Halo Infinite has officially been delayed until 2021, a possibility 343 Industries gave warning to earlier this year as COVID-19 continues to spread. Despite their recent game showcase for the Xbox Series X and the goal to be a launch title for the new generation of gaming, the studio decided they aren't quite ready to launch yet and that they want to take the additional time to deliver the experience that fits their vision.
The studio took to the game's official Twitter account to share the news of the delay and to provide a little backstory regarding the decision. "We made the difficult decision to shift our release to 2021 to ensure the team has adequate time to deliver a Halo game experience that meets our vision," the statement began.
Halo Infinite Development Update pic.twitter.com/TFZvXhRN9f
— Halo (@Halo) August 11, 2020
"The decision to shift our release is the result of multiple factors that have contributed to development challenges, including the ongoing COVID-related impacts affecting us this year. I want to acknowledge the hard work from our team at 343 Industries, who have remained committed to making a great game and finding solutions to development challenges. However, it is not sustainable for the well-being of our team or the overall success of the game to ship it this holiday."
While news of a delay can always be disappointing, especially one that shows the promise that Halo Infinite does with bringing back the Halo experience we know from games past, it's always good to see studios take the necessary steps to avoid crunch and the consequences of a rushed launch.
343 added, "We know this will be disappointing to many of you and we all share in that sentiment. The passion and support the community has shown over the years has been incredible and inspiring. We wanted nothing more than to play our game with the community this holiday. The extra time will let us finish the critical work necessary to deliver the most ambitious Halo game ever at the quality we know our fans expect."
While we don't have a release date at this time other than a 2021 window, the transparency is appreciated, especially given the mixed reaction that their latest showcase saw when looking at Infinite's visuals.
343 Industries promises to have a new update soon, but for now we know it will not be a launch title though Microsoft has mentioned that this is not an indicator that the Xbox Series X is also being pushed back.
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Thoughts on Halo Infinite delay and how the studio handled the news? Sound off in the comment section below and tell us what you think about the journey thus far.
