343 Industries hasn’t really showcased much for Halo Infinite, its next big follow-up in the vaunted first-person shooter franchise. We know that it’s being co-developed along with Skybox Labs, and is being made on a new engine called SlipSpace. Beyond that, we’ve seen very little in terms of gameplay.
That being said, it seems that past comments made by Xbox marketing head Aaron Greenberg indeed point to the inclusion of games-as-a-service elements. A job listing from June 14th for an Online Experience Design Director at 343 Industries is looking for a candidate that has “a deep understanding of various business models found in both mobile and AAA games.”
Some of the things that the candidate will “oversee and provide vision” for include “Progression in- and out-of-game; microtransactions and integration of our business plan throughout the game; and, finally, social and engagement features that encourage players to return again and again with their friends.”
Of course, further down in the listing, the candidate’s responsibilities include designing and delivering “a AAA player investment experience that focuses on our fans and their desire to express their passion for our franchise (including but not limited to microtransactions)” and putting “the player first in all of their team’s designs.”
If nothing else, these requirements seem very similar to what 343 Industries did with Halo 5: Guardians. The developer had a steady stream of free DLC and updates, bolstered by its REQ System’s microtransactions. That same practice could return, but with smaller, more frequent updates in between larger content drops.
Of course, until Microsoft and 343 Industries provide more information, it’s hard to really say if this will be the case. What are your thoughts on Halo Infinite taking this route? Let us know in the comments.
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