A new approach for a classic series
Update: Microsoft and 343 Industries have confirmed that Halo Infinite‘s multiplayer component will be free to play.
Halo is for everyone. We can confirm #HaloInfinite multiplayer will be free-to-play and will support 120FPS on Xbox Series X. More details will be shared later! pic.twitter.com/9bIrppFiON
— Halo (@Halo) July 31, 2020
Original story: The packaged Halo experience has largely always been the same. Buy one $60 game, get both the campaign and multiplayer components. It’s very standard. But, as distribution models change for competing shooters, rumors have it that Microsoft is toying with the idea of switching its approach to Halo.
“Toying” is the operative word here because news of this shakeup comes via a toyshop leak. As reported by The Verge, Irish retailer Smyths Toys Superstores updated its Halo Infinite product page with a description that included the phrase “groundbreaking free-to-play multiplayer experience.”
That page has since been deleted, but it’s supported by an Xbox leaker, Klobrille, who has a track record of accurately reporting on Halo details:
Since everyone is covering this topic, I might just go ahead as well.
– Halo Infinite multiplayer will be free-to-play
– Arena aims for 120fps on Xbox Series X
– Battle Pass system
– Customization options completely new to HaloHalo will be *huge*.https://t.co/5py6tOeids pic.twitter.com/i7HOnsLH1D
— Klobrille (@klobrille) July 31, 2020
Apart from the free-to-play claims, Klobrille adds that Halo Infinite will have a battle pass, new customization options, and that the Arena multiplayer playlist is trying to hit 120 frames per second on Xbox Series X.
Recently, 343 Industries head Chris Lee mentioned that Halo Infinite is a platform for the next 10 years of Halo. Going free-to-play with multiplayer would certainly raise Halo‘s profile and serve as a substantial base for that platform. If Microsoft drops Xbox Live Gold (which is a theory that’s picking up steam as of late) and makes Halo Infinite‘s multiplayer truly free-to-play, we’d have our “oh shit, Halo‘s back” moment that we haven’t really seen since the franchise’s early(ish) days.
Halo Infinite multiplayer will be free-to-play and up to 120fps, leaks reveal [The Verge]
