Halo Infinite (XB/PC/Cloud/Game Pass) - Big Update out now.

Photek wrote:
Tomous wrote:
Tafdolphin wrote:I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see a Fall 2021 release date announced at some point, which is then delayed into 2022.

EDIT: To be clear, I think this is a very good thing.

I agree on both counts here.

I don't mind waiting either but they have shut down all the 'rumour's around the game very quickly so I think it'll make late 2021.

They could well be planning for that, but I think it'll slip to 2022.

Tomous wrote:
Photek wrote:
Tomous wrote:
Tafdolphin wrote:I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see a Fall 2021 release date announced at some point, which is then delayed into 2022.

EDIT: To be clear, I think this is a very good thing.

I agree on both counts here.

I don't mind waiting either but they have shut down all the 'rumour's around the game very quickly so I think it'll make late 2021.

They could well be planning for that, but I think it'll slip to 2022.

I think it will slip from early 2021 to late November 2021 but we'll see.

Peter Crisp wrote:
gamerforever wrote:I think this more or less guarantees that this is at least 2 years away from release and the one version will be scrapped.

I'm ok with this.
If this is the Halo game that all future Halo games are going to be based on then I'd rather wait and have it based on next gen tech which they've had more than a few months of familiarity with.

I don’t think games as a service is the way to go and they need to get back to basics and focus on the single player. The problem is that the online portion will make them big money if it’s popular enough.

Joseph Staten wrote 2 halo books and was indeed in charge of all the cinematics from Halo 1-3. He was also design and project lead on ODST, In essence, ODST was Joe’s idea from start to finish.

Also Certain Affinity who worked on Halo 3/Reach/MCC map DLC are also back to help with MP headed by Halo 2’s Former MP director.

A look at a new enemy -

HIGH-VALUE HEADHUNTER

In hushed whispers throughout the ranks of the Banished, Jega ‘Rdomnai’s name is spoken of with care. The blademaster’s history is shrouded in rumor and half-truths. Some say he was an experiment, an affront to his own kind. Others make mention of a clandestine ambush gone wrong. Very few know the truth, fewer still speak of it. One thing is certain: he has hunted demons before, and as the first recruit welcomed into the Hand of Atriox, he will do so again.

A mysterious and battle-ravaged Sangheili warrior, Jega represents one of several new characters that you will encounter along your way through the Halo Infinite campaign, with each confrontation playing its own part in Chief’s continuing journey.

While today’s introduction is just a quick glimpse, we hope it leaves you eager to learn more. Trust me, we can’t wait for you to have the opportunity to explore more for yourself.

Also concept art of the Mark VII armour -

https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news ... e-distance

New enemy just looks like an Elite with an emo paint job and the Mjolnir armour always looks basically the same anyway!

Website

Photek wrote:

twitter.com/joestaten/status/1298822908253364225

Already works for MS, should have been lead from Day 1.

Whatever way it's painted its not good news for where the project is now. Lockdown was listed as a reason for the delay of the game however lockdown in the US happened approximately around the same time as the UK, March. This is Microsoft's biggest game that had been prepped for years to be a launch title. Microsoft has gone on record to say that the Halo: MCC multiplayer technical problems were the result of not substantive enough testing. So for March the game should have essentially been ready and feature complete so the rest of the time could have been spent on play testing and network testing the game.

In August the gameplay was revealed which meant Microsoft were sure it was coming out in November. This was delayed, so considering everything it would be reasonable to assume it would be a short delay of up to three months to tie up loose ends. But bringing new writers in means that more significant work is being done, perhaps wholesale revisions to story and gameplay and a longer delay to autumn 2021. Of course the game should have more development time to make a better final product. But it's looking like this project has been mismanaged. Phil Spencer has been head of the Xbox division since 2013, he knew a new generation was coming, he knew that he needed a flagship game for launch, especially as the Xbox One X's launch game Crackdown 3 was delayed, from that point he had three more years to ensure Halo Infinite was ready. That it's not will be to the detriment of the new console.

Covid 19 has delayed Cyberpunk, TLOU2, Ghosts of Tsushima and Halo, not sure you can hand wave that away as a cause so easily.

EDIT: Never mind, did a quick search and Phil Spencer triggers the ever living S**t out of Venom for some reason. :lol:

Website

I don't know what hand wave means.

