343 Industries’ Halo Infinite has a new launch window of Fall 2021. The developer also talked about improvements coming to the visuals, from the lightning system to the variety of Brute faces (so say goodbye to Craig). However, it also spoke bit more about the game’s live service elements and once again confirmed that there would be no loot boxes.
Live team design director Ryan Paradis also noted that, “We’re not selling power or giving an unfair advantage in-game via any route.” Furthermore, there will be “no randomness in rewards” whatsoever. However, because the mode is free to play, there will be cosmetics that can be purchased with real money.
To that end, players can still expect plenty of customization options unlocked through the progression system, the campaign, special events, challenges and even legacy rewards (with Halo 5’s SR 152 reward provided as an example). “We will always provide value for pure engagement and simply playing the game. We believe that providing value isn’t exclusive to monetary transactions, it’s also about making sure you’re properly rewarded for the time you’re investing into the game. Players that play for free will be able unlock items across a multitude of different customization types to allow them to represent themselves in-game.”
Limited-time events will be present but the developer doesn’t want “to turn free time into a chore. We’re not all about that. Everyone should enjoy their time in Halo Infinite.” More details are provided on the coating system which provides more freedom to customize one’s Spartan based on patterns, materials, wear and tear and more. It’s worth reading about and some examples of the kind of customization possible are provided (albeit via in-engine renders).
Halo Infinite is currently in development for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.