Halo Infinite Delayed Until 2021, Xbox series X Arrives in November

Microsoft and 343 have made two announcements today that will impact fans in positive and negative ways for the next-generation Xbox. Halo Infinite is being pushed to 2021 but the series X will arrive in November.

We had heard previously from Microsoft that the series X would arrive during the fall and now we know it hits store shelves in November although we don’t know the exact date. But the bigger news, as many already assumed that November would be the launch month, is that Halo Infinite has been delayed.

Citing COVID-19, Infinite will now be released in 2021 with their statement below:

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Today I want to share an important Halo Infinite development update with the community. We have made the difficult decision to shift our release to 2021 to ensure the team has adequate time to deliver a Halo game experience that meets our vision.

The decision to shift our release is the result of multiple factors that have contributed to development challenges, including the ongoing COVID-related impacts affecting us all this year. I want to acknowledge the hard work from our team at 343 Industries, who have remained committed to making a great game and finding solutions to development challenges. However, it is not sustainable for the well-being of our team or the overall success of the game to ship it this holiday.

We know this will be disappointing to many of you and we all share in that sentiment. The passion and support the community has shown over the years has been incredible and inspiring. We wanted nothing more than to play our game with the community this holiday. The extra time will let us finish the critical work necessary to deliver the most ambitious Halo game ever at the quality we know our fans expect.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Here’s the thing, a few weeks back I reported that a source familiar with the plans of Halo said that multiplayer would not be shipping this fall but 343 came out and said that I was wrong about that portion of the game being delayed. As it turns out, the entire game has been delayed and my information was accurate.

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Conversation 28 comments

  • christianwilson

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2020 - 3:41 pm

    <p>I'll never complain about a game being delayed if it needs more time for polish and it means the "crunch" won't be bad for the people working hard on it. </p><p><br></p><p>That being said, this is disappointing to hear. I feel like the Xbox Series X needed Halo Infinite as the heavy hitter going into launch. </p>

    • annacourt

      Premium Member
      12 August, 2020 - 4:15 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#560636">In reply to christianwilson:</a></em></blockquote><p>Agreed. A console needs a killer app at launch. </p>

  • Vladimir Carli

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2020 - 3:42 pm

    <p>This was supposed to be the series x launch title. What reasons do we have left to buy series x this year?</p>

    • brothernod

      Premium Member
      11 August, 2020 - 3:48 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#560637">In reply to Vladimir:</a></em></blockquote><p>If you don't see a reason to buy it then don't? </p><p><br></p><p>I'm stoked to have all the games i haven't beaten yet running in 4k60 as I continue to work through them.</p>

  • webdev511

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2020 - 3:42 pm

    <p>They probably could ship this year, but it would be a buggy hot mess with a cascade of updates. I think folks have had enough of that from other publishers, so even hard core Halo fans should be okay with this.</p>

  • T182

    11 August, 2020 - 3:46 pm

    <p>Figures. </p>

  • brothernod

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2020 - 3:47 pm

    <p>As much as I was looking forward to Halo I'm glad they're choosing to not kill their staff through overwork.</p>

  • brothernod

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2020 - 3:50 pm

    <p> @Brad, weird question, but with all these games launching on GamePass does that effect their quarterly financials? I'd assume historically when a AAA first party title comes out they get to realize $xxx gains from copies sold, but with Game Pass giving the game away for free to a growing % of their user base, will they both have less income spikes from new games and have less copies sold to brag about?</p>

  • bart

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2020 - 3:53 pm

    <p>So the game is delayed. Does it matter? No. You don't buy a console for one game. If you do, $500 is chump change to you anyway and you just have to wait. </p><p>Is it a shame? Sure. Marketing would have been better with Halo, but again, no biggy. </p>

  • remc86007

    11 August, 2020 - 3:57 pm

    <p>My guess is there is going to be some significant tweaks to the graphics. A couple months of polish won't hurt and could dramatically improve the visuals. The demo they showed last month just didn't give a good impression and could give people the wrong impression about the capabilities of the Series X.</p>

  • madthinus

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2020 - 4:00 pm

    <p>The bad reception of the gameplay trailer I would venture a guess is the main reason it has shifted. </p>

  • ecumenical

    11 August, 2020 - 4:42 pm

    <p>This makes me really happy. The game looked fun but not the best it could be. I'd much rather play an amazing game in June than an ok game in November.</p>

  • winner

    11 August, 2020 - 6:05 pm

    <p>So it's Infinite, but not this year……</p>

  • dspeterson

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2020 - 7:03 pm

    <p>I'm kinda curious what happens to all the tie-in promotions for the launch with other folks (Monster Energy, etc) that they had lined up.</p>

