infinite will also feature both crossplay and cross-progression, so you can switch between Xbox and PC and team up with friends on the other platform. In a move that’s sure to impress Halo veterans, Infinite will support splitscreen play on Xbox consoles and LAN on local PC servers.
Microsoft / 343 IndustriesHalo Infinite will also feature extensive customization for players within its multiplayer game modes, and 343 Industries confirmed that “players will have more options than ever before to customize your Spartan.”
New cosmetics will be made available for players to earn with each new season, and in a move that will leave fans feeling relieved, “there will be no loot boxes or elements of chance if you decide to purchase an optional customization item.”
If you’d like a chance to get your hands on Halo Infinite’s multiplayer as early as possible, Halo Insiders will have an opportunity to participate in limited technical previews to test the game and offer feedback ahead of launch. Here’s the full rundown from 343 Industries.
Halo Infinite multiplayer overview presentation
Alongside the blog post and trailer showcased at E3 2021, 343 released a multiplayer overview video on June 14. The presentation gave some insight into some of Halo Infinite’s new features and broke down how progression works in the title.
The key takeaway from the video was 343’s take on the Battle Pass system that’s utilized in other shooters. According to the devs, once you’ve purchased a Battle Pass, it will never expire.
That means players can purchase past reward tracks or the current Battle Pass and choose exactly which cosmetics they want to unlock. This differs from other titles like Valorant and Warzone where after a certain date, the Battle Pass is no longer available to buy.
On top of progression, the devs provided a sneak peek into the game’s Academy where players can warm up before they jump into Multiplayer. This area contains a series of drills, basic training, and customizable bots to practice on depending on a player’s skill level.
Finally, 343 reiterated that they’re listening to the community and are open to feedback after launch. They’ve made it clear that there’s plenty of content planned following Halo Infinite’s release so it’s obvious they’re committed to supporting this project long-term.
For now, that’s everything we know about Halo Infinite’s multiplayer, but we’ll be sure to update this article as soon as any new information becomes available.