Halo Infiniteis set to arrive in 2021. The delay of the game was one of thebiggest surprises of 2020, but after initially being a disappointment, there is a lot to look forward to in the Master Chief’s next epic adventure. Between now and the release of the game, fans can expect the full story reveal, another massive gameplay drop, the multiplayer reveal, surprises, the announcement of the official release date, a full explanation of what the game truly is, and much more. In the end, the delay ofHalo Infinitewill likely lead to a better game in 2021.
Story and Gameplay Reveal
Halo Infinitewas revealed with a cinematic trailer in 2018, but it is likely that more story elements are on the way. The narrative forHalois extremely important to fans of the franchise, especially after the shortcomings in that area forHalo 5: Guardians. 343 Industries will want the lead up toHalo Infiniteto be one that highlights how emotional this newHalowill be from a story perspective, and that will likely come in the form of either in-game cinematic trailers or CG promotional videos (ala the “Believe” campaign forHalo 3). The product itself is what is going to be most important, of course, but leading up to the release, Microsoft and 343 will likely want to put the minds of fans at ease by letting them know that this game is indeed heavy on the Master Chief, heavy on story, and heavy on a single-player focus that matters to fans who grew up playing the games.
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Fans should also expect another gameplay reveal in the near future. Thefirst full gameplay reveal ofHalo Infiniteended with Craig memes; not with jaw drops. That was back in July of 2020, and it was not long after that Microsoft made the massive decision to postpone the game until 2021. 343 will want to do a redo, this time showing off what the Xbox Series X/S can really do.
The actual game idea is solid, it was clear what 343 was going for. Just likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildwas a 3D realization of the originalLegend of Zelda, where players can go anywhere in an open landscape with total freedom,Halo Infiniteseems to allow players to explore a much more freeing world than has been seen in pastHalogames. Once the kinks are fixed, the gameplay has the potential to “wow.“343 has said that the delay will be worth the wait, and the reshowing of the gameplay reveal could prove that.
Release Date and The Explanation for What Halo Infinite Is
Perhaps the best part about the delay ofHalo Infiniteis that the team is no longer beholden to the release date of the Xbox Series X/S. This means thatHalo Infinitecan release whenever it is ready. In early December, 343 revealed thatHalo Infiniteis intended to launch in Fall 2021. It is likely that the official date will be revealed during the E3 timeframe, or whatever Microsoft comes up with as a replacement for an E3-type conference. The hope is that the team now can work hard on finishing the game with much less pressure.
Full Multiplayer Reveal
Recently 343 showed off somegorgeous multiplayer screenshots ofHalo Infinite, but thus far fans are waiting with bated breath for a full multiplayer reveal, including footage, weapons, modes, and more. So much is unknown aboutHalo Infinite’s multiplayer, which makes it that much more exciting.
All that has been shown so far forHalo Infinitemultiplayer is a couple of maps, a few gun models, and some images of customization items, but that is all. Players should expect a multiplayer reveal soon that will reveal weapons, player progression, maps, modes, and more.
As far as the modes, players should expect to see information on some versions of big team mode and arena-style mode. Big team modes usually house 16 players on massive outdoor maps, often with vehicles and a larger weapon pool. Meanwhile, arena-style modes are 6v6 and much more competitive.Halo 5: Guardiansintroduced a few other modes, like Warzone (not to be confused withCall of Duty: Warzone), a 24 player mode objective mode, and Breakout, a round-based one-life mode that has the chance to come back due to its popularity.
Battle Royale?
Another massive piece of speculation is thatHalo Infinitewill reveal a battle royale mode in 2021. In some ways, it almost seems like it is too late to announce a battle royale. As big as the mode/genre is, a few contenders have already been swallowed by the genre and it is hard to find a footing now (seeBattlefield’s Firestorm orRadical Heights). But theHalobig team sandbox is absolutely perfect for a battle royale.
With all of that being said, thedevelopers have already shut down rumors about a battle royale forHalo Infinite. And many fans are against it as well. Some do not like the idea of it because they fear that it would take the talent away from other core modes or tasks. And it is true that 343 bit off more than it could chew with projects in the past, likeHalo: The Master Chief Collection.But the developer who shot down the rumors could be simply trying to distract fans from the fact that a battle royale mode is on the way, and it is possible for 343 to outsource talent for different modes or ideas. Especially ifHalo Infiniteis a game that is supposed to have legs for the long haul, it would make sense for it to have a mode that is one of the most popular in all of multiplayer right now.
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Huge Promotional Campaign
Fans should also expect Microsoft to promoteHalo Infinitein big ways in 2021. Although theXbox Series X/S has some huge games coming this year, the exclusives may not draw eyes (especially as Microsoft continues to figure out how it handles the Bethesda purchase and exclusivity with those titles). AHalogame will be a massive title in any year, but 2021–the follow-up year after a brand new console launch–is a perfect year for a knockout must-have killer-app like whatHalo Infinitecould be. So Microsoft will likely spend a whole lot of money promoting it.
Before the delay, Microsoft already dumped money into deals with Butterfinger andMonster Energy forHalo Infinite. Look for more deals like this leading up to the release of the game. But also look for commercials during things like the NBA Finals and the 2021 Olympic Games. It is possible that Microsoft gets creative with a promotional campaign like the aforementioned “Believe” campaign fromHalo 3again.
Release and Reception, Game of the Year Contender
As far as guessing the release date forHalo Infinite, it is likely that it will launch sometime in late October or early November, based on when the last threeHalogames were released.Halo 4came out on July 22, 2025,Halo: The Master Chief Collectionwas released onNovember 11, 2014, andHalo 5: Guardianslaunched on July 16, 2025. That timeframe makes a lot of sense to release in time for Black Friday and the holiday rush.
That 2015 release date also sticks out in that it will have been six years since the last mainlineHalogame. Microsoft has certainly given 343 a long leash to make a great game.Halo 5: Guardianswas a game that had solid multiplayer, but left fans unhappy in terms of the story (84 Metacritic).Halo 4is a game that had a memorable story, but left some to be desired on the multiplayer side (87 Metacritic). Meanwhile,Halo: The Master Chief Collectionwas marred with glitches and performance problems (85 Metacritic). All good games, but none of them seemed to catch the magic that theoriginalHalotrilogy did from Bungie(Halo 1has a 97 on Metacritic,Halo 2has a 95, andHalo 3has a 93) and evenHalo Reach(91 on Metacritic).
Interestingly enough, Bungie had control of theHalofranchise for about 13 years, from 1997 to 2010; creating multiple legendary games and a beloved expansion inHalo 3: ODST. Meanwhile, 343 Industries has now had the franchise for 14 years (with some crossover there, as the teams worked on some games at the same time) but has only made a remake (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary), a collection (Halo: The Master Chief Collection), and two mainlineHalogames inHalo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians. The critical and sales success ofHalo Infinitemay be important for 343 Industries as well because Microsoft could be ready to let someone else try its hand at makingHalogames instead.
Thanks to having a much longer development cycle this time, 343 Industries has the opportunity to make something special withHalo Infinite. With a release in the fall of 2021, likely some time in early November, players might be able to expect a game of the year candidate. If the multiplayer images that were shared are hints of anything,Halo Infinitecould be a visually stunning game that may take full advantage of the Xbox Series X. With various multiplayer modes, there will be fun to be had for all, and the story will focus back on The Chief once again.Halo Infinitehas the chance to bring the franchise back to the top yet again in 2021.
Halo Infinitereleases fall 2021 on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