  • will

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2020 - 7:20 pm

    <p>Honestly the game looked dull, like yet another Halo game with the same weapons and looks. Seriously, after all of this time the MC should have some major upgrades and a promotion. Admiral Master Chief or something! But what is up with 343 and the poor launches of games? Maybe I am wrong but since 343 has taken over, has anything been amazing with Halo or any of their launches?</p><p><br></p><p>On the console launch….I need to understand what is the reason that I would want an Xbox Series X in the next two months? $500 is not just a small amount to drop on a console in 60 days from now…</p><p><br></p>

    • Usman

      Premium Member
      12 August, 2020 - 3:09 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#560682">In reply to will:</a></em></blockquote><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnQd6W9BxLg&quot; target="_blank">Digital foundry did a thing which explains why it looked dull</a>. The game textures are based on dynamic lighting. Previous games used predetermined lighting in the game textures, which is fine since it doesn't have dynamic day night cycles. </p><p><br></p><p>Since this game uses dynamic lighting, the process of having materials react to light requires different layers of texture. The layers with no light are very basic, which is why it looks flat, most of the game is shown in shadows, where the light doesn't shine much, so those extra details like scratches and scuffs are not visible. When the demo is in light, then we can see those details start appearing.</p><p><br></p><p> There's also a lengthy write up on minecraft rtx, the team had to add multiple layers to existing textures, to indicate how the blocks would react to certain textures and the different brightness levels of textures, it's similar approach here.</p><p><br></p><p>There are still problems with Halo Infinite's texture choices, grenade explosions are very opaque, almost looking like liquid ink (Splatoon paint), instead of gaseous plasma.</p>

      • Vladimir Carli

        Premium Member
        12 August, 2020 - 5:57 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#560749">In reply to Usman:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>what I find a bit weird is that it does not support ray tracing. Halo infinite is the title that should show what Series X is able to do</p>

        • Paul Thurrott

          Premium Member
          12 August, 2020 - 8:36 am

          I agree.

      • Paul Thurrott

        Premium Member
        12 August, 2020 - 8:37 am

        The explanation is interesting, but this is a good example of how “why” doesn’t excuse the end result. So it’s good that we know why. But it should just look better.

  • Ron Diaz

    11 August, 2020 - 10:33 pm

    <p>Looks like Sony is going to win this console generation also…</p>

    • Stooks

      12 August, 2020 - 7:49 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#560705">In reply to Hypnotoad:</a></em></blockquote><p>I bet the PS5 will be cheaper as well. </p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      12 August, 2020 - 8:41 am

      I can’t remember exactly, but has a new Halo game ever shipped day and date with a new Xbox console? I don’t believe so.

      • solomonrex

        12 August, 2020 - 10:29 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#560773">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>They should ship something, though.</p><p><br></p><p>If the new model is, you know, Forza Horizon 4, all online all the time, weekly challenges, constant updates, some new content (which has been weak lately), then, yes, fine, but time it with major new updates, an expansion, something. Otherwise, hat's the new hardware for?</p><p><br></p><p>At least, like, Minecraft Ray Tracing edition or something, right?</p>

      • luthair

        12 August, 2020 - 1:04 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#560773">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>The original Halo was released on the same day as the OG Xbox</p>

        • Paul Thurrott

          Premium Member
          13 August, 2020 - 9:23 am

          OK. But then never again, right? I just don’t remember.

  • irfaanwahid

    12 August, 2020 - 1:44 am

    <p>I am actually very disappointed with this decision. Yes, I agree that the game should launch when it is ready, but c'mon, 343 has been working on this game since Halo 5 which released back in 2015.. you need 6 years for a follow up game!</p><p><br></p><p>And Infinite not attached with the launch of XSX is a bummer.</p>

    • luthair

      12 August, 2020 - 1:06 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#560747">In reply to irfaanwahid:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Its not really that surprising given the amount of criticism Halo's graphics received after their recent showcase. I wonder if ray tracing will be included at release now, or if it will be delayed further.</p>

  • ghostrider

    12 August, 2020 - 12:30 pm

    <p>MS have always had a dire lack of AAA exclusives on Xbox, and it doesn't look like the next generation will be any different. Once again, it will be Forza (probably a remastered, tweaked version and not a new game) to launch the new console. Not that Halo is new by any means, but it's Xbox exclusive and one of the few titles that can sell a console. Not a good start.</p>

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