countless halo Fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the release of Halo: Infinite in November 2021.Series veterans like myself are convinced that the game will finally return to the franchise’s roots and deliver the quintessential Halo experience – even the developers 343 industries Hinted at in the pre-launch media cast. The game was well-received when it launched, with most critics being positive about the game. But shortly after the game’s release, things started to go downhill, with player engagement all but stagnating. So what went wrong?
Infinity launches with a free-to-play multiplayer experience that should encourage many to get their hands on the game for the first time. And that’s true for a while: In November 2021, more than 256,000 concurrent players got their first taste of Halo: Infinite on Steam. However, in less than four months, most of the player base disappeared.
Many Halo fans believe that 343 Industries’ failure to maintain the momentum of the launch period was responsible for the game’s decline over time.we’re stuck with season 1 six months, and the Lone Wolves update didn’t add enough content to keep players engaged when they finally gave up. Just two new maps and a few game modes didn’t do much to help the game develop in the first few months, and it felt like there wasn’t enough content. The lack of Forge mode, Hardcore mode, and combat logs at launch is also disappointing.
Matt Booty, head of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios, appeared on the Every Second Friends podcast and admitted that the game failed to maintain the hype and love it had at launch. “There has to be a plan for content maintenance; there has to be a plan for regular ongoing engagement. We’re just not getting there,” he said.
It’s not just casual fans or those who play the game on Xbox Game Pass out of curiosity who feel like they’re missing out on Halo Infinite. In October 2022, 343 Industries announced that the crowdfunding funds raised for Halo Infinite’s inaugural World Championship would not be added to the $1 million prize pool — shortly before the actual event began. Pro players from OpTic Gaming, FaZe Clan, Sentinels, and other organizations were understandably unhappy with this decision.
The crowdfunding will be allocated for Halo esports development in 2023 and beyond, but last-minute decisions and a lack of communication have left fans and competitors alike baffled. Halo Legend Eric “Snip3down” Wrona of FaZe Clan explain “Just a week before Worlds they decided to cancel the crowdfunding, hope I wasn’t scammed when I decided to make the switch. Will never leave Apex.”
Snip3down will continue to exit Halo esports and return to Apex Legends shortly thereafter. Cloud9’s roster includes Adam “Bound” Gray, Kevin “Eco” Smith, Zane “Penguin” Hearon, Braedon “StelluR” Boettcher and coach Emanuel “Hoaxer” Lovejoy Resign eSports scene. Cloud9 dominated Halo esports in 2022, winning the regional championship in the 2022 Halo Championship Series: NA and finishing second in the World Championship.
Despite the challenges, 343 Industries noted that it is committed to bringing the game back to life and will continue to support teams working on Halo esports. From here, it looks like an uphill battle, but fans shouldn’t give up hope just yet.
As someone who’s been playing the Halo games for over a decade, it’s sad to see the struggle of the beloved iconic franchise. Bungie — the development studio that brought Halo back to life in 2001 before leaving Microsoft to develop Destiny — has been emulating where the 343 found itself, and its Destiny lifecycle has had some notable ups and downs so far. But Bungie seems to handle the lows better, leading to some incredible highs.
The release of Destiny 2 was one of the series’ lowest points. The curse of Osiris and the war mind are lackluster, and the Red War campaign isn’t too friendly. But Bungie managed to bounce back in the Forsaken campaign (with an incredible raid and memorable campaign), and even into The Witch Queen (which has some of the best FPS story content we’ve seen in years). Everything is getting ready for Lightfall’s exciting launch.
If you need another Rise Like a Phoenix game to enjoy a second chance, look no further than Final Fantasy 14. Square Enix’s MMORPG flopped at launch, but the developers saw those shortcomings as challenges and rebooted the game with Realm Reborn update. This update was led by Yoshika Naoki (now of Final Fantasy XVI), who took the game to new heights. FF14 recently attracted over 24 million players. Talk about a comeback, right?
Games like Apex Legends and Warzone also keep us engaged with regular updates. Sometimes limited-time modes and events are enough to keep everyone hooked and entertained, as long as the gameplay is fun. If Halo Infinite can push out consistent updates and keep players engaged like other games, it might be able to lure players back (although the writing is currently on the wall for Warzone 2 – service shooters are not an easy genre to succeed. )
The Winter Update and the introduction of Forge Mode did lead to a surge in Halo: Infinite’s player base, proving that players are willing to give the game a try. If there is a reason to return. The ball is on the court at 343.
Before we get too hopeful for a revival anytime soon, here are a few things every Halo fan needs to be aware of. 343 Industries has undergone an internal reorganization, with studio head Bonnie Ross reportedly leaving the company. Creative director Joe Staten also left 343 Industries in January, leaving players wondering about the future of the franchise.
The 343’s internal changes could be a good thing for the franchise, and we might see a positive impact on Halo Infinite. It’s for Square Enix and FF14 after all. But we also have to consider the possibility that old-school arena shooters might not be what players want anymore. In an age of battle royale and tactical shooters, 343 needs to step up and offer something exciting, typical Halo, but also something that wows us.
Pierre Hintz, studio head at 343 Industries, released a statement in early 2023 confirming the developer’s commitment to the Halo franchise, stating that “343 Industries will continue to develop Halo both now and in the future.”
“Halo and the Master Chief are here to stay,” Hinz said. “343 Industries will continue to develop Halo now and in the future, including epic stories, multiplayer and more of the things that make Halo great.”
That seems to be what people want, so let’s hope it’s not too late for Halo and Xbox’s most iconic franchise yet.
