Xbox Series X pre-order: Sign up for our email newsletter and be one of the first to get pre-order alerts. I agree to the Privacy & Cookies Policy, Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Finder Sign me up!

If you look beyond the bounteous remastered delights in the Master Chief Collection, it's shocking how long it's been since we got a bonafide new Halo adventure. By our calculations, this ol' Gulch has been in drought of new blood since 2015's Halo 5: Guardians. Release-wise, one might even say this franchise is getting downright spartan. Boom-tish!

Read More: PS5 vs XBX guide.

All of that is set to change with the launch of Halo Infinite, the title of today's topic and the greatest hope for the future for every Xbox-faithful gamer. Make no mistake, this is a make or break exclusive title that will greatly affect the fortunes of the Xbox Series X. Indeed when you look at the full list of XSX games, will over 100 titles announced, it's stands out as the most anticipated.

And so without further ado, let's crack the pressurised EVA seal around Microsoft's greatest champion and get to unmasking its mysteries.

Who is making Halo Infinite?

Halo Infinite is developed by 343 Industries and SkyBox Labs.

While 343 Industries has been the custodian of the Halo franchise since original creator Bungie left the Microsoft stable to launch the Destiny series, SkyBox Labs is a lesser known name. Based in Vancouver, Canada, SkyBox Labs has a long history of being a co-developer. The studio has helped work on Age of Empires, Rise of Nations, EA Sport's UFC, Project Spark and Minecraft in the past. Most notably, SkyBox also helped out on the Halo 5: Forge multiplayer/sandbox experience.

Interestingly, SkyBox has also released numerous mobile titles over the last few years. While no companion app has yet been announced for Halo Infinite, SkyBox's involvement could point to this possibility.

What is the Halo Infinite campaign about?

Halo Infinite will be a continuation of the Master Chief's travails. Forget agent Locke. Don't worry about getting a surprise switcheroo where you'll play half this game as The Arbiter. You will be John-117 as he embarks upon the third chapter of his Reclaimer Saga. Yes, technically this is a continuation of Halo 5's story, but Infinite has been pointedly pitched as a "spiritual reboot" for the franchise. Lastly, it's been hinted that the events of the RTS spin-off Halo Wars 2 will bleed across into this new tale.

Halo Infinite starts about six months after the UNSC was defeated. There's not much of humanity left about the universe and those that remain are being hunted by a rogue group of Brutes led by War Chief Escharum. They call themselves The Banished and they're aligned with The Covenant.

One desperate pilot trying to flee the destruction in the Halo ring stumbles on Master Chief floating in space. The game begins with his rescue, but the action starts when the iconic warrior in green arrives on a new Halo ring. One with a play space twice as big as the last two games combined.

From here a new mystery must be unravelled, as well as a fight against a new force that will define whether humans can have a place in the universe.

As you will see in the gameplay video below, Halo Infinite will return to the series' roots. In fact, the footage plays it so safe many fans have been vocal about it not feeling next-gen enough. From the structure, the weapons, the melee combat, vehicles, sounds, emplaced weapons and more, it's Halo as we've always known it. And given the failure that was Halo 5: Guardians, that can only be a good thing.

Halo Infinite gameplay trailer

What's the deal with Halo Infinite multiplayer?

Sadly, not much is known about Infinite's incredibly popular and pioneering player-vs-player violence just yet. We do know that Spartan customisation (read armour/table-turning perks) is in the mix and that it will be based on what was experienced in Halo Reach. The Forge (read: map-making) mode is slated to make an appearance, too.

As for stuff that won't be in it, 343 Industries has confirmed it has not been bitten by the Battle Royale bug. So, don't expect any survival-centric, non-shrinking map-based mayhem. Pay-to-win loot boxes have been ruled out, too.

Perhaps the most interesting news is that the entire multiplayer mode will be supplied for free. But that free-to-play bonus will come with monetisation strategies that may not be to everyone's liking. For example, it has been leaked, but not officially confirmed, that Halo Infinite will have a Battle Pass. There likely will be microtransactions for other cosmetic enhancements.

Does Halo Infinite have split screen?

Yes, Halo Infinite does have split screen co-op and competitive play.

Old school couch-based killers rejoice because 343 has listened to the backlash it received from the online-only MP antics of Halo 5. Four-player split screen against your mates will be available. So yeah, maybe learn to dial down your usual Internet trash-talking ways; you're going to be in punching distance now.

When is Halo Infinite out?

In devastating news to gamers, and the launch success of the Xbox Series X, Halo Infinite has been delayed from its initial November 2020 launch to sometime in 2021. The delay is primarily a result of COVID-19 delaying production.

How long will the delay be? We've seen a number of big games releasing in March over recent years, so that's a possibility. Certainly, Microsoft won't want it to be delayed too long given it's the XSX's primary system seller.

That said, it's worth mentioning that the majority of previously released Halo games came out in November. Publishers like to stick to similar release windows for games as it offers more predictability with marketing spends and audience behaviour. Could Halo Infinite be delayed a whole year?

What formats is Halo Infinite available on?

Halo Infinite is confirmed for Xbox Series X, Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs.

As mentioned, Halo Infinite is no longer a launch title for the new Xbox Series X video game console. For more information, we've got a full article detailing Microsoft's next-generation XBX here. It's also been confirmed for Windows 10 PCs. However, no minimum specs have been released as of the time of this writing.

Microsoft has confirmed that Halo Infinite will also release on the current Xbox One console. In fact, Microsoft is touting an overlap of video game console generations this time around. The Xbox One and Xbox Series X will exist side-by-side into the foreseeable future.

We can also confirm that Halo Infinite will be included in the Xbox Game Pass. This subscription service allows its members to play, at no additional cost, any game in its library. Microsoft has stated that all of its exclusive first-party video game titles, which includes Halo Infinite, will be added to the Game Pass on the day of release.

How much is Halo Infinite?

We expect Halo Infinite to retail for $99.95 in Australia.

The standard pricing for Xbox Series X games hasn't been confirmed as yet. We don't imagine it'll be too different from the asking prices for PS4 / Xbox One generation titles. So expect a $99.95 base price. Plus, you can then expect a few higher price points for the inevitable Legendary/Collector's/Fan-With-Too-Much-Disposable-Income versions of Halo Infinite.

How to pre-order Halo Infinite

Following the delay of Halo Infinite into 2021, pre-orders for the game have not opened. Your best bet is to keep an eye on our page about pre-ordering the Xbox Series X. It will be the same retailers whereby you can pre-order Halo Infinite once they open.

Image Source: Xbox website