Four years. That's how long it's been since Halo Infinite launched, and honestly? It's a bit of a downer. The recent anniversary announcement from the official Halo account on X felt less like a celebration and more like a reminder of what could have been. How can we feel optimistic about the future of Halo in 2025?
Remember the hype? Halo Infinite, the latest installment in the iconic Xbox franchise, was supposed to be a game-changer. The open-world campaign promised a fresh take, aiming to be the central hub for all things Halo for years to come. But as the launch date drew closer, the pressure mounted on the sixth mainline entry in the Master Chief saga. A gameplay reveal in 2020 unintentionally became a meme, and a month later, the game was delayed.
Finally, in December 2021 (with multiplayer arriving a few weeks earlier), Halo Infinite arrived. But it was missing key features like split-screen co-op and Forge, the series' map creation suite. The promised additional story content? It never materialized in the game itself. Instead, it's neatly wrapped up in a book releasing next week. I, like many, hoped Infinite would become the massive Master Chief universe we were promised, but it never fully delivered.
And just last month, the news broke: the studio would cease development on the sci-fi shooter. And now, the studio is working on Halo: Campaign Evolved, a ground-up remake of the original game’s campaign.
While other Halo games are reportedly in development, the current state of the franchise is disheartening. Campaign Evolved, slated for next year, might bring Halo to PS5 for the first time and look amazing, but it's essentially a nostalgic revisit of a 25-year-old game. It won't include multiplayer, just the first game’s campaign and a few new missions. It will offer four-person co-op for the first time ever. But beyond Campaign Evolved, the future remains uncertain.
So, back to Infinite, the most recent game. The open-world campaign? Not worth revisiting, especially without couch co-op or a continuation of Master Chief’s story (the story DLC was confirmed canceled back in 2023). The multiplayer? It still has that classic Halo feel – fun and chaotic – but the player base has dwindled. If you stick to a few modes, you'll likely find yourself in a loop: the same maps, the same players.
But here's where it gets controversial... Xbox's recent silence regarding the White House's use of Halo imagery in its propaganda further adds to the disappointment.
Halo was the franchise that ignited my passion for gaming, transforming me from a casual player to a dedicated fan who bought an Xbox 360 and Halo 3 on launch day. I hope the franchise can regain its footing, but on this fourth anniversary of Halo Infinite, it's hard not to mourn what could have been.
What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments!
