After its stellar reveal during last night’s Xbox-Bethesda showcase, more details about Halo Infinite’s multiplayer have started to roll in. Developer 343 Industries have a new video overview of Infinite’s free-to-play multiplayer mode along with more revealed on Halo Waypoint. Here’s everything you need to know about Halo Infinite’s free-to-play multiplayer coming out of E3 2021.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer To Have Permanent Battle Pass and No Loot Boxes
Perhaps the biggest concern everybody had when Infinite’s multiplayer being f2p was announced was – “So what about monetization?” Over the last few years, we’ve seen many free to play games adopt aggressive monetization methods that come at the cost of the gameplay experience. Halo Infinite seeks to change that to some degree.
Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode will have no loot boxes and will have a permanent battle pass. This means that even after multiple season updates, previous content will not be locked out for new players and they can earn or purchase the battle pass if and when they want to.
Infinite Character Customization and Personal AI Cross-play and Cross-progression
Alongside gameplay, a lot of character customization was also shown in the multiplayer overview. Players will now be able to change their character’s body type and also use prosthetics for their Spartans, a first for the franchise. Players will also be able to customize their own personal AI, complete with different voice options. The personal AI will periodically inform players of events happening during matches, like ammo drops, the status of enemies, and quick updates in the heat of the round.
Halo Infinite’s Weapon and Vehicle Abilities Have Been Tweaked
Weapon abilities, drops and vehicles have also been tweaked for Halo’s new multiplayer, which respects the series’ legacy well. For starters, powerup abilities can now be used any time by the player, and are dropped down for others to pick up when knocked out.
Vehicle and ammo drops have also been tweaked, no longer appearing at the start of each round. This time, pelican carriers will be dropping ammo pods and vehicles throughout matches.
Speaking of vehicles, we also got confirmation of vehicle damage being segmented across different parts. This means that as you take damage while riding the Warthog, you’ll see different parts of the vehicle taking damage, giving players ample time to plan out their next move as they make escapes. We also saw a good look at the Razorback, a bigger brother of the Warthog, with its own inventory space at the back for storing multiple items.
Halo Academy Is Here For New Players
343 Industries have also added some new additions to the Academy – a hub area with tutorials and practice matches for new players. The academy will have multiple practice shooting ranges to learn new weapons and you’ll be able to play and learn by fighting bots as well as other people.
Halo Infinite will release in Fall 2021 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via the Xbox Store and Steam. The game will also be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one of launch.