The Xbox Presentation for Gamescom 2021 has come and gone, and it was filled with quite a few reveals, updates, and announcements. Many Xbox fans tuned it and were happy with what they got. However, for those wanting to see a certain Spartan super soldier, they may have been left wanting, as there was a Halo Infinite-sized omission from Gamescom this year, and it was a bit of a surprise.
Halo fans got a lot of enjoyment out of the Halo Infinite Technical Preview, and the community at large has been waiting patiently for more information on its story campaign. Gamecom 2021 appeared to be the perfect time for its next reveal, or at least an update on the development of the game. However, as the fall season approaches and Halo Infinite still does not have a release date, the lack of the Master Chief at the event seems ever more conspicuous.
Halo Infinite Could Have Used a Positive 'Bump'
After the dust settled from the Craig meme chapter of Halo Infinite and the game's delay, 343 Industries and Xbox seemed to have turned a new page with the fanbase. Thanks to communication, a multiplayer reveal at E3 2021, and the recent tech demo, Halo Infinite has been looking up.
However, recent news cast a shadow on the game again.
It was recently revealed that Halo Infinite would launch without campaign co-op and Forge mode, two staples of the Halo series. These missing features are disappointing for fans, but this is also a reminder that Halo Infinite has been in development for at least six years and has been delayed once. Meanwhile, the game still does not have a release date, and now it will launch without key features.
It is true that Halo Infinite will be a constantly evolving game, and in time campaign co-op and Forge will be added. However, it feels like a missed opportunity to not have staple features of Halo on day one. With a somewhat negative energy over the game suddenly, having Halo Infinite at Gamescom with some positive news would have been a big deal.
An Update for the Halo Infinite Campaign is Needed
What many fans are waiting for is the next update and full reveal of Halo Infinite's campaign. The multiplayer reveal and footage at E3 was great for many, as was the chance to play soon after, but 343 has gone dark on the campaign. There are plenty of things that fans want to see in Halo Infinite, but much of it is simply speculation at this point.
Some things have already been confirmed in Halo Infinite leaks, like the return of Skulls. However, even between speculation, leaks, and information before the delay, there is not a lot to be confident about in terms of what the Halo Infinite campaign will entail. If Gamescom would have revealed more about the campaign with a trailer, or even gameplay footage, it could have answered countless questions.
What 343 attempted to do with its gameplay reveal last year was show off an expansive open campaign sandbox that the series had not yet seen before. The DNA looked to be there, but its polish was not. By now, one would hope that the kinks have been worked out and Halo Infinite's campaign looks and plays how it is designed to, and therefore it should be ready to show off. Perhaps a trailer or gameplay demo was just not ready for Gamescom, but it would have been ideal.
More Halo Infinite Multiplayer
If the campaign was not ready, more multiplayer would have sold fans just as easily. There was so much to glean from the Halo Infinite Technical Preview, and the community wants more. Between its smooth movement, the focus on classic gameplay that feels refreshed, the sandbox experience, unlocks, and more, Halo Infinite's multiplayer looks like it could be a showstopper.
It would have been nice if an announcement of the next Halo Infinite Technical Preview date was revealed at Gamescom, along with details on what fans can look forward to. There was so much fun to be had the first preview, so another one would be great marketing. Perhaps it would be too much to ask for a huge announcement, like the reveal of the rumored Halo Infinite battle royale, but more standard multiplayer would have satisfied plenty of fans.
Xbox's Gamescom Felt Incomplete Without Halo
The truth is not all Xbox showcases need to be as beefy as an E3 presentation. While the E3 event that took place this June was great, it is unfair to expect that of every showcase. Xbox's Gamescom stream had plenty of nice reveals, but that one knockout punch felt missing.
Xbox gave updates on tons of games and it brought loads of indie titles to the show, including the reveal of Humble Games titles coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one. The announcement was made that Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Xbox consoles later this year, which allows players to stream and demo games from the cloud. A limited-time Forza Horizon 5 Xbox controller was revealed, and its design is very stylish. As a whole, the event was packed.
However, it's hard to see why Halo Infinite still does not have a release date. One of the easiest moves in terms of excitement would have been for 343 and Xbox to put together a trailer and a release date to close out its Gamescom showcase. Even if a campaign reveal wasn't ready - although that may have been preferred - a highlight reel from the Halo Infinite Technical Preview with a date at the end would have excited the fanbase. Instead, it seems those fans will have to wait just a bit longer to learn more.
Halo Infinite is in development for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.