Halo Infinite is finally out. The next chapter of Master Chief’s fight to save the galaxy is now available for players, and this time around it has been taken to an open world. In the newly released campaign, fans can explore the Zeta Halo to their hearts’ content, defeating enemies and gaining upgrades for Master Chief. Along the way, they will meet new friends, foes, and developments in the ongoing Halo story. Not all features are available yet, like individual multiplayer mode playlists, campaign co-op, and the Forge, but they are coming within the next few months to make Infinite an even stronger game.
Halo Infinite is already an impressive entry in the series from a technical perspective, but it also represents a big step forward in the story. The cast has been mostly changed out for newcomers, the location and circumstances are different, and the format this story is told in might differ over time. Based on some teases in the ending and a recent trademark from Microsoft, Infinite could become a platform for multiplayer and singleplayer content in the long-term. Spoilers for Halo Infinite ahead.
What Happens in Halo Infinite
At the end of Infinite, Master Chief locates the torture chamber that Echo 216’s pilot had been taken to, but his rescue attempt is interrupted by the Banished War Chief Escharum. Escharum challenges the Chief to one final duel, and the two share a moment of mutual respect before Escharum dies. The pilot is confused, but Master Chief says that Escharum was a good soldier. The Echo 216 pilot returns to his Pelican, and Master Chief continues on.
The Chief and his new AI friend, the Weapon, make their way to the Silent Auditorium. The Harbinger, an ally of the Banished, appears and says her kind was brought to this place by the Forerunners as punishment. Master Chief defeats this mysterious figure in the game’s last battle, and then finds Cortana’s final message. This seems to confirm that Cortana has destroyed her last vestiges and exited the Halo franchise for good.
Important Developments in Halo Infinite’s Story
Cortana apologizes to Master Chief, although she seems to understand that nothing can make up for the crimes she’s committed. She also encourages Chief to forgive himself for his actions and to welcome the Weapon as he once welcomed her. This follows Halo Infinite’s theme of Master Chief losing people he once knew, like the many Spartans who died on the Zeta Halo, and forming connections with new ones. While taking in this message, the structure begins to collapse and a portal appears that leads back to the Halo’s surface. However, upon the pilot contacting Chief, the Weapon notes that several days seem to have passed.
Chief is picked up by the Echo 216 pilot, who finally reveals his name is Fernando Esparza. He notes that the Weapon still doesn’t have a name, and the camera cuts away as Master Chief and the AI decide on one. However, considering her physical resemblance to Chief’s old AI, there’s a good chance that her new name may also be “Cortana.” That wraps up Halo Infinite’s campaign, with the player free to attend to unfinished business in the open world. As is Halo tradition, however, there is one more cutscene after the credits.
Halo Infinite’s Stinger and Future Potential
Halo Infinite’s post-credits scene features a mysterious figure who is revealed to be the Banished’s founder and original leader, Atriox. He approaches a terminal, inserts a key, and triggers a sequence involving what appears to be a series of objects built by the Forerunners. This silent scene doesn’t offer much information about what's happening, but there’s more to it following a Legendary difficulty playthrough.
The Legendary version includes an audio track with a dialog exchange between unseen figures identified as the “Grand Edict” and “Despondent Pyre.” The year of either this scene or the audio track is displayed, 97,368 BCE, which is deliberately confusing due to Halo Infinite taking place in 2560 AD. Despondent Pyre seems to be hesitant about what Grand Edict is about to do, but Grand Edict mentions that this action is essential to contain the threat of The Endless. Both mention that they seem to be working for some group known as the “Criterion,” and Despondent Pyre suggests the group may have some reservations about this “unprecedented” action. However, Grand Edict argues that time will prove them and their actions to be right.
The Harbinger was a member of the Endless and the Banished were allied with her, suggesting this stinger is showing Atriox waking the rest of them up. Grand Edict and Despondent Pyre’s controversial actions may be in reference to the Forerunner AI known as Offensive Bias, which is mentioned at the end of the scene and could be an equally dangerous countermeasure to the Endless. Based on the date in the Legendary version and the sudden introduction of a time-skip portal in Infinite proper, it seems time travel may also be involved in the next Halo storyline. Fans can keep their trigger fingers warm in the multiplayer until it’s ready.
Halo Infinite is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.