Games around the world, the wait is over! Last night the long delayed and much anticipated new Halo instalment – Halo Infinite – finally launched in earnest. The game was released officially at 6pm UK time on Wednesday 8th December 2021, after a delay of over a year! The latest Halo chapter was planned for release alongside the Xbox Series X and S in November 2020, but development suffered heavy delays during 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic and associated lockdowns, and its release was officially postponed in August 2020.
Now, to the backdrop of many restocks of the Xbox Series X|S, Halo: Infinite has finally seen light of day! As this is an Xbox Studios release developed by Microsoft themselves, it was a release day addition on Xbox Gamepass, meaning subscribers could instantly play this incredible new episode in the story of Master Chief, or Spartan 117, in his fight against the Covenant and Banished hoards as they attempt to conquer and wipe out humanity.
Unlike other Halo instalments, the online multiplayer for Halo: Infinite is free to play, and was actually available before launch day! Halo: Infinite has been available to pre-install from Gamepass for some time, and the multiplayer section was already open for play since its pre-release in August. But the campaign, on the other hand, was still sealed off (and wouldn’t even allow for a preinstall) so fans have had to wait until the very minute of release before they could begin downloading the main storyline and engaging with the campaign.
The multiplayer contains all the Halo classic game modes like Slayer and Capture the Flag, with a few new additions like the Big Team Battles which can be up to 12 v 12. Also new to the multiplayer matches are collectable powerups scattered around the map, which give you significant boosts like active camouflage and speed dashing.
The campaign focuses on a long beloved character, Master Chief’s helpful and only sometimes sarcastic AI assistant, Cortana, who is missing at the onset of the campaign. Set on a mysteriously damaged Installation 7, better known as Halo Zeta, players much first navigate Master Chief to finding a new AI, which will then act as your new Cortana while you figure out what happened to Cortana and track down her AI.
Halo: Infinite is bound to be a fan favourite instalment in an iconic gaming series spanning over two decades since the original Halo: Combat Evolved was released in 2001. With the multiplayer free to play, you have nothing to lose by checking out this incredible new title!