For Xbox fans, it’s been a long wait for any news on the console’s biggest first-party exclusive coming this fall.Halo: Infinitehasn’t had any substantial news or reveals since its debut at E3 last year, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it does mean fans are desperate for more news. The nextHalodoes have a showcase confirmed for Xbox’s 20/20 July conference, so it’s not much longer, but fans want to know when they can get their hands on this game. Even before that, fans will likely get a taste of that with a multiplayer beta.
Like many multiplayer games getting ready to release, studios typically put out some kind of multiplayer beta to stress test the online infrastructure. Obviously forHalo Infinite, not only being part of the iconic Xbox shooter franchise but also framing the game as a reboot in the wake ofHalo 5: Guardians, it’s a critical moment for the Master Chief. While multiplayer betas for pastHalogames have had varying time frames, there’s always been a multiplayer beta for every modernHalogame.
Multiplayer Betas in Halo’s Past
As mentioned earlier, practically every modernHalogamesinceHalo 3has launched with a multiplayer beta.Halo: Combat EvolvedandHalo 2were early exceptions because of the infancy of online multiplayer gaming in general. The firstHalogame only officially had online multiplayer on PC, whereas Xbox could only accomplish multiplayer via a LAN network.Halo 2was the first to utilize the at-the-time brand new Xbox Live service, and thus didn’t have a beta period for multiplayer during the early days of the console network.Halo 3,Halo: Reach,Halo: The Master Chief Collection, andHalo 5: Guardianshad multiplayer beta tests. The only exception wasHalo 4because 343 Industries, newly helming theHalofranchise after Bungie’s departure, was solely focusing on internal testing and core development.
343 Industries andHalohad run into problems before when omitting beta testing. Most recently wasThe Master Chief Collection, but specifically on Xbox. Prior toThe Master Chief Collectionmaking its way to PC in 2019, the definitive edition of the series was released on Xbox in 2017. Upon release,Halo: The Master Chief Collectionhad a litany of connection stability issues, effectively making multiplayer modes unplayable for allHalogames in the collection. This is primarily the reason why every release inThe Master Chief Collectionfor PC has had a multiplayer beta test prior to the release, each of which performed nominally better than the original Xbox release.
Multiplayer Beta Likely Coming Soon
That being said, there will almost certainly be a multiplayer beta forHalo Infinite. At this point, it would be a mistake not to, considering how much is riding onHalo Infinitefor the whole franchise. Microsoft has mentioned before that343 Industries intends to implement beta testing forHalo Infinitein 2020, though no specific date has been announced yet. Regardless of whether or not the story was disappointing, many fans found a surprising savior in the multiplayer modes forHalo 5: Guardians. Not only that,Halomore recently is recovering from the stigma left behind byThe Master Chief Collection’s initial multiplayer experience.
Every beta in theHaloseries has come within its own unique time frame, but it wouldn’t be unusual forHalo Infiniteto receive a multiplayer beta soon.Halo: Reachreceived a multiplayer beta in May of 2010, when the game launched in September of that year.Halo 5: Guardianshad a multiplayer beta in December of 2014, but the game came out in October of 2015. It wouldn’t be surprising if a multiplayer beta announcement comeswith theHalo Infiniteshowcase in July’s Xbox event, with a schedule/time frame announced during or soon after the show.Halo Infiniteis a launch title for Xbox Series X after all, so a multiplayer beta in July or August isn’t that far fetched.
Halo Infinitewill release Holiday 2020 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC
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