‘Halo Infinite’ release date: Phil Spencer explains why the game doesn’t need a battle royale experience

During the years when there is no new “Halo” game for fans to enjoy, the industry saw the rise of extremely popular battle royale games. Many well-known shooter games adapted to this trend by either launching a standalone spin-off or a new game mode with similar gameplay elements. However, Xbox head Phil Spencer does not think that is the best track for “Halo Infinite.”

Xbox boss addresses concerns on ‘Halo Infinite’ gameplay

Spencer was IGN’s special guest for the 500th episode of its Xbox podcast earlier this week, and he offered insights on some crucial questions about the upcoming “Halo Infinite.” One topic that Spencer tackled was the lack of battle royale in the upcoming game.

Overall, Spencer believes fans would appreciate “Halo Infinite” more if it offers an experience that goes back to its roots when it comes to the multiplayer mode.

"With a lot of the innovations and evolutions that have happened in FPS multiplayer over the years, there was something very pure about coming back to a ‘Halo’ Arena experience and how clean it was and how tight the gameplay loop was," Spencer said. He added that not many IPs on the Xbox platform seem to revisit the basic foundations of their games and “perfecting what they have.” But he said this is what 343 Industries aims to do in “Halo Infinite.”

Spencer also refused to agree with the notion that “Halo Infinite” will solely decide the fate of the series. The Xbox chief believes the franchise has a very wide and loyal fanbase and that the upcoming game would be enjoyed by millions. On the other hand, he also recognized that they may not be able to please everyone with the upcoming title. “That’s just the nature of being in the entertainment business and we except it,” Spencer said.

‘Halo Infinite’ release date still planned for holiday 2021

Just like in his previous interviews, Spencer expressed how much he believes in the 343i’s commitment to delivering “Halo Infinite” this holiday. Many fans were puzzled after the Xbox-Bethesda E3 showcase in June when new trailers for the game did not include a specific release date, especially with “Starfield” (launching in late 2022) and “Forza Horizon 5” (only announced at the event) already got theirs. In an earlier statement, Spencer said that they already have a gauge of when the “Halo Infinite” could be released within a three to four-week range.