Halo Infinite's microtransactions are an odd topic of discussion, seeing as Halo Infinite has been delayed without a new release date established. Yet it's been a focus over the past week nonetheless. Marketing promotions likely coinciding with Halo Infinite's original release have shared a newly announced "coating" system of purchasable cosmetics. The news even prompted a response from 343 to stymie confusion. A new leak showing Microsoft's listed value for a single Halo Infinite coating is going to stir the conversation up once more.
The Halo Infinite Monarch armor coating is a limited-availability microtransaction being given away with certain candies and cookies. Labeled Chips Ahoy!, Oreo, and Sour Patch Kids packages include codes that can be redeemed for the coating. As such, some Halo Infinite fans are already receiving their prize, a code for the coating that can be redeemed on Xbox. One detail that fans have noted in the email they received for their coating is its official value. Specifically, the Monarch armor coating is being valued at $5.
Suffice to say, some video game fans online are quite surprised at the coating's cost. Coatings are not entirely new skins for armor. They're colorizations, though they can also be used for patterns and material effects. Fans are questioning if $5 for a different armor color or theme is appropriate. Halo fans in particular are frustrated because colorization for multiplayer armor and gear hasn't historically been locked behind a paywall.
Halo community manager John Junyszek recently spoke about Halo Infinite's coating system, prior to the reveal of the $5 coating value. Junyszek described how 343 was "very excited about the breadth and scope of armor, weapon, and vehicle customization options ... because of the coating system." It should also be noted that it was previously confirmed by 343 that coatings will be unlockable in-game without spending, outside of "initiatives related to special coatings."
One last important detail to recognize is that while the value of the Monarch coating may be listed as $5, that isn't necessarily representative of what a coating or other Halo Infinite microtransactions' price will be in-game. Values are often higher than their in-game price when it comes to promotions like this. That gives them a bit of room barring any complications with the promotion.
There's also the fact that Halo Infinite is in the middle of development and doesn't even have a release date. While it's possible that the team at 343 has already finalized much of its Halo Infinite monetization plans, including pricing, things could still change in all manner of ways leading up to its eventual launch. Especially so if fans continue to provide such negative criticism of 343's plans.
Halo Infinite releases in 2021 on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.