Ever since the announcement of the Xbox Series X at last year's Game Awards, Halo Infinite has been the flagship title poised to launch alongside the long-awaited next-generation console. Unfortunately, it seems that will no longer be the case, with Microsoft and 343 Industries recently announcing that the game has been delayed to 2021 due to a series of unforeseen complications.

Revealed in a statement posted on Twitter, 343 revealed to fans that the decision was not one made lightly, and while it's unfortunate that the Xbox Series X won't launch with Halo Infinite, it will make for a better game in the long run. "We have made the difficult decision to shift our release to 2021 to ensure the team has adequate time to deliver a Halo game experience that meets our vision," the statement reads, claiming that "multiple factors" led to the game's delay.

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It seems the reasoning was largely down to the complications of working during the coronavirus pandemic, with the statement claiming "ongoing COVID-related impacts" were a significant issue for the team. Alongside that, it seems a release date later this year won't give 343 enough time to make the game as good as it possibly can be, revealing that "it is not sustainable for the well-being of our team or the overall success of the game to ship it this holiday." While the delay will no doubt be a disappointment to fans, it'll likely lead to a much better experience as a result, especially as Infinite looks to be the most ambitious title in the franchise to date.

Of course, Halo Infinite has been something of a controversial subject online as of late, with fans discussing the visual fidelity of the recent gameplay trailer shared during Microsoft's Xbox Series X showcase. The subject became such a hot topic that 343 even came out to discuss the footage online, elaborating to fans why they chose to follow the stylistic direction opted for in Halo: Infinite's campaign.

That's not to say all of Infinite's creative decisions have been so polarizing, however, with the addition of a grapple hook and more open environments being celebrated by players. The game even announced that it would be offering free multiplayer, which was a welcome bombshell for many seen as it was Microsoft's biggest exclusive heading into the holiday season. It seems 343 is already crafting one of the most defining Halo experiences yet, and with a little more time, Infinite could easily be the franchise's crowning entry.

Halo Infinite will be available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in 2021.

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