Phil Spencer, the executive vice president of gaming at Microsoft, was interviewed in a podcast episode of Decoder with Nilay Patel to discuss the launch of the new console. In the interview he shed some light on the delay of Halo Infinite.
The latest installment of the Halo franchise was slated to release as a launch title with the Xbox Series X/S. 343 Industries announced a delay until 2021 to ensure that the team is able to deliver a game that meets their vision. The delay came after fans offered critical feedback on the graphics in the Halo Infinite campaign trailer.
During the interview Patel stated that when a console launches you don't just need the console itself, you also need a big title to launch with it. He asked Spencer how big of a role he felt these big titles play in the launch of a new console, as well as how he felt about Halo Infinite being delayed until 2021.
According to Spencer, Microsoft was very public about Halo: Infinite, and their desire for it to be available at launch of the next-gen console. He feels that having Halo at launch would have been a cultural moment for Xbox, as a Halo game has not launched with the console since the release of the original Xbox and Halo CE.
Spencer went on to say that from a business standpoint, Microsoft is selling every console it builds, so he would not be selling more consoles today if Halo had launched with the console. He stated that Microsoft has made huge investments in first party games to grow the amount of games that are exclusive to Xbox so that fans feel like they made the right purchase when they buy the console. Spencer believes in the commitment Microsoft has made to fans to see new great games that play on the console that they purchase.
"Halo was a miss on our part" Spencer stated. According to him Microsoft and 343 Industries had "absolutely" planned for Halo Infinite to drop with the console, however, in the long run he believes the delay is for the best. "I think the game will be better for the time that we’re giving it." Spencer thinks 343 Industries will be able to produce a better Halo game, and it will release at a time when fans will actually be able to get their hands on a console. "I feel good, really good, the best I’ve ever felt about our roadmap. But yeah, it would have been really great to have Halo at launch."
While there is no definitive launch date set in place for Halo Infinite, 343 Industries promised Halo fans it will be more communicative in the coming months. Unfortunately, this doesn't necessarily mean Microsoft is planning for an early 2021 launch. It's possible that the game will not release until fall 2021, perhaps just in time for Halo's 20th anniversary in November.
Halo Infinite will be available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in 2021.
source: The Verge