A new survey sent out to members of Microsoft’s Xbox Research program suggests that the company may be reconsidering its plans for Halo Infinite and 343 Industries as it charts the future of the Xbox brand. The survey was issued to players just days after Xbox head Phil Spencer told an interviewer that 343 Industries is “critically important to Halo” following layoffs at the developer.Released in November 2021, over a year past its initial release date, 343 Industries’ Halo Infinite experienced a troubled development process and an equally rocky launch. The latest in the long-running Halo series of first-person shooters initially created by developer Bungie, Halo Infinite introduced an open-world setting to the franchise for the first time when it arrived on PC and consoles. Although generally well-received by many players and critics despite some issues with the game’s multiplayer modes, frustrations over the shooter’s troubled development process surfaced earlier this month when several former Halo Infinite developers called out Microsoft leadership for supposed mismanagement of the title over several years.A new Twitter post from gaming news account Mr_Rebs_ shared several screenshots of survey questions that were sent out to some members of Microsoft’s Xbox Research program, which is designed to provide the mega-publisher with direct feedback from players “to help shape the future of gaming.” Wasting no time getting straight to the point, the first question asks gamers “Are you done playing Halo Infinite?” Subsequent questions ask gamers for feedback on what game modes they would like to see added to Halo Infinite, as well as several questions seemingly designed to gauge gamers’ trust in developer 343 Industries’ continued ability to carry the franchise. Some gamers’ faith in the developer had wavered even before the recent layoffs following the departure of Halo Infinite’s multiplayer creative director late last year.
Some users responding to the post were taken aback by the tone of the questions posed in the survey, with one comment stating that it was “Actually insane how xbox/MS fail to take any responsibility.” Other responses questioned the timing and usefulness of the survey following Phil Spencer’s recent statements regarding 343’s future with the franchise, which reaffirmed the developer's involvement with Halo titles for the foreseeable future. Taking a more upbeat view of the player survey, some responses expressed hope that Microsoft would take the user feedback into account and begin working to improve Halo Infinite.
While it seems wildly unlikely that the Halo franchise as a whole will be going away any time soon, this survey hits that Halo Infinite may be closer to being put out to pasture than many players expected. For now, at least, fans of Master Chief can still enjoy hopping into a multiplayer match with their friends decked out in their finest Oreo-themed Halo Infinite armor.
Halo Infinite is available for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.