Despite the excitement surrounding Halo Infinite, some players have been concerned about the quality of the title. Some fans have critiqued the graphics in the Halo Infinite gameplay video and this has led to some expecting a disappointment. These concerns seem to have added potency after the release of Halo 5 that many deemed lacking, and others felt was fraudulent in its advertising campaign. A developer working on Halo Infinite has now responded to the concerns of fans.
The Halo franchise has been a flagship series for the Xbox consoles since 2001. The games combine epic storytelling with first-person shooter excitement as players blast through a variety of aliens. Many have felt that the series lost some of its appeals after the original trilogy and as a result, Halo Infinite is juggling the expectation to play into nostalgia and adapt to the modern gaming market. The box art of Halo Infinite taps into the nostalgia of the series but many are concerned that the graphics will too.
Narrative Experience Director of Halo Infinite, Dan Chosich, has commented on the weight of expectation and the experience fans have while waiting for an anticipated title. The director tweeted his understanding of player concerns, commenting "I’ve been in your shoes. I know what it's like to have expectations built + feel let down. I want you to know your voice matters + is heard. You're not falling on deaf ears." Players will be relieved that the gaming experience is being created with them in mind. Furthermore, the tone of this tweet suggests that the game is still being worked on and as a result, there is now a feedback loop to the developers after the gameplay was revealed.
Chosich went on to note the impact of the Halo games and the desire to match the quality of previous games, "I always want to live up to the legacy that Bungie pioneered. I personally care a lot about honoring that." Whether players have been impressed with the gameplay and trailers or not, it is evident that 343 Industries has a dedicated team working on the project.
The team working on the game seems to be aware of the criticism and actively developing the game to please fans. With this in mind, fans will largely be happy that issues are being addressed and many will hope to receive a satisfying experience. Additionally, there have been reports that part of the reason that this installment has taken so long to surface has been because of the team responding to the criticism of Halo 5. These reports suggest that the team are endeavoring to deliver what fans want.
It will be interesting to see if Halo Infinite can deliver after being one of the most anticipated games of the year. If it can realize its potential it will be widely celebrated, however, if the high profile release falls below expectation it will likely be mocked by thousands.
Halo Infinite will launch later this year for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.