Halo Infinite was one of the most highly-anticipated competitive FPS games in recent memory, bringing the iconic franchise back to its roots. The Halo franchise is world-renowned, but Halo 5 was not met with the same popularity as some of its predecessors. While it’s been far from straightforward, Halo Infinite has been a step in the right direction.
So, here’s a look back at Halo Infinite’s release, including what was available at launch for Xbox players in one of the best Xbox games and best FPS games out there.
Halo Infinite release date
Halo Infinite was released on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, on Xbox and PC, letting players enjoy its full campaign mode and free-to-play multiplayer experience.
However, Halo Infinite multiplayer was actually available earlier with the open beta, which ran from Monday, November 15, 2021, up until release.
Halo Infinite platforms
Halo Infinite is available on the Xbox Series X|S, its predecessor the Xbox One, and, of course, on PC as well.
Cross-play and cross-progression are available so you can keep the Halo goodness flowing no matter what platform you play on.
Plus, it supports Xbox’s Smart Delivery. So, if you had bought it for Xbox One (or are planning to), you could later upgrade to Series X without purchasing the game again.
Halo Infinite campaign
Halo Infinite’s gameplay is very much a return to form for the series, with tighter gunplay that relies on precision rather than slick reactions. However, there are a few differences, especially when it comes to the campaign.
The campaign itself features multiple diverse biomes, cave systems, and of course Forerunner architecture, which you’ll be able to explore as a part of 343’s “most ambitious” campaign yet. That’s right, Infinite’s campaign is semi-open-world. While it didn’t exactly pay off for many, it’s a fresh take for the long-standing series all the same.
Halo Infinite multiplayer
Halo Infinite multiplayer is much closer to what you would expect from a back-to-its-roots Halo game. Gunplay is incredibly tight with a diverse arsenal of weapons, each with its own strengths and weaknesses that make its sandbox very rewarding to wield, even all these years later.
Through the various content updates over the years, which are still ongoing, albeit smaller in scale, there are also tons of maps and modes to enjoy. From the more traditional Halo modes like Slayer all the way to more experimental ones and even Forge and Firefight.
Halo Infinite free-to-play
Halo Infinite’s multiplayer offerings are free-to-play for everyone on Xbox and PC. Its campaign mode, however, still requires you to purchase it separately, though it is on Game Pass – and is one of the best Xbox Game Pass games.
To support the live-service elements, Halo Infinite’s multiplayer features an in-game store and a battle pass system. However, even today, these battle passes do not expire, meaning you can still go back and enjoy the very first pass from the end of 2021 if you so wish.
So there you have it, everything there is to know about Halo Infinite, including its multiplayer and campaign offerings that you’ll have a blast with.