Halo: Infinite was marketed from the offset as being THE Xbox launch exclusive for Microsoft’s upcoming next generation Series X console. It therefore comes as a great surprise that the game has now been delayed to 2021, with no firm release date.
Making the announcement on Twitter, 343 Industries released a development updating stating “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.”
They continued “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.”
Halo: Infinite saw a negative reaction from fans following the release of its gameplay demo last month, mainly due to the seemingly disappointing graphics. In hindsight, it is clear that there is still much to be done when it comes to completing development of Halo: Infinite.
While it is disappointing to see that Xbox fans won’t be able to play Halo: Infinite until months after the launch of the next-gen Series X, the decision makes sense, and will hopefully lead to an overall better product.
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KitGuru says: What do you think of this delay? Are you surprised by the decision? Has this affected your next-gen purchasing decision in any way? Let us know down below.