Halo Infinite officially launched on December 8, 2021, but its multiplayer component was available for free from November 15. Halo Infinite multiplayer received a lot of praise for its gameplay, but many users criticized the implementation of the battle pass and the overpriced cosmetics.
Like most modern multiplayer games, Halo Infinite needs regular updates and new content to keep the player base engaged throughout the year. 343 Industries has faced criticism for slow updates and delayed features, but the developer had recently shared information on the current state of the game and plans for the near future. According to the post, Season 2 of Halo Infinite will launch on May 3 and will be themed around Lone Wolf Spartans. However, it looks like Season 2 will ship under a different multiplayer lead.
Andrew Witts, the multiplayer lead of Halo Infinite, confirms on Twitter that March 5 was his last day at 343 Industries. He mentions that it was an honor to work with the team at 343 Industries and thanks fans for their feedback on the game. Witts then states that he will take some time away from development to recharge batteries. Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski replied to this tweet expressing his excitement for Witts’ next venture.
Many users are thanking Witts for his contributions to the Halo franchise, but some others are commenting on the apparent toxicity present in the community. It’s important to note that personnel change is a regular occurrence in the gaming industry, and many directors do end up leaving studios after shipping games. This news probably doesn’t have anything to do with the current state of Halo Infinite.
Many developers from 343 Industries felt burnt out after Halo 5’s monthly updates. It looks like Andrew Witts is simply looking for some time off, as the development cycle of a live-service game seems to get more demanding every year. Halo Infinite faces tough competition from other live-service games, with Bungie launching Destiny 2: The Witch Queen just last month.
Fans are waiting for 343 Industries to release the highly-anticipated Forge mode in Halo Infinite, and the developer is also reportedly looking to also add "Serialized Narrative Content" to the game. Another report suggests that 343 Industries is working on 10 more maps, so it’s safe to assume that Halo Infinite players will have plenty to look forward to in 2022.
Halo Infinite is out now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.