You overlooked the point about the completion state of the game pre-lockdown. The fact new people are being brought into work on the game is significant because it likely means that covid wasn't the main cause for the delay. TLOU2 and Ghost of Tsushima delays in 2020 were for a period of approximately three weeks each and that was related to Covid physical disc distribution problems, the games were complete. If what you moot is that covid is affecting 343i in exactly the same way as SIE then it could mean the digital version of Halo would be ready for launch with the disc version three weeks later. It's okay to have a favourite football team or a favourite console, likewise it's also okay to reasonably critique said team or platform if it merits it, Halo Infinite being postponed from launch is a disappointment and one where questions should be asked about the project's management.

It's a major dissapointment, especially for me and as I posted, something somewhere went really REALLY wrong but I do think Covid has an impact, especially for such a big team working on one title.

I honestly think when Bonnie, Matt and Phil decided to not bring out the campaign and online separately and delayed it, they brought in Joe Staten (already an Xbox employee) into the fold to look at things as a kind of quality control, not only did he direct all of the bungie halo cut scenes but he'll have fresh eyes on (he's only there until launch it's not a permanent position), I also think they brought in Certain Affinity who worked on all the previous Halo's MP DLC for similar reasons, although CA I will be there longer/after launch too.

I fundamentally think 343i made an error not bringing in one of the bungie halo leads, the Coalition had Rod Fergusson who worked on Gears 1-3 to head up that company and Gears 4 and 5 are pretty damn good, (I'd put 5 up with 3 as best).

Website

Fair points. Of course Joseph Staten could have been brought in earlier but I suspect it wasn't until after the game reveal and reaction that there was some high-level reevaluation of where the game is at on a quality level.
If I was Microsoft I would sneak out a little multiplayer beta before Christmas just for Series X owners.

Venom wrote:Fair points. Of course Joseph Staten could have been brought in earlier but I suspect it wasn't until after the game reveal and reaction that there was some high-level reevaluation of where the game is at on a quality level.
If I was Microsoft I would sneak out a little multiplayer beta before Christmas just for Series X owners.

The miss calculation of 343i and indeed Microsoft that showing Infinite like that would not go down well was strange. That said, it wasn't THAT bad. It had graphical issues with pop in but I was still looking forward to playing it, at the time I was thinking it will be 'fixed' several months after launch and I think that was the plan but I don't think Phil wanted another Sea of thieves on his hands (again, full of things to do now but was empty at launch.) I think he wants it to be the best it can be but they need to either drop the Xbox One support or outsource the port.

Yeah to be fair I still don't really get the fuss that was made about the Infinite trailer/gameplay that led to all of this. It didn't look like game of the century or anything but I thought it looked good - certainly not car crash territory.

Ultimately the only ones who know what the state of the game really was are the teams internally and if they think they need more time then they've made a bold move to take that time and hopefully it's the right one.

Regarding the TLOU2 comparisons - remember that game was delayed several times, from February to May and then to June - it wasn't just COVID causing those delays, software release scheduling is always a tricky beast which is why the "done when it's done" mantra is usually more useful than any actual dates!

Last edited by Tafdolphin on Wed Oct 28, 2020 5:04 pm, edited 3 times in total.

twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1321494790098354177

Ruh-roh.

Article's paywalled but apparently he was sidelined to make room for Joe Staten after the very bad no good reveal trailer, and has now resigned from 343i where he'd worked since 2008.

Also MonkeyMan is bad and horrible and likes Donald Trump.

twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1321494790098354177

The game was delayed in early August, however, following poor fan reception to an early public version. Lee’s role was sidelined a few weeks later, as Microsoft brought in Halo veteran Joe Staten to lead the single-player campaign and another senior executive, Pierre Hintze, to run multiplayer.

“Chris Lee remains a Microsoft employee and while he has stepped back from Halo: Infinite right now, we appreciate all he has done for the project to date,” Microsoft said in an emailed statement.

More details than above.

Monkey Man wrote:
More details than above.

salty

EDIT: Updated so this statement is no longer accurate.

Changes at the top is probably what Halo needs going forward.

This is gonna be 2022 at this rate. Obviously Chris and Joe disagreed and Phil chose Halo veteran to steer ship.

They need to drop Xbox One support, that’s a big issue holding the game back especially if this is going to be a 10 year GaaS title.

It is bizarre.

How many halo fans are they going to disappoint by dropping Xbox One support? Not many in my opinion.

Halo Infinite (XB/PC/Cloud/Game Pass) - Big Update out now.

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